EuropeAid is the Directorate-General of the European Commission that is responsible for implementing external aid programmes and projects across the world. It works closely with EU neighboring countries, Russia, the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regions, Latin America and Asia. EuropeAid aims to deliver development aid in an efficient and effective way. The focus is on maximizing the value and impact of aid funding by making sure that support is provided in a speedy and accountable manner.
EuropeAid works hard to ensure that the aid as it distributes, makes a significant contribution to the development of objectives of both EU and the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals.
Effective implementation of aid also helps the Commission and EU as a whole to attain a higher profile on the world arena.
EuropeAid is responsible for all the steps of an aid delivery project: after identifying needs, it carries out feasibility studies and prepares all the necessary financial decisions. It then moves on to drawing up the required tendering, monitoring and evaluation procedures.
When implementing projects, EuropeAid takes account of EU strategies and long-term programmes for the delivery of aid. These strategies and related policies are designed by other directorates-general of the European Commission, including DG Development for the ACP regions and DG External Relations for the other regions and countries of the world.
Humanitarian aid is managed by a separate Directorate-General, because its immediate and short-term relief activities are very different from the long-term objectives of development aid.
From policy to action
EuropeAid is responsible for translating policies into practical actions and for developing new ways of delivering aid, such as budget support and through sectored approaches. It also issues guidelines and makes evaluations of the aid implementation.
In addition, it is responsible for the proper management of funds and must use clear and transparent tendering and contracting procedures. Despite the complexities of its work, EuropeAid aims to keep procedures as simple and harmonized as possible. In order to achieve all this, EuropeAid develops and manages an array of information, accounting, control, reporting and auditing systems.
Promoting joint effort
EuropeAid, together with the delegations, adapts to changing circumstances. It trains staff to be able to take up new challenges, and liaises with other bilateral and multilateral donors, such as the United Nations. It works closely with Member States’ development agencies and with international financing institutions, such as the World Bank.
EuropeAid also maintains a dialogue with NGOs, consultancies and other non-state actors both in the EU and in the beneficiary countries.
The results of EuropeAid’s work allow the European Commission, and the EU as a whole, to formulate better policies and strategies, which, in the long run, should lead to a world free of poverty as defined by the Millennium Development Goals.
More info: http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/index_en.htm
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