Overview
Country-Based Pooled Funds are one of the most accessible direct funding channels in humanitarian response, and one of the few where national NGOs apply on the same footing as international ones.
How it works
Each fund runs standard allocations (planned, against a published allocation strategy) and reserve allocations (rapid, for sudden-onset needs). Allocation papers set out the priority sectors, geographic areas and ceilings for each round.
Funds currently operate in contexts including Afghanistan, Colombia, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Myanmar, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, Yemen and the occupied Palestinian territory.
Before you can apply
- Register and complete due diligence with the fund in your country. This takes time — start before an allocation opens, not after.
- Applications are submitted through OneGMS, OCHA's grant management system.
- Primary recipients may sub-grant to national partners.
Practical note
Capacity assessment determines your risk rating, which determines your ceiling and reporting burden. Organizations that keep clean financial and beneficiary records move to lower-risk ratings and larger grants faster.
How much
There is no global figure. Each fund sets its own grant ceilings by partner risk level and project duration, published in that country's Operational Manual. Read your country's manual before designing a budget — the ceiling is a hard constraint, not a guideline.
Always confirm eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the donor's own page before applying.