The European Union and Humanitarian Aid - The European Commission Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid (DG ECHO) at the dawn of malnutrition in the Sahel

The European Commission Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) has become a unique actor in international relations. Its singularity is defined by a progressive institutionalisation and a proper functioning within the European institutions. In particular, the study of the strategy ECHO has developed to fight malnutrition in the Sahel reveals the strengths, the weaknesses, the opportunities and the constraints of the European Commission humanitarian aid system. Indeed, ECHO has succeeded in promoting a credible and recognized policy to combat malnutrition. However, the security challenge posed by malnutrition exposes the European Commission's vulnerabilities, which are heightened in the volatile environment of the Sahel. The lack of coherence of the European Union external actions and administration are particularly constraining.
Though, the authority and maturity displayed by ECHO, specifically in the nutritional dimensions of aid, has increased its legitimacy to exist and to be a key player in the humanitarian aid system. The added value it provides is based on the expertise of its staff, but also on a unique system of partnerships with specialized operators. Twenty years after its creation, ECHO has asserted itself and has a growing influence on the international and European scene, where it contributes to the construction of the EU identity.