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European Commission

EUROPEAN CIVIL PROTECTION AND HUMANITARIAN AID OPERATIONS

DG ECHO PARTNERS' WEBSITE

WORKING WITH DG ECHO AS AN NGO PARTNER | 2021 - 2027

TEMPORARILY INTERRUPTION-ACTIVITIES REDUCTION

FAQ 116 - Under the MGA, is it still possible to have total or partial suspension of contract? If yes, are some costs sill eligible during the suspension period?

AMENDMENT

Yes. If the  activities  in  the  field  (or  some  of  them)  must  be temporarily interrupted or reduced due to exceptional circumstances — in particular force majeure  —  the beneficiaries must inform the granting authority and, if needed and agreed, adapt the action to the new circumstances via an amendment. Related costs will then be eligible if approved by DG ECHO.

FAQ 172 - If an NGO has to “temporarily interrupt or reduce” activities will operating costs still be eligible?

They may be eligible subject to the approval of the Commission.

FAQ 173 - Would this mean that NGOs will not formally suspend the action in APPEL (as used to be the practice during the FPA 2014)?

APPEL  allow the request of temporary interruption or reduction of activities.  

FAQ 174 - According to Article 6.3 a) iix)) of the MGA, costs incurred during suspension will not be eligible. This is problematic for NGO partners as in the humanitarian context actions may need to be suspended. Could DG ECHO elaborate on this?

If the  activities  in  the  field  (or  part  of  them)  must  be temporarily interrupted or reduced due to exceptional circumstances — in particular force majeure  —  the beneficiaries must inform DG ECHO  and, if needed and agreed, adapt the action to the new circumstances via an amendment. Related costs might be eligible if approved by DG ECHO.

FAQ 175 - Art. 10.3 of the MGA reads “- grant agreement suspension (Article 31): certain costs incurred during grant suspension are eligible (notably, minimum costs necessary for a possible resumption of the action and costs relating to contracts which were entered into before the pre-information letter was received and which could not reasonably be suspended, reallocated or terminated on legal grounds)”.
How is this to be interpreted along with other articles that state that costs of activities during suspension are not eligible?

Art. 10.3 of the MGA is a specific provision only applicable for pillar assessed participants.

FAQ 176 - According to Annex 5: “in case the activities in the field (or some of them) must be temporarily interrupted or reduced due to exceptional circumstances — in particular force majeure (see Article 35) — the beneficiaries must inform the granting authority and, if needed and agreed with the granting authority, adapt the action to the new circumstances (via an amendment; see Article 39)”.

If a partner files an amendment request, what will this mean for the cost eligibility during the suspension? Does it mean that from the suspension of activities an amendment has to be requested? Or does the partner have to wait until the end of the suspension period?

No, the amendment has to be submitted once there is certainty on if and how the activities will be resumed.

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