Background	Project Duration
Grant Size	Deadline
Own Contribution	Application Forms
Funding Priorities	Application & Procedures
Grantmaking Criteria	Languages
Guidelines	Tips

The Instrument for Humanitarian Assistance funds for emergency assistance and relief to the victims of natural disasters or armed conflict outside the European Union. The aid is intended to go directly to those in distress, irrespective of race, religion or political convictions.

Case by case

Funding up to 100%.

The main objectives of the instrument are:

• Save and preserve life during emergencies, natural disasters, and armed conflict
• Help finance the transport of aid and efforts
• Carry   out   short-term   rehabilitation   and   reconstruction work
• Cope  with  the  consequences  of  population  movements  (refugees,  displaced  people  and  returnees) caused by natural and man-made disasters
• Ensure preparedness for risks of natural disasters
• Support  civil  operations  to  protect  the  victims  of fighting
• In addition, ECHO can in rare cases fund feasibility studies, monitoring operations, small-scale training schemes and information campaigns for increased understanding of humanitarian issues

In order to be eligible to apply for ECHO funding you have to meet the following criteria:

• Be an NGO registered in a EU Member State
• Be an International Organisation
• Be a specialised public agent of an EU Member State
• European NGOs and International Organisations  (except UN agencies) must conclude a Framework Partnership Agreement with ECHO, before applying for funding
• UN agencies must conclude a Financial and Administrative Framework Agreement with ECHO, before applying for funding

When determining if an NGO is suitability for  ECHO  funding, the following factors are taken into account:     

• Its  administrative and financial management capacities
• Its   technical   and   logistical   capacity   in   relation to  the  planned  operation
• Its  experience  in  the field  of  humanitarian  aid
• The  results  of  previous operations  carried  out  by  the  organisation  concerned,  and  in  particular  those  financed  by  ECHO
• Its readiness to take part, if need be, in the coordination system set up for a humanitarian operation
• Its  ability  and  readiness  to  work  with humanitarian agencies and the basic communities in  the  third  countries  concerned
• Its  impartiality in the implementation of humanitarian aid
• Its  previous  experience  in  the geographical area of intervention  

The Framework Partnership Agreement is the instrument that sets the principles of partnership   between ECHO and humanitarian organisations, defines the respective roles, rights and obligations of partners and contains the legal provisions applicable to the humanitarian operations financed by ECHO. The equivalent agreement for UN agencies is Financial and Administrative Framework Agreement. More information on Framework Partnership Agreements is available on ECHO’s main website:
ec.europa.eu/echo/about/actors/fpa_en.htm  as well as ECHO’s new partners’ helpdesk website: www.dgecho-partners-helpdesk.eu/doku.php

Under   particular   humanitarian   circumstances, NGOs who are not signatories of the Framework Partnership Agreements can present project proposals covering those areas or sectors for which there are no eligible proposals from partners. Proposals from non-partner NGOs – if favourably assessed – will only be retained after  positive verification of the eligibility of the proposing NGO to Community funding for humanitarian aid.  

Proposals are judged on their technical merits and how well they respond to the needs and priorities that are set out in the relevant funding decision. Proposals are assessed by the responsible desk-officer in ECHO’s headquarter in Brussels, in collaboration with regional field experts. For guidance on how to write a proposal for ECHO, using the correct format, log-frames, budget, including rules and regulations, please follow the link: http://ec.europa.eu/echo/about/actors/fpa_en.htm

Primary Emergency Funding Decisions finances projects up to 3 months.

Emergency Funding Decisions finances projects up to 6 months.

Global Plans Funding Decisions (for protracted crises) and Dipecho Funding Decisions, finances projects for 12 months and beyond.

none

The application is known as the single form. The single form is a living document, which is first filled in at proposal stage, then again at the time of the interim report, and at last for the final report. The single form and necessary annexes are can be downloaded from the website: http://www.dgecho-partners-helpdesk.eu/doku.php   

Management of the geographic programmes is shared by the Europe Aid Co-operation Office in Brussels and the EU Delegations. Call for proposals are published on the Europe Aid website; https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/europeaid/online-services/index.cfm?ADSSChck=1224846858672&do=publi.welcome&userlanguage=en and the delegation website; http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/delegations/web_en.htm

In order to apply for a grant, your organisation must register in the “Potential Applicants Data Online Registration” PADOR. To register in PADOR follow this link: http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/work/onlineservices/pador/index_en.htm

n/a

In order to succeed in accessing EC funds, a good understanding of the rules and procedures of the calls are crucial. Little administrative mistakes, such as submission after the deadline or missing documents lead to an immediate rejection. NGOs considering responding to a call should carefully read the guidelines. Project objectives should directly be linked to the objectives of the call. Applicants should also read the relevant policy papers and refer to them, when appropriate.

EC officials use an EC handbook explaining how to draft and manage a proposal. This document can also be useful for NGOs especially part 2 on the logical framework approach. It is called “Aid Delivery methods – Volume 1 – Project Cycle Management Guidelines”.

NGOs without FPA should consider participating in other NGOs’ projects funded by the EC. As a junior partner they can build their capacity and get acquainted to EC requirements without taking full responsibility of a project. Consult and liaise with both the EC Delegation in the beneficiary country and the Brussels-based officials. Another information source is CONCORD Europe, the European confederation of relief and development NGOs (contact details below). You also might get support from your national NGO platform.


top