Collaboration with ECHO

Caritas Europa acts as the liaison office to the EU Commission’s DG ECHO (General Directorate - European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office). Currently, 12 Caritas member organisations hold an official signatory status with ECHO under a Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA), which entitles them to apply for EU institutional financing.  

In its liaison role, Caritas Europa collects information from member organisations on projects intended to be submitted to ECHO and ensures the necessary coordination prior to each individual member’s submission.  

The institutional co-financing officers for Caritas FPA Holders meet on a regular basis for a structured dialogue to bring forward issues of concern in relation to working with ECHO.  The group is further committed to strengthening procedures, management systems, and policies through mutual sharing and exchange of knowledge among members. 

Directly linked to this is Caritas Europa’s engagement within the FPA Watch Group facilitated under the umbrella of the Voluntary Organisations in Cooperation in Emergencies (VOICE). This group has been set up as a partnership mechanism by DG ECHO and VOICE in order to monitor the technical challenges which arise during the application of the FPA and to provide recommendations for its improvement and adaptation. Caritas Germany (DCV) and Caritas Europa are representing the Caritas network in this setting.

Caritas FPA Holders

Caritas Member Organisations are advised to check out the Caritas Europa Extranet for more information on issues related to ECHO Relations