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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

The core objective of this grant is to certify organizations capable of carrying out high-quality solidarity activities in compliance with the principles of the 'European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps'. Obtaining this 'Quality Label' is a precondition for participation in humanitarian aid volunteering projects. - Explicit identification of target recipient type and size: Organizations (public or private bodies) seeking to participate in humanitarian aid volunteering, specifically those applying for a 'Support role' or a 'Host role'. No specific size criteria, but allows for larger organizations with branches. - MUST state if grant is 'SECTOR-SPECIFIC' or 'SECTOR-AGNOSTIC': SECTOR-SPECIFIC (Humanitarian Aid Volunteering) - Geographic scope and any location requirements: Eligible countries for 'Support role' are EU Member States, Overseas Countries and Territories, and associated third countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Turkey, North Macedonia). 'Host role' can be in non-programme countries. - Key filtering criteria for initial grant screening: Organizations involved in or intending to be involved in humanitarian aid volunteering, seeking official certification to access related projects. - Grant frequency and program context: Applications can be submitted on a continuous basis with multiple annual cut-off dates. This is part of the broader European Solidarity Corps program.

Financial Structure

This grant provides a 'Quality Label' certification and not direct financial funding for humanitarian aid projects themselves.
Obtaining this Quality Label is a precondition for participation in volunteering activities that may receive financial grants under other European Solidarity Corps calls.
There are no budget ranges, minimum/maximum grant amounts, co-financing requirements, or matching fund obligations specified for acquiring the Quality Label.
There are no eligible or ineligible costs explicitly detailed for the application process of the Quality Label itself.
No payment schedule or mechanisms are relevant, as no direct funding is awarded.
Beneficiaries must operate on a 'no profit' basis for activities funded by European Solidarity Corps grants. Volunteering should cover participants' expenditures but not provide salaries or an economic benefit.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Organization Types

Support Role: Any organization legally established in a programme country. This includes all 27 EU Member States and Overseas Countries and Territories, as well as associated third countries like Iceland, Liechtenstein, Turkey, and North Macedonia.
Host Role: Any organization legally established in a non-programme country.
Simplified Host Procedure: An organization established in a programme country applying for a 'Support role' may also apply for a 'Host role' on behalf of its branches located in non-programme countries, provided they share the same legal personality.
Exclusion: Groups of young people are not eligible.

Legal and Regulatory Requirements

A 'declaration of honour' signed by the legal representative must be annexed to the application form.
For applicants with branch offices under the simplified host procedure, the 'Annex Tpl List of Branches' (an Excel table) must be filled in for all branches.
Answers related to award criteria for branches must be provided in Part B of the application, detailing whether they hold a valid certification.

Geographic Requirements

Organizations applying for a 'Support role' must be legally established in a European Solidarity Corps programme country.
Organizations applying for a 'Host role' can be legally established in a non-programme country.

Temporal Requirements

The Quality Label, once awarded, is valid for the entire duration of the programming period (2021–2027), subject to periodical reassessments.

Application Process

Application Timeline and Deadlines

Applications can be submitted on a continuous basis (at any time) during the programming period.
Applications are evaluated at set intervals, aligned with the timetable of the Humanitarian Aid Volunteering call for projects.
The latest available submission deadline for the 'Full Procedure' is 2026-09-22 17:00:00+02:00 (Brussels time).

Submission Procedure

Applications must be submitted to the Education and Culture Executive Agency via the Funding & Tenders Portal (europa.eu).
The specific Call ID is 'ESC-HUMAID-2021-QUAL-LABEL' and Topic ID is 'ESC-HUMAID-2021-QUAL-LABEL-FP'.

Required Documentation and Materials

A 'declaration of honour' signed by the legal representative must be annexed to the application form.
For organizations with branch offices (simplified host procedure), the 'Annex Tpl List of Branches' (an Excel table available on the platform) must be completed for all branches.
Answers related to the award criteria for branches must be included in Part B of the application, specifying whether each branch holds a valid certification.
A standard proposal template must be used.

Evaluation Process

The selection process involves three main stages: submission of application, assessment, and award.
Evaluation results for past deadlines have typically been communicated approximately five months after the submission date (e.g., results for September 2023 deadline were expected in February 2024).

Post-Award Requirements

Organizations holding a Quality Label must notify the awarding body of any changes that should be reflected in their Quality Label.
The Quality Label is subject to periodical reassessment through regular or ad hoc monitoring visits by the Executive Agency.

Evaluation Criteria

General Assessment

Applications are assessed against eligibility, selection, exclusion, and award criteria.

Award Criteria for Organizations Applying for a SUPPORT Role

Relevance
- The organization's motives for participation are convincing and clearly explained.
- The organization's objectives address issues relevant to the European Solidarity Corps.
- The organization's activities and experience are relevant to the humanitarian aid field and have a strong solidarity dimension.
- The organization demonstrates commitment to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, independence, and the 'do no harm' principle.
Quality of Measures
- Activities respond to humanitarian aid needs and provide tangible benefits to target groups and local communities.
- Security, health, and safety of participants are guaranteed, and any risks concerning accommodation and work placement are properly tackled.
- Necessary measures are taken to respect the avoidance of harmful activities principle.
- Adequate practical and logistical arrangements are in place.
- Adequate mentoring and personal support (including conflict prevention/mitigation and psychological support) for participants is ensured.
- Appropriate living and working conditions for volunteers are provided.
- Job substitution, routine tasks, and tasks with low learning impact are avoided.
- Environmental sustainability and responsibility are promoted, with sustainable and environmental-friendly practices incorporated into activities.
- Digital tools and methods are used to complement and improve activities.
Organizational Capacity
- The organization has demonstrated the ability, capacity, and commitment to allocate appropriate resources to manage European Solidarity Corps activities, especially regarding safety and security standards for Humanitarian Aid Volunteering.
- Appropriate steps are proposed to ensure continuity of activities in case of organizational change.
- The organization demonstrates a good approach towards working with partners.
- Measures for assuring the sustainability of planned activities are of appropriate high quality.
- Quality project management, including proper communication and coordination measures with other support or host organizations, is ensured.
- Measures aimed at disseminating the outcomes of activities within and outside participating organizations are appropriate and of high quality.
- Measures for monitoring and evaluating activities are appropriate and of high quality.

Award Criteria for Organizations Applying for a HOST Role

Relevance
- Same criteria as for the 'Support role'.
Quality of Measures
- Similar criteria to 'Support role', specifically emphasizing adequate mentoring support for participants during the activity.
Organizational Capacity
- Similar criteria to 'Support role', specifically emphasizing proper communication and coordination measures with the 'Support organization'.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Quality Standards and Principles (Participating organizations must respect these)

Equal opportunities and non-discrimination: Volunteers must be selected fairly, transparently, and objectively, without discrimination. No prior qualifications, educational level, specific experience, or language knowledge should be required, unless justified by the tasks. Participation must be free of charge for the volunteer (excluding possible contributions to travel costs if not fully covered by a grant). Activities should respect the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Avoidance of job substitution: Volunteering activities must not substitute traineeships or jobs. Volunteers should complement the work of paid staff, not replace them or undercut their pay and conditions.
Avoidance of harmful activities: Security and safety of participants, organizations, and target groups must be ensured, including appropriate clearance requirements for working with vulnerable groups. Activities must consider unforeseen circumstances (environmental crises, conflicts, pandemics) and respect the EU Guidelines for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of the Child.
Provision of high quality, easily accessible and inclusive activities: Volunteering tasks should enable skill and competency development for personal, social, and civic growth. Particular attention is given to the capacity of host organizations in third countries and integrating volunteers within local contexts. Learning outcomes should be validated (e.g., Youthpass, Europass).
Adequate training, working and volunteering arrangements: Safe and decent living and working conditions for participants. A volunteering agreement outlining rights, responsibilities, tasks, duration, financial aspects, practical arrangements (medical checks, visas, work permits), conduct, disciplinary policy, security, and learning/development must be signed.
'No profit' principle: Beneficiaries must not derive any profit from activities funded by grants. Volunteering should cover participants' expenditures arising from solidarity activities but not provide them with salaries or economic benefits.

Monitoring, Reporting, and Quality Assurance

The Quality Label is subject to periodical reassessment.
The Executive Agency may carry out regular or ad hoc monitoring visits to verify ongoing compliance with quality standards.
The Quality Label can be withdrawn in cases of serious underperformance, failure to comply with instructions/deadlines, or repeated violations of Programme rules. The Executive Agency will prompt the organization to take corrective measures before termination.

Strategic Considerations

Obtaining this Quality Label is a precondition for organizations to participate in future humanitarian aid volunteering projects funded under the European Solidarity Corps program.
Profiles of all organizations holding this Quality Label are published in a database on the European Solidarity Corps Portal to facilitate partner-finding and setting up project consortia.

Grant Details