The EU has announced a seven-year financial framework from 2014 to 2020, and its budget for ECHO during the period totals at €7.1 billion, which is less than 1% of the entire EU’s budget.
A new funding allocation of €300 million is planned in 2016 to that effect, complemented by an additional €200 million in 2017 and €200 million in 2018. The budget will be used to finance humanitarian aid operations, aiming to provide humanitarian and food assistance, relief and protection to people who are affected by man-made and natural disasters, and strategic plans which enable local communities and institutions to better prepare for, mitigate and respond adequately to natural disasters.
According to ECHO’s Guideline for Operational Priorities, ECHO will grant 50% of its annual budget to sub-Saharan Africa in response to consequences of natural disaster and complex emergencies in the region. Subsequently, 24% of the budget will be allocated to the Middle East and European neighborhood region, 14% to Asia and Pacific, 6% to Central and South America, Caribbean, and finally 3% to each of worldwide disasters and complementary operations.
