The objective of the Framework Contract (FWC) Beneficiaries 2013 Humanitarian Aid was to provide, via individual assignments defined and contracted through Specific Contracts, short-term technical assistance which can be mobilised at very short notice (normally within about 3 weeks).
The quality of this technical assistance had to be guaranteed by the selected Framework Contractors disposing of the appropriate internal or external technical skills. The technical assistance was provided for the exclusive benefit of those receiving the external aid. Technical assistance was required at any stage of the project cycle (except financial audits of programs) and covered any sector(s) within the below mentioned technical fields:

• Humanitarian aid needs assessment (medical and health-related matters, nutrition, water and sanitation, shelter…)
• Mediation, conflict prevention, conflict resolution and reconciliation
• Emergency/post emergency support needs assessment (including psycho-social, physical and economic damage assessment, reconstruction/rehabilitation planning and assessment of local implementation capacity and structure; socio-political situation among the population - “peace dividend”)
• Monitoring/observing cease-fire/peace accords and agreements
• Information/media support in crisis/emergency situations
• Demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration (DDR of armed forces, including child soldiers)
• Small Arms and Light Weapons; arms disseminated within civil populations;
• Clearance of mines and unexploded ordnance and related activities (including mine awareness, marking of minefields, impact survey, training and research)
• Repatriation and/or resettlement of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) and support to host communities (including information, administrative preparation, transport, reception and short- and long-term reintegration)
• Linking relief, rehabilitation and development (LRRD) including the rehabilitation of social and economical infrastructures and the strengthening of institutions, deemed necessary for the improvement of the minimal living - social - standards in post-crisis situation. Rehabilitation also includes economic measures permitting a long-term economical reintegration of crisis-affected populations.)
• Damage assessment and reconstruction planning (Post Conflict Needs Assessments, Post-Disaster Needs Assessments)
• Post-conflict transition plans, including employment generation, transitional justice and security measures and Security Sector Reform
• Logistical support to operations (including planning of complex missions, transport, provision of security, telecommunications)
• Disaster preparedness (natural and man-made)
• Civil protection
• Exploratory missions for EU Election Observation Missions

The beneficiaries of the short-term technical assistance available via this FWC Beneficiaries 2013 Humanitarian Aid are exclusively third countries benefiting from the Commission’s External aid programmes. The FWC has no overall contractual amount or maximum budget. The implementation duration (not exceeding 730 days) and the contractual amount (not exceeding € 300,000) are fixed for each individual assignment. These maxima include the possible addenda.
The various assignments are financed from the different budget lines for external aid (the European Communities general budget) and the European Development Fund (EDF).