1. Challenges in implementing MB IPA statistical cooperation programmes
MGSC, 2014
Jelena Budimir
March, 2014

2. MBPs in Serbia MBP 2007 – Service Contract MBP 2008 – Service Contract
MBP 2009 – Grants + Service Contract
MBP 2011 – Grants + Service Contract
MBP 2012 – Grants + Service Contract
MBP in preparation – more active role of enlargement NSIs in programme preparation
Main objective for all MBP: to improve the availability and quality of official statistics
Programme is very well constructed and covers the various statistical domains
Tendency over time is to rely more on grants rather than on service contracts

3. Service Contract Vs. Grants
Main advantages
allows some flexibility in activities and budgets
less management burden on the NSI
allows for access to a network of experts
high ownership of the project by the NSI
flexibility in project design: project in all statistical domains can be included
grant countries can choose experts (subcontracting)
Main
disadvantages
less beneficiaries influence in designing and implementation of the project
risk of badly performing company
number of competitive private company in the area of statistics is limited
less project ownership of NSIs
workload for the application is high
less flexibility in project implementation
high management burden on the NSI
difficulties to access a wide network of expert

4. Challenges in implementing MBP grants
Internal organization (set up the internal procedures, line of communications, responsible persons for different tasks/DCP, internal deadlines, etc.)
Inter-institutional cooperation (Ministries, National bank, etc)
Organization of the technical assistance:
finding the external experts
organization of the study visits

5. Technical assistance: External experts
The advantage for having expert subcontracting in grants is that grant countries can choose experts, and that they are not imposed by the contractor. Usually there are no problems in finding the expert. The only problem is when beneficiaries' technical units do not know the suitable expert. In that case access to the wide network of experts is needed.
Solutions
To contact Eurostat and ask for suggestion
Assistance by the Contractor?
Creation of the shared pool of experts among NSIs? Coordination role of Eurostat?
Different rules in different NSIs on engagement of experts. Who to contact: international cooperation or expert directly?

6. Technical assistance: Study Visits
On average only 50 per cent of the study visits were completed within MB IPA since it is very difficult to find EU Member States willing to host the study visit.
Solutions:
SV could be organised jointly for several countries
Organization of the SV to be part of the service contract?
More visibility of the whole programme’s outputs among MS (and in general) is needed.
The impact of these difficulties:
In the new programme less funds are planned for technical assistance

7. Challenges in implementing MB IPA statistical cooperation programmes
Thank you for your attention!
Jelena Budimir
March, 2014