Document status: current. Last source check: 4 Nov 2026, 09:59 UTC. Extracts below retain the donor’s source wording.
Countries and scope
Mozambique · South Africa · Madagascar · Seychelles · Mauritius · Botswana · Zimbabwe · Eswatini · Comoros · Lesotho · Namibia · Angola · Malawi · Zambia
Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Source document ↗
Funding priorities
The HIP 2026 for the SAIO region evolves from the HIP 2025, taking into consideration context developments and available funding. The HIP 2026 is structured along three mutually reinforcing pillars:
Response strategy ↗Pillar 1: Emergency response will cover multi-sectoral response to shocks related to conflicts, natural hazards and epidemics. The most acute humanitarian crisis in the region isMozambique which will continue to be covered with dedicated funding envelopes for emergency response and education in emergency as part of an integrated response (EiE covering Mozambique only). Angola, Madagascar, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe face several humanitarian challenges due to the cumulative effects of shocks such as cyclones, floods, droughts and epidemics combined with chronic vulnerabilities. These countries will be supported with multi-country actions i.e. covering at least 2 countries, and through
Response strategy ↗comprehensive, multi-sectoral interventions. Other countries may be included in multi-country actions provided that acute humanitarian needs are explained and analysed.
Response strategy ↗Pillar 2: Disaster preparedness will focus on urban preparedness and anticipatory action (activities carried out before an anticipated shock occurs)15 in Madagascar, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe and through multi-country actions. In addition, disaster preparedness in conflict will also be prioritised for northern Mozambique through a country specific action.
Response strategy ↗15 Anticipatory Actions are taken when a disaster is imminent (or, in the case of a slow-
Response strategy ↗onset disaster, when it is about to reach a peak). Therefore, they are carried out before a crisis occurs, or
Response strategy ↗before a significant development within a crisis. Anticipatory actions are implemented according to a pre- determined protocol, which describes the activities to be undertaken, and pre-agreed triggers established based on historical and current forecast analysis.
Response strategy ↗Pillar 3: Enablers will focus on key necessary support activities (e.g. logistics, data collection and analysis for decision making, coordination and security) for humanitarian operations and in support of the whole humanitarian community. Priority countries will be Angola, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe through multi-country action. While multi-country actions will be prioritised, country-specific actions may also be considered in the case of Mozambique.
Response strategy ↗Actions cutting across several pillars can be envisaged to promote an integrated approach between preparedness and response.
Response strategy ↗In a global context of reduced humanitarian funding, actions focusing on the most acute needs and gaps in existing responses and demonstrating high cost-efficiency, including through multi-purpose cash transfer (MPCT), mutualisation of services between partners (e.g. internet, legal services, maintenance of equipment, etc) and cost-efficient supply chains and last mile delivery, will be prioritised. Advocacy efforts to scale-up MPCT should continue, and where possible prioritising mobile money and using social registries where available to support beneficiary identification. Partners are also expected to adopt a multi-sectoral integrated
Response strategy ↗approach through mutualisation and coordination among partners and with other relevant initiatives and stakeholders.
Response strategy ↗Multi-sectoral and life-saving humanitarian assistance will be provided to people affected by three types of shocks: conflict, natural hazards and disease outbreaks. Assistance will focus on the most acute needs and notably situations of acute food insecurity (IPC3+), acute malnutrition, health crises, epidemics (e.g. cholera) and forced displacements. Assistance will prioritise newly displaced populations and host communities. All interventions must evidence the adoption of a holistic multi-sectoral and people-centered approach. Area-based coordination through an integrated response including elements of referrals, single registration
Response strategy ↗and data sharing between partners will be supported in priority.
Response strategy ↗Priority 1: Mozambique –life-saving humanitarian assistance adopting a multi-hazard approach
Response strategy ↗The response will focus on people mostly affected by the conflict in Cabo Delgado and/or natural hazards in the country. In addition, a response to epidemics may be integrated in the response.
Response strategy ↗Priority will be given to delivering conflict-sensitive, life-saving humanitarian assistance to vulnerable, underserved, and hard-to-reach populations in conflict-affected districts. Civil- military coordination, continuous conflict and security analysis and engagement with local leaders are critical for ensuring acceptance and access and mitigate risks in a volatile and insecure environment. Partners are also expected to operate in adherence to ethical risk-sharing frameworks and enhance safety and security standards.
Response strategy ↗The response strategy prioritises a coordinated, multisectoral approach, with a focus on relief and rapid recovery while enhancing resilience. WASH measures aim at addressing public health concerns by restoring access to safe water and adequate sanitation in areas affected by cyclones, floods, epidemics and displacement. Shelter support focuses on providing holistic and people centred emergency housing solutions while ensuring resilient reconstruction.
Response strategy ↗EiE interventions remain also critical for displaced populations and host communities or populations affected by natural shocks. The focus is on ensuring a first line education response, reducing the time a child spends out of learning. Where relevant, EiE components may be integrated within rapid responses. The 1st line or rapid education response includes the provision of safe spaces for children to find a sense of normality, while ensuring the necessary foundations for learning continuity and essential referrals to other life-saving assistance. Accelerated and catch-up education and psychosocial, mental health and trauma support, while
Response strategy ↗also ensuring teacher retention and well-being form part of the response. Partners should continue efforts to monitor and report grave violations against children. Given the sharp increase in grave violations against children witnessed in the last year, EiE actions with a strong focus on child protection are encouraged. Risk education on hazards, such as mines and explosive remnants, may be integrated.
Response strategy ↗Protection measures, notably for children, women and persons with disabilities, should be integrated into all actions to mitigate risks, supported by robust complaint and feedback mechanisms. Protection measures should ensure the safe identification and referral of individuals at-risk, as well as provision of specialized protection services including quality case management, mental health and psychological support (MHPSS).
Response strategy ↗The integrated approach may also include a response to epidemics with the objective to decrease morbidity and mortality below the emergency levels. The response focuses on activities based on scientific evidence in areas where mortality exceeds emergency thresholds, addressing most acute health and WASH needs at both facilities and community levels, while reinforcing surveillance and information management systems. The response should be aligned with government response plans and protocols to strengthen local health systems and enhance their resilience.
Response strategy ↗Strengthening Emergency and Rapid Response Mechanisms (E/RRMs) and coordination among the existing mechanisms is crucial for rapidly assessing needs, including protection needs, and delivering multi-sectoral aid. E/RRMs can also be used to drive anticipatory action before a shock occurs. Actions showing evidence of promoting mutualisation and optimisation of resources and capacities for rapid response will be privileged.
Response strategy ↗Partners are encouraged to implement nexus strategies with development programmes and build resilience, including in the areas of nutrition, education and protection.
Response strategy ↗Priority 2: Multi-country and multi-sectoral life-saving assistance
Response strategy ↗This multi-country priority (excluding Mozambique covered under priority 1 above) aims to address acute humanitarian needs and focuses on populations that are still affected by recent shocks such as cyclones, floods, droughts and epidemics. The response should be multisectoral and prioritise as main entry point vulnerable people and areas affected by acute malnutrition and health crises while integrating support for food security, protection, WASH and shelter assistance when needed and justified.
Response strategy ↗Health and nutrition response approaches should ensure that affected populations have timely and equitable access to essential health and nutrition services, supported by reliable and quality-assured pipelines of medical and nutrition commodities. Equally important is guaranteeing the quality of care for all services provided and support should ensure continuity of care and integration with local health systems, adopting mobile support modalities only as a last resort measure, in case of serious disruption or total unavailability of the services provided by national systems.
Response strategy ↗Given the remoteness of some of the locations to cover and access challenges, enhanced coordination among partners in terms of sectoral complementarity, logistics and supply chains are key to improving response efficiency.
Response strategy ↗Actions that also contribute to building resilience are encouraged, particularly those with well- defined exit strategies that ensure sustainability beyond initial interventions. Such actions should consider existing national systems’ and communities' ability to withstand and recover from future shocks by developing local capacities. These initiatives will also support a clear
Response strategy ↗
Partner eligibility
Only ECHO partners are eligible to submit a project for funding13;
Eligibility criteria ↗No award will be made to NGO partner organisations which have not complied with their obligations concerning the submission of audited financial statements (i.e., which would not have submitted those in due time to the Commission without a proper justification) or which would appear not to offer sufficient guarantee as to their financial capacity to implement the proposed actions (in light of their liquidity and solvency ratios as appearing from their latest available annual statutory accounts certified by an approved external auditor).
Eligibility criteria ↗All awards made using EU Funds must respect the Conditionality Measures14 issued under any Council Implementing Decision adopted in accordance with Article 6 of EU Regulation 2020/2092 on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union budget15 (“Conditionality Decision”).
Eligibility criteria ↗The Commission hereby notifies applicants under this HIP/TA of the following Conditionality Decision (valid at the date of publication of this HIP/TA):
Eligibility criteria ↗Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2506 of 15 December 2022 on measures for the protection of the Union budget against breaches of the principles of the rule of law in Hungary16.
Eligibility criteria ↗17 Act IX of 2021 on public interest trust foundations with a public service mission (entry into force 01/01/2023).
Eligibility criteria ↗18 Available (in Hungarian) at:[https://njt.hu/jogszabaly/2021-9-00-00](https://njt.hu/jogszabaly/2021-9-00-00)
Eligibility criteria ↗19Please also refer to ‘Note to partners + Annex I Final Report Liquidation’Ares(2025)4223717 available on[DG ECHOs partners website](https://www.dgecho-partners-helpdesk.eu/reference-documents-ngo)(THE SINGLE FORM 2021 section).
Eligibility criteria ↗This Conditionality Decision, in particular its Article 2.2, prohibits legal commitments under direct and indirect management with any public interest trust established by Hungarian Act IX of 202117, including those entities listed in Annex I to Hungarian Act IX of 202118 and other affiliated entities maintained by them (“Concerned Entities”). The Commission will further notify when the above- mentioned Conditionality Measures are lifted.
Eligibility criteria ↗
Apply the round-specific restrictions below together with the complete partner and award conditions.
Allocation rounds and submission dates
Allocation round 1
Indicative date has passed
- Published date / wording
- Indicative date for receipt of the above requested information: 12 December 2025
- Potential or pre-selected partners
- Potential partners7: All DG ECHO Partners
Dates are indicative and remain in their published context. A date shown here does not certify that new applications are being accepted. Confirm the exact cutoff time and applicable instructions.
Allocation round 2
Indicative submission information
- Published date / wording
- Indicative date for receipt of the above requested information: N/A.
- Potential or pre-selected partners
- Potential partners12: partners that have submitted proposals under allocation round 1.
Dates are indicative and remain in their published context. A date shown here does not certify that new applications are being accepted. Confirm the exact cutoff time and applicable instructions.
Official documents and versions
- HIP version 2 ↗ Version 2 · document read · 4 Nov 2026, 09:59 UTC
- Technical annex version 2 ↗ Version 2 · document read · 4 Nov 2026, 09:59 UTC