CO-BENEFICIARIES

Yes (see FAQ 15) if under ECHO funded action

All DG ECHO certified partners need to be included in the Single Form. 

Co-beneficiaries accede to the grant only by signing the accession form (Annex 3 to the MGA). Only the coordinator signs the grant agreement.

The exchange rules of the MGA have to be applied.

Partners have the possibility to provide information on their VAT status as well as co beneficiaries’ VAT status, in the dedicated section of the Single Form, namely 13.8.1 –
Details on VAT exemption. 

Partners are jointly responsible for the technical implementation of the action. If one of  them fails to implement its part, the other beneficiaries must ensure that this part is 
implemented by another beneficiary. Also, the consortium can request to the  Commission the termination of the participation of one or more beneficiaries in the  action. 

Yes, with an amendment request that the Commission has to approve.

The responsibility will be shared according to the maximum amount of the beneficiary. 

No, only the coordinator will receive the EU contribution. 

No, DG ECHO doesn’t ask for such an agreement, but although it is not obligatory,  Partners involved in a Multi-beneficiary agreement would normally sign some kind of  consortium agreement reflecting the internal arrangements

The coordinator receives the EU contribution and distributes the funds to the other  beneficiaries without unjustified delay (which does not mean immediately upon receipt 
from the Commission!). The coordinator is the interlocutor between the consortium and  the Commission, monitors the implementation of the action, submits reports, etc. 

Yes. The MGA contains an article with applicable provisions to International  Organisations. 

All certified partners are on an equal footing, even though they will still have a  coordinator. All non-certified partners will be considered as implementing partners. 

Not at the level of the grant agreement, as only DG ECHO certified partners can accede  to it. Local NGOs can be implementing partners.

Yes, the principle is that it will not be possible to use certified partners as implementing partners: they will have to be associated to the lead certified partners in the grant agreement as co-partners (co-beneficiaries).

Only beneficiaries and co-beneficiaries have to be listed in the Data Sheet.

The change will not be automatic and will need to be assessed on case by case basis depending when the certification occurs during the lifetime of the project.

It is possible and requires an amendment of the grant agreement.

Amendments can have retroactive effect, but the coordinator should not implement any changes without the agreement of the Commission, as in the 2014 FPA.

Yes, the principle is that it will not be possible to use certified partners as implementing partners: they will have to be associated to the lead certified partners in the grant agreement as co-partners (co-beneficiaries).