1 / 12

Scope, Lessons Learnt and Challenges of the RIMI4AC Project

Scope, Lessons Learnt and Challenges of the RIMI4AC Project. Pieter van der Bijl Project Manager. Content. The RIMI4AC Project: Introduction Objectives Work Packages Start-up Meeting PMB Presentations and Workshops Lessons learnt Challenges Conclusions. RIMI4AC: Introduction: 1.

iris-campos
Download Presentation

Scope, Lessons Learnt and Challenges of the RIMI4AC Project

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Scope, Lessons Learnt and Challenges of theRIMI4AC Project Pieter van der Bijl Project Manager 2nd ACP Joint Stakeholder Conference, Brussels, 26-28 October 2011

  2. Content The RIMI4AC Project: • Introduction • Objectives • Work Packages • Start-up Meeting • PMB • Presentations and Workshops • Lessons learnt • Challenges • Conclusions

  3. RIMI4AC: Introduction: 1 • The RIMI4AC(Research and Innovation Management Improvement for Africa and the Caribbean) project (EU-funded under the S&T programme of the ACP) awarded to a consortium of 10 partners consisting of: • SARIMA- Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (South Africa) • RIMS - Research & Innovation Management Services bvba (Belgium) • ACU - Association of Commonwealth Universities (South Africa) • RRA - Research Research Africa (Pty) Ltd (South Africa) • UB - University of Botswana (Botswana) • SU - Stellenbosch University (South Africa) • UI - University of Ibadan (Nigeria) • UDSM - University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) • BUEA - University of Buea (Cameroon) • UTECH - University of Technology, Kingston (Jamaica)

  4. RIMI4AC: Introduction: 2 • SARIMA is the lead partner (beneficiary) in the project and is responsible for: • Project coordination • Management of meetings/conference calls • Financial/narrative reports • General communication with ACP secretariat in Brussels • Project aims at improving effectiveness of research management (RM) support structures at African and Caribbean universities • These structures are to be built on successful past initiatives, using existing, as well as future, local/regional networks and organisations already in place

  5. RIMI4AC: Introduction: 3 • Envisaged that the project will have a catalytic impact on research capacity and dissemination of the outcomes of research, ie: •  international collaboration and funding, networks (AC), RM structures and sharing know-how (training programmes), professional qualifications envisaged • Facilitating efficient research management   quality, outcome and donor confidence •  impact of research by better dissemination of results,  knowledge bases of universities and stakeholders • Harmonising extension work with RM structures • Establishing new R&I associations (CabRIMA, CARIMA & EARIMA) • Expanding electronic facilities (training materials, database - including Francophone material) • Mechanisms for benchmarking progress and problems

  6. RIMI4AC: Work Packages: 4 • WP1: Project Management and Administration (project coordination, management of meetings/conference calls, coordination with ACP secretariat) • WP2: Sustainable Capacity Building (establishing or improving of R&I management associations (RIMAs)) • WP3: Knowledge Platform (provision of core baseline info on funding opportunities – build on existing Research-Africa.net platform) • WP4: Training and Professional Development (coordination of training & professional development for research managers) • WP5: Policy Dialogue (ensuring that outcomes are fully disseminated to key stakeholders to influence practice at institutional, national and regional levels) • WP6: Dissemination (raising awareness of objectives and progress among policymakers in Europe and ACP countries)

  7. RIMI4AC: Lessons Learnt: 5 • Beneficiary and partners did not plan as thoroughly as they should have during the 3-month period following the short-listing of the project resulting in: • Problems with financial reporting • Synchronising start-up meeting with starting date of project (improved logistics) (leniency from ACP) • Better planning (travelling and holding workshops in the various regions of the project) would have enabled more accurate budgeting • This would have facilitated smoother operations and less ‘to-ing and fro-ing’ between beneficiary, partners and ACP secretariat in order to bring expenditures in line with activities

  8. RIMI4AC: Challenges : 6 • Poor rapport with certain partners: • Communication systems in five regions often not optimal • Tardiness of some partners in responding to requests • Very difficult to ensure cooperation among partners as well as timeous sending of financial/narrative reports • This has led to major delays in reporting to the ACP and deferment of receiving 2nd tranche of funding • Beneficiary sent constant reminders and adjusted time lines (what other measures can be taken?) • Tried more frequent (quarterly) reporting – not too successful • Combined reports drawn up and submitted, with some information from defaulting partners lacking

  9. RIMI4AC: Challenges (continued): 7 • Partners, beneficiary and support staff (accountants & auditors) not familiar with management/reporting systems of the EU: • This resulted in reports not being in an EU-acceptable format • ACP secretariat was very helpful in providing feedback • However, too much time wasted in rectifying the above-mentioned matters • Information on the website of the ACP is perhaps too sketchy • It would be helpful if ACP secretariat could provide elementary training, eg to project managers, in EU management/reporting systems • ACP be asked to update website with more information

  10. RIMI4AC: Challenges (continued): 8 • Timing of starting date and reporting (1 month after ending each year of project) is not ideal: • Project awarded in November 2009 – December/January are summer holiday months in Southern hemisphere and few people are at work • Universities and other institutions close over these Christmas holidays – problems with getting financial statements and narrative reports • Beneficiary has drawn up time schedule for earlier reporting in conjunction with its accountants/auditors • It would be helpful if EU would consider later starting dates for projects in Southern hemisphere

  11. RIMI4AC: Challenges (continued): 9 • Foregoing challenges for this project have led to: • The non-receipt of 2nd tranche of funding. This has restrained certain activities and not all milestones envisaged will be reached within the 36-month period • Intend asking for an 8-month no-cost extension of project • Recommendations for future projects: • More care in selecting partners • Guideline: Prior cooperation in other projects with individual partners (ie their track record) • Smaller consortia (fewer partners) • Include measures in EU contracts for managingnon-cooperating partners

  12. RIMI4AC: Conclusions: 10 • Even though lessons were learnt and challenges experienced, most project objectives have been attained (some activities have even been undertaken ahead of schedule) • For the success of the project to date, we sincerely thank the partners who have so conscientiously made their contributions

More Related