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What is "deconcentration" or "devolution"?
The deconcentration (or “devolution”) of the management of external aid towards the European Commission Delegations is a key element of the 2000 reform of the management of EU external assistance.
Its basic principle is that:
"All that can better be managed and decided on the spot, close to what is happening on the ground, should not be managed or be decided in Brussels" (Source: Communication on the Reform of the Management of External Assistance, p.20).
Deconcentration applies to all phases of the project cycle: from programming to evaluation. Indeed, the reform aims for EU delegations to have responsibility for key operational tasks, such as project identification and appraisal, contracting and disbursement of Community funds, and project monitoring and evaluation. The role of Headquarters is therefore evolving towards a role of coordination, quality control, management control, technical support and improvement in working practices.
Three waves of "devolution"
To implement the “deconcentration” (devolution), the European Commission has split the process into different stages, with devolution of the "geographical instruments" taking place in three successive waves:
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Wave 1 (2001-02), with 21 delegations (5 in ACP countries);
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Wave 2 (2002-03), with 26 delegations (8 in ACP countries);
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Wave 3 (2003-04), with 30 delegations (all in ACP countries).
The "thematic instruments" are also being devolved in three steps:
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food security (started in 2003);
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micro-projects (started in 2003);
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NGO co-financing, human rights and democracy, environment, health, de-mining and drugs (started in 2004).
By mid-2004, all 77 EC delegations, including the 43 in the ACP region, were expected to have increased human resources and decision-making power, making them capable of taking on the devolved responsibilities and tasks. However, certain delegations, including Haiti, Burundi and Papua New Guinea have faced delays.
Click on the following link to see the state of the progress of the devolution process:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/decentr/indexpays_en.htm
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