Transnational Working & Reporting Procedures What project promoters cannot ignore about INTERREG IVB NWE project monitoring

LP Seminar April 2012 Transnational Cooperation & Reporting Procedures I) Transnational cooperation: Definition D.D.D.I.D Principle Examples II) Monitoring: Reporting Procedures Progress Reports Indicators Practical Tips

LP Seminar April 2012 Transnational Cooperation – Definition A transnational issue is a challenge which goes beyond national borders, for which, by its very nature, a satisfactory solution cannot be found at national, regional or local level without co-operation with partners in other countries. More about transnational cooperation: Guidance Notes: no.7

LP Seminar April 2012 Transnational Cooperation – Principles D.D.D.I.D. Principle: Design, Develop, Decide, Implement & Disseminate Together = joint process of the project

LP Seminar April 2012 Transnational Cooperation – Rationale Basics: reason to cooperate key point for all planned activities described in project application form ensured during all project activities evident and clearly reported results in strengthened economic competitiveness of NWE

LP Seminar April 2012 Transnational Cooperation – Added Value Develop / implement efficient and innovative solutions for common problems that you have been experiencing for ages Achieve greater impact by combined effort (better performance as it would be by separate actions) Establish common standard / identity / product Raised each partner’s profile / improve skills and expertise

LP Seminar April 2012 Transnational Cooperation – Before you start implementing Ensure clear common vision and understanding of purpose and clear focus of all planned activities make sure before implementation of action plan starts take your time to ensure this clear roles and added value of each partner -> each partner has own contribution -> brings something special & different no passive partner (even if the financial contribution is minor)

LP Seminar April 2012 Transnational Cooperation – Working Transnationally All outputs should as much as possible be jointly produced and include common products or strategies, useable and transferable over NWE HOW…?  Regular partner meetings: whole consortium and in smaller groups  Action groups or thematic groups related to key specific actions/investments  Reviews of investments by all partners  Communication – widely disseminated results by collective, not separate, communications activities BE A CREATIVE MANAGER!!

LP Seminar April 2012 Transnational Cooperation – Working Transnationally (Examples) MANAGEMENT AND REPORTING Organise a rotating system for the chairing of meetings / hosting events etc. (LP + 1 partner in charge) ACTIONS/INVESTMENTS Twinning approach: each investment is discussed beforehand by at least two partners (meeting for several days to give relevant input by one partner to another). Specific International Steering Committee for each investment: representing different levels of governance and key stakeholders => decision on investments at cross-border level (railway bottlenecks) => new level of governance and new negotiation platform!

LP Seminar April 2012 Transnational Cooperation – Working Transnationally (Examples) COMMUNICATION Joint public campaigns in parallel in each of the partner cities to promote the project – linked with e.g. a competition (awards) Web sites: focus on the joint work and main achievements! Present not only maps and concrete figures but also joint work  DISSEMINATION AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER Thematic workshops including experts external to project consortium could be more efficient than big and expensive conferences

Transnationality to sum up Own piece of cake to the party? Unique ingredients by each partner and baked together? What about taste? IT HAS TO TASTE GOOD!

LP Seminar April 2012 Monitoring – definition An important task/tool that needs to be carried out/used throughout the lifetime of your project: regular analysis of the progress made by your project highlights areas for improvement in the implementation of your action plan enables delivery of high quality results This is a way to communicate about your project with the JTS!

LP Seminar April 2012 Progress Report – general issues One common report for the whole partnership In line with the Application Form (Action Plan) Twice a year (April/October) Length and level of detail (long/short version of the report) Assessment of the Progress Report through a JTS Monitoring Report Delays in delivery of the report

LP Seminar April 2012 Short Progress Report – October I.General Information (general project data, details on reporting period, summary description of the project in English) II.Progress of the project – last 6 months (e.g. main achievements, added value of working transnationally, problems encountered) III.Monitoring of QUALITATIVE indicators (e.g. strength of cooperation between partners, innovativeness, capitalisation on previous projects) IV.Date and signature of the Lead Partner

LP Seminar April 2012 Long Progress Report – April I.General Information II.Overall cumulative progress of the project III.Progress of the project – last 12 months (including reporting on WPs and investments, submission of supporting annexes) IV.Monitoring of QUANTITATIVE indicators (indicators specified in the Application Form) V.Planned activities for the next 12 months VI.Date and signature of the Lead Partner

LP Seminar April 2012 Indicators Indicator – the measurement of an effect to be obtained. 2 Progress Reports – 2 sets of indicators Qualitative (in October PR) Qualitative (in October PR) Quantitative (in April PR) Quantitative (in April PR) general Priority specific results outputs RESULTS (immediate effects) RESULTS (immediate effects) IMPACTS (long-term effects) OUTPUTS (direct outcome) INPUT ERDF general

LP Seminar April 2012 Indicators – tips Quantitative indicators Small errors can lead to big inaccuracies! Fill in only the priority specific indicators that are relevant to your project Qualitative indicators LPs are highly encouraged to discuss them with their partners to obtain the views of the whole partnership More information: see Guidance Notes (Note 14).

LP Seminar April 2012 Progress Report – templates Progress Report – short version ProgressReportShort.xls Progress Report – long version ProgressReportLong.xls More information on Reporting Procedure: see Guidance Notes (Note 18).

LP Seminar April 2012 Progress Report – tips Give an accurate picture of the project’s progress through concise and relevant information Avoid reporting on activities that have not yet taken place Report on the implementation of the project as a whole, rather than on the partners’ individual activities (use annexes!) Report on achievements (outputs) and on the added-value of transnational cooperation Avoid listing a number of unrelated activities not clearly linked to the Action Plan Draft together (it is not a compilation!) Provide the JTS with material to disseminate

LP Seminar April 2012 Questions?