140 likes | 338 Views
Partnership in the fight against poverty: Good practices and recommendations Elodie Fazi, EAPN 8 December 2008. Intro: partnership and social inclusion 2. Partnership in structural funds governance 3. Creating the right environment at project level.
E N D
Partnership in the fight against poverty: Good practices and recommendations Elodie Fazi, EAPN 8 December 2008
Intro: partnership and social inclusion 2. Partnership in structural funds governance 3. Creating the right environment at project level
1. EAPN and structural funds What is the European Anti-Poverty Network? • Created in 1990 • 24 national networks Structural funds matter for social inclusion • 78 million Europeans facing poverty • potential impact on poverty eradication (bringing resources and new approaches) • - 12,4% ESF expenditure for inclusion + ERDF
1. Structural funds and partnership Essential in the fight against poverty (complex and multidimensional: employment, services, health, education) Requires bottom-up approaches and participation • Key challenge: how to make progress in mainstream SF programmes after EQUAL?
2. Partnership in governance: what for? Art. 11 SF regulation requests involving stakeholders from planning to implementation (includes NGOs) Good governance principle (democracy and legitimacy) in potentially controversial contexts. But not only this: • more transparency and better information • - better absorption of funds (improved selection of projects and information to beneficiaries)
2.Some good practices in planning NSRFs and OPs Opening up consultations (NSRFs and OPs) • Electronic consultation, but also hearings, working groups and regular dialogue on ESF and ERDF • Transparent and open selection • Beyond social partners, gender equality only • Ensuring right process (clarity, time) • Make it matter (impact and feedback)
2.Golden rules for partnership in monitoring committees - Open up beyond “traditional” partners through transparent selection process • Involving social NGOs beyond ESF committees - Ask the sector to coordinate and give a clear mandate - Allow real participation by making all documents available in advance to everybody - Give full membership (not just observers): voting rights • Strengthen partners’ capacity through training • Some good practices but lack of common approach
3. Who delivers projects (and how) matters NGOs as partners in structural funds delivery (art. 5.4 ESF) - need for multi-dimensional and integrated approach to inclusion (e.g. employment, social services…) • adapt to needs of excluded groups (Roma...) Yet numerous obstacles (information, administrative capacity, co- and pre-financing) • How to ensure that partnership goes beyond rhetoric?
3. Using technical assistance to strengthen partners’ ability to take part in projects Providing targeted training for NGOs (UK, MT, SP, FR…): - information on ESF and other funds - financial management - project management, monitoring and control Ongoing assistancefor projectpreparation and appraisal: - application rounds • implementation, evaluation and reporting
3.Providing adequate procedures and financial mechanisms Putting in place a global grant system (grant managed through intermediary body): UK, FR, PT, HU, SP… Providing: • small-sized grants, 100% up-front financing • accessible application systems and procedures - ‘light touch’ monitoring and reporting requirements • support to applicants and grant recipients • No significant progress in 2007-2013, even steps back
4.Conclusion 2007-2013: less progress that foreseen, less bottom-up Partnership sometimes more rhetoric than reality But not too late to act: European Parliament report requesting clear common definition and progress: role of the EC Partnership needed at EU level as well: need to implement what is requested from Member States