Democratic Republic of the Congo Pooled Fund

Decision Making Process

Terms of Reference

Eligibility
Only humanitarian projects falling within the framework of the Humanitarian Action Plan (the Action Plan) are eligible for DRC Pooled Fund (DRCPF) funding.

Proposal Submission
The Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) issues policy guidelines to steer the allocation process, based on available humanitarian information, as well as likely future humanitarian needs. Participating UN Organizations (or Non-UN Participating Organizations), Non-Governmental Organizations and their partners are requested to submit developed project proposals for projects selected for DRCPF funding (see description of the various approval steps below).

Proposal Review & Approval Process
The allocation process is decentralised, its main steps are described below:

1. Once the policy guidelines are issued by the HC, on a quarterly basis, OCHA’s regional Heads of Office with the support of the Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD) Advisors, provincial and national Cluster Leads determine within their respective regions the priority projects which are not financed.
2. This list of priority projects is then endorsed by the Cluster Lead Agencies and presented to the Pooled fund Board and the HC. Under exceptional circumstances, the HC may exclude certain projects and add others in order to further the objectives of the overall humanitarian programme and achieve an improved balance.
3. Once the priority projects’ list is approved, the implementing partners are requested to submit developed project proposals. These are reviewed and approved by the technical review committee.
4. Once the HC has decided on the allocations, signed Project Financing letters are issued by the HC to Participating UN Organizations (or Non-UN Participating Organizations), which in turn indicate their acceptance of the Project Financing letter in writing.
5. The HC then instructs the Administrative Agent (AA) of the DRCPF to transfer funds to relevant organizations. Disbursements to Participating UN Organizations (or Non-UN Participating Organizations) are made within three (3) business days of receipt of the appropriate documentation signed by both the HC and the Participating UN Organization (or Non-UN Participating Organization) concerned, depending on the availability of donor funds. Disbursements to NGOs involved in the Action Plan are made through UNDP performing an additional oversight function as a Participating UN Organization (see the DRCPF TOR).