1 Workshop on social inclusion of disabled people EU Funding Sofia, October 2006 Luk Zelderloo EASPD

2 Overview Introduction in project management Introduction to European funding programmes and budget lines Relevant DGs and programmes for the social profit sector Interesting websites to remember

3 Benefits of European Projects (a) Benefits for service users –New services –Contacts across boarders –Development of standards Benefits on political level –Lobby tool for innovation –Benchmarking –European concepts for implementation

4 Benefits of European Projects (b) Benefits for your organisation –Recognition of know-how –Tool for innovation –H.R.M. tool for motivation –Positioning of your organisation –Capacity building in project management –Snowball effect

5 Benefits of European Projects (c) Benefits for you –Increase of personal competencies –Networking opportunities –Meeting friends

6 Triangle of Succes Budget & Resources Lead Organisation & Relevance Acceptance EU - Objectives

7 PROJECT IDEAS versus FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES (a) Is the organisation ready for a project? Why, who, what, with whom, for whom, how much Do I know what the funding opportunity is about? Objectives, activities, beneficiaries, partnership, budget Are my project ideas in line with the programme? SMART: Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic Timed

8 PROJECT IDEAS versus FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES (b) Read guidelines and application form Terms of reference, eligibility criteria, evaluation criteria Think before you act Do I have a chance? (= is my entire project eligible?) Do I have all information and the time to write a proposal? Can I realise my ideas? (= does my NGO fit for the job?)

9 PROJECT IDEAS versus FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES (c) Ask the funding authority for advice If necessary, revise (part of) the project ideas Make sure all parties can still agree to the proposal A good preparation pays off In case of selection, the proposal is part of the contract

10 Relevant DGs for the social profit Several budget lines and programmes available at European level EC: the Europe’s largest donor 1 billion euro is available for projects A good strategy to access the EU budget is needed

11 Relevant DGs for the social sector

12 Relevant DGs for the social profit DG Justice & Home Affairs –Daphne II and III : combat violence against children, young people and women (details to be published) DG Enlargement –IPA : new instrument for Pre-accession assistance

13 Relevant DGs for the social profit DG Employment, Social Affairs & Equal Opportunities - PROGRESS: Will replace the existing Community programmes & budget lines 1)Employment 2)Social protection and inclusion 3)Working conditions 4)Anti-discrimination and diversity 5)Gender equality

14 Relevant DGs for the social profit ESF: European Social Fund 1.increasing adaptability of workers and enterprises 2.Enhancing access to employment and sustainable inclusion of job seekers 3.Reinforcing social inclusion of disadvantaged people 4.Enhancing human capital 5.Promoting partnerships through networking

15 Relevant DGs for the social profit DG Education & Culture -“Integrated approach in life long learning” - new generation of EU programmes in the field of education, training, culture and youth - focus on - school education (Comenius), - higher education (Erasmus), - vocational training (Leonardo da Vinci) - adult education (Grundtvig), complemented by transversal measures and a new programme Jean Monnet (European integration)

16 Relevant DGs for the social profit -Comenius: school education: to involve at least 5% of EU school pupils -Erasmus: higher education -Grundtvig: adult education: to help 25,000 adult education students to benefit from studying abroad in Leonardo da Vinci: promotes mobility, innovation, and quality of training through transnational partnerships - main focus on increasing training placements in enterprises and training centers in another EU country to 150,000 in Mobility; 2. Pilot projects 3. Transnational networks; 4. Language competencies 5. Reference materials; 6. Joint Actions (together with Socrates & Youth) - Transversal programmes: four key cross-cutting activities

17 Relevant DGs for the social profit Integrated Programme Comenius School education Erasmus Higher education & advanced training Leonardo da Vinci Initial and continuing VET Grundtvig Adult education Transversal programme 4 key activities – Policy development; Language learning; ICT; Dissemination Jean Monnet programme 3 key activities – Jean Monnet Action; European Institutions; European Associations

18 Relevant DGs for the social profit Integrated lifelong learning – What is new?  Less detail in legislation  Coherence across constituent programmes and actions  Single programme committee  Proportionality in financial rules  Budget LLP : Euro Million  Budget Leonardo da Vinci: 1,550 Euro Million

19 Relevant DGs for the social profit Overall budget: Euro million Comeniusnot less then10% Erasmusnot less then40% LEONARDO DA VINCInot less then25% Gruntvignot less then3%

20 Relevant DGs for the social profit DG Regional Policy –ERDF: European Regional Development Fund –ESF: European Social Fund (cfr. supra) –Cohesion Fund

21 European Social Fund - created in 1957; - main EU source of financial support for efforts to develop employability and human resources; -Covers two objectives: convergence and regional competitiveness and Employment (vocational training, employment, aids etc for all members states and regions)

22 ESF priorities Main areas covered: -Improving the quality and responsiveness of labour market, institutions, education and training systems as well as social and care services; -Boosting human capital investment, improving education levels, adapting labour force’s skills and improving equal access to the labour market -Promoting capacity-building of public administrations and thus encouraging adaptation and change -Innovation, empowerment issues, partnership and transnational partnership

23 Main themes for Innovation and the knowledge economy. Environment and risk prevention. Accessibility and services of general economic interest. Reforms for full employment. Improving quality and productivity at work. Inclusion and cohesion.

24 Money... Most of the ESF money is allocated by national governments. EU has money for –Technical assistance – Evaluation & studies Community Initiative Programmes (CIP) (+ 5% in 2000 – 2006) are supposed to be mainstreamed;

25 The objectives (Theme or geographical area) Convergence Eligible regions Objective Objective 1 Areas with GDP < 75% of the Community average 2 The rest (GDP > 75%) 3 Cross – border cooperation Territorial cooperation Regional competitiveness

26 BUDGET Objective levels of financial assistance Objective 1 78% (69,7%) Convergence 2 18% (11,5%) Competitiveness 3 4% (12,3%) Cooperation Reserve 3% (4%) Reserve Technical 0,3% (0,25%) Technical assistence assistence

27 PROGRESS - new Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity includes the 4 specific Community Action Programmes currently supporting the implementation of the social policy agenda - it covers financial period

28 Progress: general information -It will complement the ESF and the financial support provided for social dialogue, free movement of workers and social studies -Simplifies the actual system of financing, increase visibility, clarity and coherence of the different programmes - € 628 million for

29 Structure 5 sections: - Employment - Social protection and employment - Working conditions - Anti-discrimination and diversity - Gender equality

30 Types of activities financed i. Analytical activities - improving the understanding of the Social Policy Agenda’s issues, - contribute to effective implementation, - help to improve coordination with EU policy areas and strategies e.g. collecting and disseminating data, carrying out studies, analyses, impact assessments, developing statistical and evaluation methods)

31 Types of activities financed ii. Activities involving mutual learning – exchanges of information, - awareness-raising, identifying and promoting good practice & evaluation (e.g. peer reviews) iii. Activities that support the main stakeholders to promote the exchange: - of good practice, - sharing of information, preventive awareness-raising measures, as well as discussion procedures e.g. Setting up working parties of national officials, developing networking at EU level, funding networks of experts in different areas

32 How will it work ? - open to private bodies and relevant stakeholders - geared towards member states, local, regional authorities, public employment services, national statistical offices - and other stakeholders such as media, E-NGOs etc. will be able to take part as well dex_en.html

33 Thank you! EASPD Av. d’Auderghem 63 / Oudergemlaan B – 1000 Brussels Tel – Fax