WORKING WITH DG ECHO AS AN NGO PARTNER | 2021 - 2027
ACTION’S MINIMUM STANDARDS
When the Organisation signs the Humanitarian Partnership Certificate, it undertakes to comply with the following minimum standards for the preparation and implementation of humanitarian actions:
- Propose activities based on a qualitative and impartial needs assessment;
- Define clear and verifiable objectives, which can be achieved within the given time-frame and with results that can be measured through specific, achievable, relevant and time-bound indicators;
- Implement the actions in accordance with EU policies and standards (both sector-specific and cross-cutting) as well as visibility and communication guidelines;
- Ensure that all humanitarian activities are results-oriented, are delivered in the most effective, efficient and rapid manner, and comply with the principles of prioritising safety and dignity, do no harm, access, accountability, and the empowerment and active participation of affected persons in the design, implementation and evaluation of actions;
- Respect ethical and humanitarian values and observe the highest ethical standards and best practices in the sector and the specific operating environment;
- Design the actions so that they are culturally appropriate and adapted to the specific needs of different groups (such as women, girls, boys, men, older persons, persons with disabilities);
- Take into account the situation of the affected persons within the circumstances and context of the intervention, including assessments of the different needs, capacities, and roles that might exist for men and women of different age groups within the given situation and cultural context;
- Base actions on local capacities, respecting the culture, structure and customs of the communities and of the countries where actions are carried out, without prejudice to the fundamental rights of the persons affected;
- Ensure ‘zero tolerance’ for sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment as well as any (other) type of unethical behaviour such as discrimination, forced and child labour, modern slavery, exploitative practices towards staff, partners, contractors or beneficiaries, illegal employment and intentional environmental damage through effective and coordinated prevention, reporting and response mechanisms (in line with relevant internationally agreed principles and standards promoting effective and qualitative safeguarding policies, such as in particular the United Nations Inter-Agency Standing Committee’s Six Core Principles Relating to sexual exploitation and abuse or equivalent standards);
- Design actions that take into consideration humanitarian-development and peace nexus, in order to help the affected populations regain a minimum level of self-sufficiency, whenever possible taking long-term development objectives into account and building resilience;
- Strengthen the capacities of affected communities, in order to prevent, prepare for, reduce and respond to humanitarian crises;
- Provide fair working conditions for humanitarian workers (volunteers or salaried), with special attention to their safety in the field and, to the extent possible, to their professional development;
- Reduce as much as possible the environmental and carbon footprint of the aid operations, through in particular the greening of logistics and sectors like food assistance, shelter, water and health, and by introducing environmental-friendly and climate-proof alternatives;
- Ensure effective coordination with other humanitarian actors to address gaps and to avoid overlaps.
