EUROPEAID/121737/D/SV/RO - Training in Project Cycle Management, Procurement and Contracting of Pre-Accession Projects and Management of EU Structural Instruments 1.7 Centralized Decentralized ex-ante and Decentralized ex-post controls

Three approaches to managing the procedures Centralised: Decisions are taken by the European Commission, acting for and on behalf of the beneficiary country. In this case, actions to be performed by the Contracting Authority (CA) throughout this Guide should be interpreted as being carried out by the European Commission (ie, Commission headquarters or the delegation in the beneficiary country), acting for and on behalf of the beneficiary country. 2. Decentralised-Ex ante: decisions concerning the award of contracts are taken by the CA but referred for prior approval to the European Commission. 3. Decentralised-Ex post: decisions are taken by the CA without prior reference to the European Commission

What does it mean for grant management (1): CENTRALISED The Commission is responsible for publishing work programmes, issuing Calls for Proposals, receiving proposals, chairing evaluation sessions, deciding on the results of Calls for Proposals and signing the contracts. EC managing the process!

What does it mean for grant management (2): DECENTRALISED: EX-ANTE Grants are awarded by the CA designated in the financing agreement. Prior approval from the European Commission is needed for: Annual work programmes Guidelines for Applicants Evaluation Report, details of the proposed grants and draft contracts Any derogations European Commission should be represented as an observer in evaluation. The Contracting Authority must submit the annual work programmes, Guidelines for Applicants and grant award notices to the European Commission for publication. Contracting Authority should notify the European Commission about signed contracts. EC closely supervises the process!

What does it mean for grant management (3): DECENTRALISED: EX-POST Grants are awarded by the CA designated in the financing agreement. It is responsible for publishing annual work programmes, issuing Calls for Proposals, receiving proposals, chairing evaluation sessions, deciding on the results of Calls for Proposals and signing the contracts. !No prior approval from the European Commission is required. The Contracting Authority must submit the annual work programmes, Guidelines for Applicants and grant award notices to the European Commission for publication. CA managing the process and keeps all responsibility for it!

1.8 Grant scheme cycle

10 steps in grant scheme/programme management 1. Design- setting objectives 10. Ex post evaluation- meeting objectives 2. Decision on financing 9. Checking the final reports 3. Development of Call for proposals documentation 8. Implementation of projects – monitoring and financial control GRANT SCHEME 4. Announcing Call for proposals 5. “Promotion” activities 6. Submission of project proposals 7. Evaluation and award

Time schedule Action/ Time 1 2 3 4 1. Development of Guidelines for applicants X 2. Launching of Call for Proposals Each of You have received 2 copies of IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE FOR OPEN CALL FOR PROPOSALS 1 sheet - Please complete it now, how do you think what time each step takes? 2 sheet - During all training sessions You are asked to fill in this schedule and we will come back to this at the end of training!