Contingency Fund for Emergencies (CFE)

Enabling quick action to save lives

 

 

About CFE

Public health emergencies are increasing and can escalate rapidly within and beyond borders. The ability to respond quickly can make the difference between mitigating impact and minimizing loss of life or seeing health emergencies spiral out of control, inflicting a heavy humanitarian toll on people’s lives and well-being.

WHO’s Contingency Fund for Emergencies (CFE) was created to save time, resources and lives by enabling WHO to respond rapidly to disease outbreaks and health emergencies, often in 24 hours or less.
 

Highlights

WHO logo on front door of headquarters

Epidemic of Ebola disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda declared global emergency

17 May 2026 | WHO has released US$ 500 000 from the CFE to support the government-led response.

A person walks across rubble in front of a severely damaged concrete building, carrying bags amid debris and twisted metal in an urban setting.

WHO releases US$ 2 million in emergency funds to support health response in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria

15 March 2026 | WHO releases funding from the CFE to address emergency health needs in the region.

Blue banner with the word "Marburg"

Ethiopia declares end of first-ever Marburg virus disease outbreak

26 January 2026 | Rapid funding from CFE enabled WHO to support government response at the start of the outbreak.

 

Contributions in 2026

ContributorAmount US$
Ireland2 360 000
Canada1 450 326
United Kingdom1 336 898
Kuwait500 000
Portugal117 371
Philippines100 000
Estonia17 544
Total (as at 18 May 2026)US$ 5 882 138

Recent allocations

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus | US$ 500 000
15 May 2026

Key activities

Coordination and monitoring; risk communication and community engagement; strengthen surveillance interventions; infection prevention and control; case management; lab support; operations support and logistics; prevention and response to sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment; surge deployment.

 

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Cape Verde

Undiagnosed respiratory illness | US$ 50 000
2 May 2026

Key activities

Support epidemiological investigation.

 

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Somalia

Drought response | US$ 450 000
20 April 2026

Key activities

Health and nutrition supplies; mobile health and outreach services; disease surveillance and outbreak response; nutrition screening and treatment; risk communication and community engagement; coordination and incident management.

 

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Annual reports

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Contingency fund for emergencies: 2024 annual report

The Contingency Fund for Emergencies (CFE) enables the World Health Organization (WHO) to leverage its unique strengths in emergencies, empowering WHO...

Contingency fund for emergencies: 2023 annual report

The Contingency Fund for Emergencies (CFE) provides WHO with rapid and flexible resources to respond to disease outbreaks and other health emergencies....

Contingency fund for emergencies: 2022 annual report

The Contingency Fund for Emergencies (CFE) provides WHO with rapid and flexible resources to respond to disease outbreaks and other health emergencies....

Contingency Fund for Emergencies: 2021 Annual Report

The Contingency Fund for Emergencies (CFE) provides WHO with rapid and flexible resources to respond to disease outbreaks and other health emergencies....

Quarterly updates

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Document cover for the CFE quarterly update July 2025.

In the first and second quarters of 2025, WHO released nearly US$ 19 million from the Contingency Fund for Emergencies (CFE) to provide life-saving...

Cover image for the Contingency Fund for Emergencies quarterly update for end-2024.

In the last quarter of 2024, WHO released US$ 5.8 million from the CFE in response to flooding in West and Central Africa; to support conflict-affected...

News

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Man crouches over pool of water with a magnifying glass

Around 1.3 million people affected by severe flooding in Southern Africa

23 January 2026 | US$ 470 000 released from the CFE to support emergency health response efforts.

Man crossing him arms and smiling

Democratic Republic of the Congo declares end of 16th Ebola outbreak

1 December 2025 | US$ 2 million was released from the CFE to help stop the outbreak.

A nursing officer talks with a hygenist at an Ebola treatment centre.

Democratic Republic of the Congo declares Ebola virus disease outbreak in Kasai Province

4 September 2025 | WHO has released US$ 500 000 from the CFE to support the response.

Cholera response in Congo: Mbamou Island breathes again

20 August 2025 | CFE funding has enabled WHO to scale up the cholera response in Congo.