COMMUNICATE WITH DG ECHO

Communication is essential at every stage of the action, so it is important to know how to manage the flow of information between the UN Agencies and ECHO.

At this regards, it is possible to distinguish two levels of communication:

Communication at field level: ECHO presence in the field is represented by the Field Experts, who are in charge of supporting and supervising the UN Agencies implementing the actions in the field.
Field Experts advise mostly on operational matters related to the day-to-day implementation of the action in the field. They cannot take any legal decision regarding the provisions established by the Delegation Agreement.

Communication at HQ level: All those matters which required ECHO's prior approval should be discussed with the relevant desk officer in Brussels.

In any case, the UN Agency will make sure that it informs ECHO every time it will face one of the following situations:

• circumstances are likely to hamper or delay the implementation of the Action or the fulfilment of its contractual obligations;

• it become aware of corrupt, fraudulent, collusive or coercive practice in breach of the Agreement.

• external reports or other publications are issued in relation to the Action.

In particular, for all communications referred to the IMDA the UN Agencies shall follow the rules indicated in the Article 4 of the General Conditions and specified in the Guidelines.

The flow of communication related to the IMDA will follow the table below

Here below you can find the tables detailing the means to be used for each specific type of communication.

Depending on the modality of communication, the following is the date of receipt:

• Communication via APPEL: the day of the successful submission. After submitting the document, the partner will receive a message confirming the successful submission.

• Communication by email: the date of successful dispatch (if it was sent to correct address!).

• Postal delivery (without return receipt): the date of its registration by the Commission.

• Formal notification: the date on which the letters are actually received.

The working languages are French or English.

The Agreement will normally be concluded in the language in which the Single Form is filled in. Following communications will be made in the language of the Agreement.