How  we work

How we work

EuropeAid aims to deliver aid quickly and efficiently to where it is most needed. It carries out careful analysis and consultation before committing funding to development actions. Rigorous checks are in place to ensure the millions of euros committed each year are spent effectively and in an accountable fashion. Actions are assessed and monitored to ensure they meet high quality standards.

 

 

Programming

During the programming phase, the situation at national and sectoral level is analysed to identify problems, constraints and opportunities which co-operation could address. EU development assistance is distributed through multi-annual programmes which are coordinated by the European Commission’s Directorate General for Development (for African, Caribbean and Pacific countries) and the Directorate General External Relations for the rest of the world.

Delivering aid

When it comes to delivering aid the Commission has three basic approaches:

  • The project approach is deployed to provide funding to meet specific objectives within a deadline and to a budget.
  • A sector approach gives partner countries more of a say in development policy and funding decisions than the more traditional project approach.
  • Budget support allows the Commission to provide finance directly to a recipient government.

Ensuring quality

EuropeAid takes great care to ensure that the development support it delivers is of high quality. Quality Support Groups perform peer reviews of EuropeAid’s external assistance measures, during both identification and formulation stages.

The Commission also has stringent processes in place to monitor and evaluate development projects. A Results-Oriented Monitoring System (ROM) helps EuropeAid to assess the results generated by projects and programmes.

Evaluation

Evaluation aims to render accounts to the public on the results and impacts of activities financed by EC funds and to draw lessons from what has worked and what has not.

Evaluation aims to improve management, in particular by taking into account the lessons of past public actions and to reinforce capacity to account for, and to ensure, better transparency.

Accountability

Accountability is also very important to EuropeAid. It is duty-bound to report on its activities in an accurate manner and considers the following to be vital components for effective accountability:

  • Individual and collective responsibility
  • Quality in the design and implementation of projects
  • Effective management, supervision, support and control systems
  • Open dialogue with other EU institutions
  • Transparent reporting on activities, project results and use of resources