Despite a rise in funding for humanitarian aid in recent years, the increase in humanitarian needs has been even larger, leading to significant funding gaps - including in the food security sector. Cluster resource mobilisation is therefore critical. 

Four Main Components  

For the FSC Coordinator, the area of resource mobilisation spans several key components, including:  

1. Advocating with current and potential donors for FSC response activities on behalf of the food security and livelihoods sector as a whole. 
   • Resource mobilisation and advocacy goes hand in hand. With the CLAs, the Coordinator should advocate for the Cluster as a collective to have adequate funding to cover affected population’s needs (based on the priorities and objectives established in the FSC response plan).
   • Note: The Coordinator should always ensure neutrality and should not do resource mobilisation for FSC partners directly but rather advocate on behalf of the FSC as a whole. All operational FSC partners have the responsibility to fundraise individually for their respective emergency response. They are expected to propose activities to donors that are consistent with the strategic objectives and activities set in the FSC response plan.  
2. Advocating for the FSC to have sufficient resources to coordinate the response – i.e. advocating for funding for the actual cluster coordination (8.3). 
3. Contributing to the overarching resource mobilisation efforts of the RC/HC and HCT, through FSC specific inputs, including:
   • Joint donor briefings, country-specific fundraising brochures/pamphlets, donor pledging conferences.  
   • Development of flash appeals, HNOs and HRP s as well as ‘allocation papers’ for the strategic use of country-based pooled funds (CBPF) or to applications to the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).
   • Irrespective of which funding mechanism is activated, all FSC resource mobilisation efforts with donors should be undertaken within the framework of the overall, inter-sectoral strategy established by the RC/HC and the HCT.
4. Playing an active role in role in the facilitation of the OCHA-managed pooled fund mechanisms (8.4). The FSC Coordinator should also advocate with the RC/HC, HCT, OCHA, ICCG, donors etc, to ensure the food security sector receives as much funding as possible through these mechanisms.  

FSC Resource Mobilisation Strategy 

Successful resource mobilisation relies on having a good understanding of the humanitarian financing landscape, of donor presence and priorities, and on being familiar with the various in-country humanitarian funding mechanisms. It also relies on strong advocacy as well as building good partnerships with donors, maintaining an overview of the FSC funding situation (funding requirements, unmet needs and the impact of insufficient funding), and being familiar with the overall resource mobilisation efforts of FSC actors. 

It is recommended that the FSC Coordinator, jointly with CLAs and the SAG, develops a clear and systematic approach for how to advocate and mobilise support for FSC activities. The Coordinator can also work with donor relations experts (from WFP, FAO or FSC partners) to develop a resource mobilisation strategy to strengthen relations with donors, governments, key stakeholders in the public and private sector as well as with FSC partners, other Clusters and UN agencies (for example through dedicated briefings, updates, bilateral meetings etc.). The aim is to ensure a measurable increase in donor pledges and contributions towards funding the food security components of HRP s or any other appeal or emergency request.

Such a strategy will be adapted to fit the specific context, the presence of country level donors as well as the CLAs’ preferred approach for how to reach out to donors on behalf of the Cluster. However, the main activities involved in a typical resource mobilisation cycle are illustrated in the text box.  

See also the activities described in the “advocacy strategy” in 7.4.1. The “Advocacy with Donors” section and the grey/orange box below further unpacks the key actions that help to strengthen the resource mobilisation efforts of the Cluster.