The purpose of the evaluation is to contribute to advance EU reflection on the future implementation of its humanitarian policy, including practical considerations to be reflected in a follow-up to the current consensus action plan. The main objective of the evaluation is to deliver an independent assessment of the implementation of the consensus and of the action plan at the EU level, in view of reflections on follow-up to the current action plan after its expiry in mid-2013, and improving EU performance in the humanitarian field in the future. In particular the evaluation will investigate to what extent the adhesion to the consensus by the EC and the Member States has contributed to better coordination and coherence in the implementation of EU humanitarian assistance.