VISIBILITY

The Manual complements existing general guidelines but with a focus on communication on EU humanitarian aid. It does not replace the general guidelines, nor does it alter them. The EC-UN guidelines remain applicable for UN humanitarian Partners when working with DG ECHO. In case of direct contradiction with this Manual, this Manual takes priority. The same applies to the 2022 EU  External Actions Manual.

Yes. The requirements of standard visibility – namely the display of the humanitarian aid visual identity on project sites and the written and oral acknowledgment of the partnership – are mandatory and apply to all Partners and types of Actions.

Partners are generally encouraged to consider the implementation of Above Standard Visibility (notably more elaborate communication actions targeting European audiences). However, such Actions – for which additional budget can be allocated after ECHO’s approval of a communication plan (the standard template can be found here ) – come on top of, and in addition to, standard visibility.

Yes, in most cases there will be plenty of possibilities to comply with the visibility requirements even if the display of the visual identity on the project site is not possible for security reasons. While standard visibility is a contractual obligation, there is an important degree of flexibility on how to implement it.

Standard visibility covers the display of the visual identity as well as the written and oral acknowledgment of the partnership. Therefore, Partners should consider doing e.g. more web or social media activities or producing audio-visual material addressing European audiences (the latter may require applying for additional budget for Above-Standard Visibility actions).
 

Partners are expected to ensure full compliance with the visibility requirements in accordance with the applicable contractual arrangements and the Humanitarian Partnership Certificate 2021-2027 and with specific visibility requirements agreed upon in the e-Single Form, which forms an integral part of individual agreements.

All DG ECHO Partners have a contractual obligation to provide standard visibility of the EU as a donor. This applies to all types of EU-funded humanitarian aid projects. The obligation on standard visibility means that DG ECHO Partners must ensure EU field visibility (Section 12.1.A) and communicate about the EU support in their external communication, (Section 12.1.B) through:

• The prominent display of the EU emblem with the accompanying text on project sites, relief items and equipment, as specified in Section 12.1.A of the Single Form

• AND

• Meaningful and proactive communication towards EU and local audiences throughout the lifecycle of the project with broad dissemination as specified in Section 12.1.B of the Single Form. All communication should clearly make reference to and acknowledge EU support. Standard visibility is compulsory for all Partners unless a derogation for field visibility has been granted.

In addition to Standard Visibility, Partners can opt for "Above-Standard Visibility (ASV)" under Section 12.2 of the e-Single Form. The Above-Standard Visibility option is intended for Partners planning to go beyond the communication activities foreseen under Section 12.1.B, complementing the latter. ASV actions are more than merely putting extra resources into the standard communication approach. ASV plans should not only focus on the quantitative output but also – and more importantly – on creativity, quality, and impact. The main target audience of an ASV plan should be identified within the European public.

Yes, the Commission has the right to use the Partners’ materials, documents and information royalty-free, including the use for its own purposes, distribution to the public, editing or redrafting and translation.

For standard visibility activities, Partners can allocate a budget of up to 1% of the EU’s contribution to the project.