Top NGO partners delivering EU humanitarian aid

The European Commission’s financial transparency system shows how the European Union budget framework is being utilized to support low- and middle-income countries, refugees, humanitarian crises — and who is helping to deliver on objectives. Within the data that provides insights into the current budget cycle between 2014 and 2018, the top NGO partners delivering on humanitarian and development objectives can be found in the analysis of contracts and grants managed by two departments of the commission — DG DEVCO, the Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development, and DG ECHO, the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. In the current EU budget cycle, the top 10 NGOs have shared €1.96 billion ($2.18 billion) to support 1,290 programs, with the funds delivered via grants or provisional commitments that are followed by payment. For these top 10 NGOs, DEVCO and ECHO are an important source of finance to support the delivery of programs. Here are the top NGOs, ranked by funds received between 2014 and 2018. 1. Norwegian Refugee Council Funds received: €334.7 million Number of projects: 192 Largest funding year: 2017 (€95.9 million) Largest project: Whole of Syria Consortium (€15 million) The 192 projects supported by the Norwegian Refugee Council include support for the European Neighbourhood Instrument; Development Cooperation Instrument; humanitarian aid and civil protection; enterprise and industry; European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights; and Instrument for Emergency Support within the Union. The focus of this work was on the delivery of humanitarian assistance and 87% of the funds received since 2014 came from DG ECHO. In addition, NRC received an additional €23 million from other departments of the EC, including from the Research Executive Agency and Service for Foreign Policy Instruments. NRC has had offices in Brussels since 2005, with the aim of influencing EU institutions and networks, and to increase EU project financing. This has resulted in ECHO being a major partner — accounting for 17% of funds received from partners and donors. 2. Danish Refugee Council Funds received: €322.2 million Number of projects: 181 Largest funding year: 2017 (€108.51 million) Largest project: Comprehensive protection service provision to people of concern in Greece (€18.5 million) As with NRC, the 181 projects supported by the Danish Refugee Council include a strong focus on humanitarian assistance. Program areas supported include emergency support within the Union and humanitarian aid, as well as support for enterprise and industry, development cooperation, and democracy and human rights programs. Eighty-three percent of these funds received since 2014 came from DG ECHO, with an additional €63 million received from other departments of the EC on top of the €322.2 million that made them the second largest NGO partner. ENP, the Directorate-General for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, and the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency were among the other sources of funds. In 2018, the Danish Refugee Council reported that the European Commission accounted for more than a quarter of the $444 million they received from donors in that year, making the EU an important source of funds for the organization. 3. International Rescue Committee UK Funds received: €242.1 million Number of projects: 153 Largest funding year: 2017 (€75 million) Largest project: Provision of emergency humanitarian assistance to refugees and asylum-seekers in Greece (€16.5 million) The work of the International Rescue Committee UK supported six program areas of DEVCO and ECHO between 2014 and 2018 — with humanitarian aid the largest area of contribution followed by development cooperation. Grants accounted for the majority of these funds, with ECHO responsible for 83% of the €242.1 million received. In addition, €63 million was received from four other EC departments, including NEAR and Service for Foreign Policy Instruments. According to the 2018 annual report for IRC, ECHO accounted for 37% of income the year — making it a critical partner in supporting ongoing operations. 4. Oxfam GB Funds received: €205.4 million Number of projects: 134 Largest funding year: 2014 (€65.7 million) Largest project: Reversing land degradation in Africa by scaling-up evergreen agriculture (€18 million) Oxfam GB supported seven program areas of DEVCO and ECHO between 2014 and 2018 — with services closely spread between humanitarian aid and development cooperation. Grants accounted for the majority of these funds, with ECHO responsible for 52% of the €205.4 million received. In addition to this, €2 million was received from two other EC departments — NEAR and Service for Foreign Policy Instruments. According to Oxfam GB’s 2017/18 annual report, direct income from the EC accounted for 13% of income received from institutional donors — behind the United Nations as its largest institutional donor. 5. Action Against Hunger France Funds received: €193.2 million Number of projects: 116 Largest funding year: 2017 (€55.4 million) Largest project: Implementation of the nutrition-specific component of the program for improved nutrition in SINDH (€30 million) The work of Action Against Hunger France supported four program areas of DEVCO and ECHO between 2014 and 2018 — with services largely concentrated on humanitarian assistance. Grants accounted for the majority of these funds, with ECHO responsible for 58% of the €193.2 million received. In addition, €2 million was received from one other department of the EC — the Research Executive Agency. For the operation of all arms of Action Against Hunger — including France and Spain — the 2018 annual report explains that multilateral agencies — focusing on EU institutions and the U.N., “remain significant donors of restricted income, with collective revenue from the EU and UN exceeding €136.6 million.” But it also explains that in 2018 revenue from both agencies was in decline, falling into line with pre-2017 funding trends. While the EU is an important source of income for the organization, the U.S. is its largest government partner. 6. Concern Worldwide Funds received: €175 million Number of projects: 77 Largest funding year: 2018 (€71million) Largest project: Implementation of the nutrition-specific component of the program for improved nutrition in SINDH (€30 million) The work of Concern Worldwide supported five program areas of DEVCO and ECHO — with more than half of the funds provided for services supporting humanitarian assistance. Grants accounted for the majority of these funds with just €200,000 secured through a procurement process. ECHO was the source for 60% of the €175 million received, and €10 million was received in addition to this from five other departments of the commission — including the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety and EACEA, which highlights the diversity in services Concern has provided to the EU since 2014. According to the 2018 annual report for Concern Worldwide, the EU is a major source of income — accounting for 15% for the year, behind the Irish government who provided 16%. 7. Save the Children UK Funds received: €149.1 million Number of projects: 92 Largest funding year: 2017 (€75 million) Largest project: Support to early recovery from conflict and resilience building in Yobe State (€12 million) The work of Save the Children UK supported six program areas of DEVCO and ECHO between 2014 and 2018 — with more than half supporting the delivery of humanitarian assistance programs. Grants accounted for the majority of these funds, with ECHO responsible for 64% of the €149.1 million received In addition, €17 million was received from three other EC departments — including the NEAR and the Research Executive Agency. The 2018 annual report provides insight into the level of impact these funds have been able to achieve — enabling Save the Children UK to “reach internally displaced people and host populations facing food shortages and helped build their resilience.” “In the Democratic Republic of Congo the EU supported our work to rehabilitate clinics, improve maternal and newborn healthcare, and provide education for children in the conflict-hit South Kivu region,” the report reads. 8. Action Against Hunger Spain Funds received: €141.7 million Number of projects: 145 Largest funding year: 2018 (€33 million) Largest project: Rapid response to the nutrition crisis in DRC (€3.5 million) The work of Action Against Hunger Spain supported five program areas of DEVCO and ECHO — with 87% of the funds supporting humanitarian assistance programs. Grants accounted for the majority of these funds, and with the concentration of funds on humanitarian objectives, with ECHO responsible for 88% of the €141.7 million received In addition, €17 million was received from three other EC departments — including NEAR and HOME, the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs. 9. ACTED Funds received: €139.3 million Number of projects: 122 Largest funding year: 2017 (€49 million) Largest project: Building resilience through social safety nets in Somalia (€10 million) The work of ACTED supported six program areas of DEVCO and ECHO with funds largely supporting a range of humanitarian and development assistance programs. Grants accounted for the majority of these funds, and ECHO was responsible for 56% of the €139.3 million received In addition, €11 million was received from three other EC departments — including NEAR and the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency. 10. International Medical Corps UK Funds received, 2014-2018: €124.7 million Number of projects: 94 Largest funding year: 2016 (€36 million) Largest project: Emergency assistance for refugees, conflict-affected and displaced populations in South Sudan (€4 million) The work of International Medical Corps UK supported four program areas of DEVCO and ECHO with 94% aimed at delivering humanitarian assistance programs. Grants accounted for the majority of these funds, and with the focus on humanitarian objectives, ECHO was the source for 94% of the €124.7 million received In addition, €6 million was received from one other EC departments — the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation. The new Devex interactive on the current EU budget framework provides insights into the EU budget by year, funding type, responsible department, beneficiaries, and beneficiary countries. Engage with the data and share your insights with Devex.