Total expenditure
In 2021, the overall expenditure of Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe, amounting to around 59.8 million euros, was significantly higher than in 2020 (44.7 million euros). The main reason for the increase of nearly 15 million euros or 33.5 per cent is an almost equivalent increase in project expenditure, primarily for relief measures in response to the flood disaster in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia in July 2021. Statutory expenditure on humanitarian aid projects, project support and statutory public relations in 2021 amounted to almost 55.5 million euros (2020: 40.2 million euros) and, thus, 93.0 per cent of total expenditure (2020: 89.9 per cent).
Project expenditure
The principal recipients of project expenditure in 2021 of around 52.9 million euros were South Sudan (4.8 million euros), Germany (4.3 million euros for flood relief in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia), the Horn of Africa (6.2 million euros for Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya), Yemen (3.2 million euros), Turkey (3.0 million euros for projects for Syrian refugees), Colombia and Venezuela (4.4 million euros, including 2.4 million for the refugee crisis in Venezuela), Palestine (2.1 million euros), Syria (2.0 million euros), Haiti (2.0 million euros) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (1.8 million euros). Project expenditure in these countries and regions accounted for about 61 per cent of overall project expenditure.
Project support
Alongside personnel and administration costs, project support includes the cost of ‘upstream’ and ‘downstream’ project activities such as the selection of suitable project partners. It also includes expenditure on controlling and revision as well as on impact monitoring and evaluation. Compared to 2020, expenditure on project support fell slightly by around 70,000 euros or 3.0 per cent. This is primarily a consequence of slightly lower costs for human resources and a reduction in other operating costs resulting from reduced expenditure on field visits.
Statutory public relations
Expenditure on campaigns, education and awareness-raising activities amounting to 0.8 million euros, a slight fall from the previous year (0.9 million euros), contribute to raising public awareness of humanitarian aid concerns. It encompasses public relations, educational work and lobbying. Major areas of expenditure were press and media work, the production of brochures and the support for the public relations work of the diaconal agencies and regional churches.
Advertising and administration
Compared to 2020, there was a fall of around 120,000 euros or 4.6 per cent in expenditure on advertising in 2021. The major areas of expenditure were online and telephone marketing as well as donor mailings. The decrease in expenditure here was primarily a result of reduced expenditure on donor mailings. Expenditure on letters of thanks issued in response to the increase volume of donations received increased in 2021.
Administrative costs fell from 2 million euros in 2020 to 1.8 million euros (a reduction of 7.6 per cent) in 2021. The main reason for this change was a reduction of around 100,000 euros in other operating costs. In 2020, the closure of the central distribution hub for event logistics and merchandising articles had led to higher costs. Since 2021, the previous work of the central distribution hub has been performed by an external service provider. In 2021, expenditure on advertising and administration as a percentage of total expenditure fell to 7.1 per cent from 10.1 per cent the previous year. This decrease is a consequence, on the one and, of reduced expenditure on project support, statutory public relations, advertising and administration and, on the other hand, of increased project expenditure. In absolute terms, these areas of expenditure fell from 4.3 million euros in 2020 to 4.2 million euros in 2021. As a proportion of the total volume of expenditure, this level of expenditure on advertising and administration is categorised as “low” according to the criteria of the German Central Institute for Social Issues (DZI).