FPA 2003 (archive)

(not applicable for agreements after 31/12/07)

The FPA with NGOs | The FPA with International Organisations

The FPA with NGOs

The new ECHO Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA) is in force as per 1 January 2004.

The FPA 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.

Since its creation in 1992, the Humanitarian Aid Office has always worked on the basis of Framework Partnership Agreements: these were concluded both with humanitarian NGOs and with international organisations having a humanitarian calling, such as the ICRC and the IFRC. The first ECHO FPA was adopted in 1993, the second in 1998. The forthcoming FPA is going to be the third in ECHO's history.

The new FPA presents some innovative features, developed with the aim to simplify the administrative procedures linked to ECHO funding and to optimise the implementation and results of EC-funded humanitarian aid. Most of the new features are the issue of lessons learned from past experience or stem from consultation with partners; others have been introduced to comply with new EC general regulations.

New FPA means new selection of ECHO partner organisations. The selection of partners for the signature of the FPA 2003 is not a renewal but an entirely new administrative procedure. The FPA 1998 ended on 31 December 2003. The new partner selection is based on well-defined eligibility and suitability criteria, some of which imposed by the current regulatory framework of the Commission, others arising from the need for introducing higher quality standards.

In the following chapters you will find the text of the FPA, detailed instructions on how to apply for signing the new Agreement with an explanation of the new partner selection criteria, as well as support documents and guidelines to help you better understand and use the FPA.

Text of the FPA with NGOs

The full text of the new FPA is available in Acrobat format, while the various forms are available in Word or Excel format, so that they can be filled in more easily:

 

Transitional measures for grant agreements Acrobat pdf file signed end 2003.

How to apply to sign the FPA

Eligibility and suitability criteria

The selection of partners under the new FPA is carried out on the basis of precise eligibility and suitability criteria. These have been established taking into account:

  • the existing legal and financial requirements, including those newly introduced by the recast Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities;
  • the quality standards resulting from the debate developed over the years between ECHO and its partners on achieving quality partnership.

As concerns the legal eligibility and suitability requirements, the selection criteria are guided by three EC regulations: the Regulation on humanitarian aid (RHA), the new Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (FR) and its new Implementing Rules (IRFR).

In particular, the legal bases used are:

  • For eligibility
    • Art. 7.1 RHA (country of registration in a Member State)
    • Art. 93 FR (declaration of moral integrity)
    • Art. 173.4 IRFR (2 years external audit obligation)
  • For suitability
    • Art. 7.2 RHA (administrative, financial and operational capacity)
Methods of assessment

The fulfilment of these criteria can be verified by ECHO through:

  • relevant supporting documents provided by the applicant organisation;
  • if available, information from other sources, such as other Commission services or national authorities of the NGO's country of registration;
  • verification missions carried out by ECHO staff on the organisation's premises if considered as necessary
The e-application APPEL: click here

Documents: List of documents to provide in the framework of an application to sign the FPA

Guidelines Acrobat pdf file

Contact

Training