Local Government External Action Fund (FACECO) - Action Ukraine

Local government bodies can respond to humanitarian crises all over the world (natural disasters, conflicts, etc.), even if they have no previous links with the affected country.

The law sets out that: “if justified by the urgency of the situation, local government and its groupings may carry out or fund humanitarian action”.

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs has a Crisis and Support Centre which coordinates France’s humanitarian response. Among the tools available to it, one focuses on local government: FACECO.

What is FACECO?

Created in 2013, FACECO (Local Government External Action Fund) is an aid fund managed by the Crisis and Support Centre (CDCS) of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE). 
This fund enables local governments that so wish to provide emergency aid to victims of humanitarian crises all over the world, whether they be sudden (like natural disasters) or long-standing (like conflicts).

Today, FACECO is the only state tool which enables local governments to deliver a swift, effective response to emergency situations and to assist disaster-hit populations.

Why use FACECO?

• To guarantee that funds will be managed by state officials who are experts in emergency humanitarian assistance, working in close collaboration with international organizations and French NGOs;
• To ensure that funds will be used properly, contributing to France’s coordinated and appropriate response to the crisis;
• To ensure traceability of the funds through the local government and its tax payers: the MEAE will provide information about ongoing action and a work report regardless of the payment amount as part of emergency appeals, and for all payments in excess of €50,000 in the case of non-emergency appeals.

How will the funds be used?
The local government can choose to provide aid for a specific crisis (e.g. following a natural disaster) or to make a general contribution to FACECO. 
In all crises, projects are selected by the Humanitarian and Stabilization Operations Department (COHS) of the Crisis and Support Centre, in coordination with the contributing local government. 
This selection is based on:

• real needs identified on the ground;
• the cost-effectiveness of projects set out by agencies (international organizations, French or local NGOs).

Once the selection has been made, the MEAE, through the CDCS or its diplomatic representations, concludes a grant agreement with the selected agency and monitors the action taken, while providing updates.

How does it operate?

1. Indicate a preferred recipient

2. Make a contribution

• Using the relevant treasury office, you can make a bank transfer to the Specialized Directorate of Public Finances for Abroad (direction spécialisée des finances publiques pour l’étranger (DSFIPE)): Direction spécialisée des finances publiques pour l’étranger
  Banque de France (BDF), agence de Nantes (44)
• When transferring the funds, state the number and name of the recipient aid fund: 1-2-00263 “Contributions des collectivités territoriales au profit de l’aide d’urgence aux victimes de crises humanitaires à l’étranger” (Contributions of local government to emergency assistance to the victims of humanitarian crises abroad), stating the target country or crisis.

3. Formalization

The local government must formalize the donation being transferred:

• with the revenue service of the Specialized Directorate of Public Finances for Abroad, by emailing it at dsfipe.recettes@dgfip.finances.gouv.fr or writing to it at: 30 rue de Malville - BP 54007 - 44040 Nantes Cedex 1), enclosing a copy of the deliberation during which the donation was decided upon, the date of the transfer and the allocation of the funds (country or crisis);
• with the MEAE Crisis and Support Centre by emailing a copy of the message to comptabud209.cdcs@diplomatie.gouv.fr or by writing to the address below.

How to help Ukraine through FACECO?

1. Choose “Action Ukraine – Support for conflict victims”

2. Make a contribution

Following deliberation, a bank transfer can be made from the relevant treasury office to the Specialized Directorate of Public Finances for Abroad (direction spécialisée des finances publiques pour l’étranger (DSFIPE)). 
When transferring the funds, in addition to stating the number and name of the recipient aid fund (see details above), specify “Action Ukraine”

• Contact: humanitaire.crise-ukraine@diplomatie.gouv.fr

What happens next?

Each membership of the fund receives specific publicity, both from agencies on the ground (on a contractual basis) and the MEAE. The local government involvement will be mentioned across all media (via its logo) and all communication campaigns linked to the crises for which assistance has been provided.

What is the Crisis and Support Centre (CDCS)?

The State’s ability to manage complex crisis situation is both a key component of French foreign policy and an obligation with regard to French nationals.

To respond to crises requiring emergency humanitarian assistance and those threatening the safety of French nationals abroad, the MEAE has a dedicated structure. Created on 2 July 2008, the Crisis and Support Centre (CDCS) is responsible for mobilizing and coordinating all state resources to respond to consular or humanitarian crises.

Attached to the Minister’s Private Office, it is made up of over 100 officials working round the clock. Some of them specialize in emergency international solidarity: the Humanitarian and Stabilization Operations Department (COHS).