Community of Practice on partnership in the ESF 10 December 2007 Benedict Wauters Deputy Director Flemish ESF Agency COP partnership coordinator

GOVERNANCE Stakeholder engagement in preparation, implementation and monitoring of ESF support (art. 5) COP origin New ESF regulation Mainstreaming EQUAL Partnerships, pacts, networking (art. 3) PROJECTS Strengthen capacity of social partners (art 3+5 for convergence obj.) How to support this as ESF Managing Authority / Implementing body?

COP origin Initiative came from DG EMPL (EQUAL) and ESF/EQUAL Managing Authorities of Czech Republic, Austria, Portugal and Belgium Flanders Flanders is coordinating the COP COP organises an exchange event in Malta (January 2007)

Convincing programme managers, including from new member states of the importance of partnership Produce/share and provide easy access to practical examples, tools, models, guidance notes/fiches, good/poor practice descriptions, contextualised case studies and real life stories anchored in reality (including from EQUAL) that show “how to do it” –For the exchange event in Malta –For the Community website Engage in two-way interaction with other networks, initiatives, wider work environment… Mission of the COP as defined by its members

Managing Authorities and Partnerships Small and large, North, South, New Member States Current members Malta Portugal Greece Italy Belgium Flanders Sweden Poland Czech Republic Austria Romania Partnership Experts

Source: E. Wenger COP stages

Where are we now? Setting up steering group Launching calls, selecting contractors, recruiting first members setting up technology Interviewing members 1st base camp Identification of themes to work on 2nd base camp Key success factors identified Interactive website operational December 2006June 2007 September 2007 COP potential stage

Moving up to Malta Implementing team workplans 3rd base camp First deliverables presented and online November 2007 January 2008 COP coalescing stage December 2007 Implementing team workplans More deliverables online Malta exchange event -Presenting and discussing deliverables with others -Recruiting new members (4th basecamp)

Malta Source: Stages of the Programme Cycle were linked to key success factors in supporting partnership This provides a framework for good practice presentation

Practices to be presented at Malta OP analysis and design: –Contextual analysis –Promoting an enabling environment GREECE IRELAND –Widening the partnership knowledge and skills base PORTUGAL –Engaging stakeholders OP delivery planning –Setting up systems for stakeholder involvement FLANDERS ROMANIA –Developing partnership support structures and networks ITALY AUSTRIA

Practices to be presented at Malta Calls for and appraisal of proposals: –Focusing attention on partnership mechanisms and engagement at project level –Drawing upon the expertise of stakeholders in assessing proposals Animating: –Providing proactive guidance and advice –Promotion of partnering skills –Sharing learning concerning partnership SWEDEN POLAND

Practices to be presented at Malta Monitoring, financial management, audit: –Reporting on progress of partnership / stakeholder involvement –Trouble-shooting partnership problems –Financial monitoring/audit for partnerships Evaluation (ex ante/post and ongoing) –Participatory methodology –Feeding-back lessons learnt into the partnerships

After Malta Continuing exchanges 5th base camp Continuing exchanges 6th base camp COP extension? April 2008 COP maturing stage February 2008Stewardship? In Vienna, next to the 4th OECD platform

Interested? To know what’s going on: –Go to –Register –Gain access to and read discussion fora, wiki’s, blogs etc. but remember that at the moment much content is still hidden in preparation of Malta Ready to engage further? Contact the coordinator