European Commission (EC) Funding - Frequently Asked Questions
1) Which European Commission department is responsible for implementing the external aid instruments of the European Commission (EC), other than Humanitarian Aid?
EuropeAid (also known as Aidco). Although responsibility for key operational tasks, such as project identification and appraisal, contracting and disbursement of Community funds, and project monitoring and evaluation has shifted to the EC Delegations (the in-country EC offices).
EU External cooperation programmes
About EuropeAid
European Commission Delegations Offices: Web sites and contacts
2) Who, within the EC, is responsible for Humanitarian Aid?
Humanitarian Aid from the EC is channelled through the EC's Humanitarian Department, usually known as ECHO. To access this, NGOs must be experienced in this field of work and will sign a Framework Partnership Agreement with ECHO first.
The EC's Humanitarian Department
3) Where are EuropeAid's and ECHO's Calls for Proposals (funding opportunities) announced?
NB most Calls for Proposals are published on EuropeAid's central database (see link below) although individual delegations do also publish them exclusively on their own sites (see delegation link).
EuropeAid calls for proposals
Delegations calls for proposals
ECHO calls for proposals
General EC grants
4) How does the EC fund NGOs (and other types of organisations)?
NGOs (although the EC increasingly uses the term Non State Actor) are funded through the use of Grants. These are issues through the publication of Calls for Proposals. The EC will not accept unsolicited applications for funding. All funding requests are made in response to specific Calls for Proposals. See point 3) above for links to the Calls for Proposals.
5) How do I know if I am eligible to apply for a Call for Proposal?
The rules governing which organisations are eligible to apply for funding are published with each call for proposals. As a general principle, an NGO must have at least 3 years experience of development work before it is eligible to access EC funds. See question 8) for further details.
6) Do the EC fund 100% of a project?
As a rule, EC funding through EuropeAid will not cover 100% of a grant and a small proportion of match funding will be required. The percentage varies according to the budget line but is usually around 75-85%.
7) With an EC grant, will we need to pre-finance our activities at any point?
The EC always holds back 10% of any grant, payable only after the final project report has been approved. Therefore, an NGO must be able to pre-finance these funds from its own financial resources in order to access the full grant.
8) Which rules govern EC grants?
EC grants are governed by a Standard Contract, with complex rules and regulations concerning contract management. Applicants must be able to comply with these rules and are well advised to check them before applying for the first time. The documents below are the various rules and regulations that apply to existing contracts. It is imperative that you check with Brussels, or the delegation you are signing the contract with which version you will be working to. All contracts as of the 1 May 2007 should be using the 'May 2007' versions (see links below). Note also that all documents published with the Call for Proposal are the legally binding documents for any grant under that Call.
Current Documents:
2003 Practical Guide (word, 1.15MB)
2003 Grants Annexes to Practical Guide
CONCORD Reader for the 2003 Standard Contract (pdf, 425KB)
EC letter in response to CONCORD reader (pdf,45KB)
August 2006 Practical Guide (pdf, 630KB)
August 2006 Grants annexes to Practical Guide
February 2006 Practical Guide (pdf, 700KB)
February 2006 Grants annexes to Practical Guide
Document clarifying the changes to the 2006 February and August Standard Contracts (pdf)
May 2007 Practical Guide (valid for contracts signed after 1 May 2007) (pdf, 703KB)
May 2007 Grants annexes to Practical Guide
9) What is PADOR?
PADOR is an online registration service by EuropeAid to enable potential applicants to EuropeAid grants to register the data specific to their organisation in a single database. To take part in an EC call for proposals you must now register your organisation on PADOR.
How to change your organisation's profile on PADOR
10) Question: What is the EC 2003 reader?
The reader is a document produced by CONCORD providing explanations of all articles in the Standard Contract. It is aimed at helping NGOs to better address different contractual issues concerning the implementation of the Grant Contract. (It is important to note that the final interpretation falls within the mandate of the European Commission).
Key Documents and useful links
Information note about the EC's new funding instruments
A useful way of understanding this framework is with the following diagram:
The Development and Co-operation Instrument (DCI) pdf, 2.7MB)
Regulation for the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) (pdf, 115KB) (115KB)
Summary of the ENPI (pdf, 67KB)
Thematic Programmes
The Thematic Programmes that cut across the DCI and ENPI (as well as the EDF) are as follows:
Strategy for the Non State Actor and Local Authority Thematic Programme (pdf, 120KB)
Strategy for Investing in People Thematic Programme (pdf, 230KB)
Migration and Asylum
We have not received any concrete information about this thematic programme, we will update this section as soon as new information is received.
Food Security
We have not received any concrete information about this thematic programme, we will update this section as soon as new information is received.
Financial instruments
Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (pdf, 85KB)
Instrument for Stability (pdf, 100KB)
Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA) (pdf, 260KB)
The two documents below, presented by an EC official at the April 2007 EC Funding group meeting give a useful overview of the ongoing changes to the EC's funding instruments:
Changes specific to the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) (pdf, 320KB)
Document setting out some of the key policy and funding debates likely to happen during 2007:
European Centre for Development Policy Management ECDPM: December 2006 briefing on EU Development Co-operation (pdf, 2.2MB)
More will be added to this web page as we receive it, if you have information you think should be added to this page then please contact funding@bond.org.uk