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The lack of funding for cholera response in Haiti is not merely about a shortage of funds; rather, it is due to a shortage of political will. By comparison, Member States contributed $4 billion to funding MINUSTAH from the time of the outbreak to the time of MINUSTAH’s closure. This is more than 10 times what is needed to fund the New Approach. |
We call on Member States to contribute their share to the New Approach to cholera. By “their share,” we mean the fraction of $400 million proportionate to the percentage they contribute to the UN's overall expenses annually. This is a fair share because the cholera epidemic in Haiti is the collective responsibility of the UN's members: the international community, through MINUSTAH, started the outbreak, and the international community should remedy it. Find out your state’s share here.
There are two main ways Member States can do their part to fund the New Approach. They can be used alone or together, but ultimately, they both come down to one thing: political will.
There are two main ways Member States can do their part to fund the New Approach. They can be used alone or together, but ultimately, they both come down to one thing: political will.
1. Voluntary Contributions to the “New Approach” Trust Fund
When the Secretary-General launched the New Approach, he announced the creation of a Multi-Partner Trust Fund (“Trust Fund”). The Trust Fund provides a common financing mechanism to “ensure a coherent and coordinated UN System contribution to the overall [cholera] response.”
Money for the fund comes from voluntary Member State contributions. So far, only 9 States have given a total of $9.22 million in voluntary contributions. In March 2017, Secretary-General Guterres wrote a letter seeking additional contributions, but few have been forthcoming.
Member States can ensure full funding for the New Approach and safeguard the UN's legacy in Haiti by donating their percentage share to the Trust Fund. If their voluntary contributions fall short, Member States must support including cholera in the UN's mandatory budget.
Money for the fund comes from voluntary Member State contributions. So far, only 9 States have given a total of $9.22 million in voluntary contributions. In March 2017, Secretary-General Guterres wrote a letter seeking additional contributions, but few have been forthcoming.
Member States can ensure full funding for the New Approach and safeguard the UN's legacy in Haiti by donating their percentage share to the Trust Fund. If their voluntary contributions fall short, Member States must support including cholera in the UN's mandatory budget.
2. Make the Cholera Response a Normal Budget Item
Each year, the “Fifth Committee” of the General Assembly draws up a budget for all UN activities. The amount each Member State pays to finance those activities is determined by a formula that accounts for national wealth, exchange rate, debt burden, and more. Funds given by Member States through this process are called “assessed contributions.”
Financing the New Approach through assessed contributions by adding the cholera response the regular UN budget is the only alternative to voluntary contributions. We call on Member States to commit to providing the additional funds needed to fully implement the New Approach through assessed contributions, to the extent voluntary contributions have not provided the necessary funding.
Financing the New Approach through assessed contributions by adding the cholera response the regular UN budget is the only alternative to voluntary contributions. We call on Member States to commit to providing the additional funds needed to fully implement the New Approach through assessed contributions, to the extent voluntary contributions have not provided the necessary funding.
