- Category Learning Plan
- Number of Courses 5
- Language English
- Duration 41 hours
Learning Plan
Mastering winning proposals and EU Grants management
Two virtual classroom courses and three eLearning modules to provide all the necessary skills to effectively work on EU international cooperation programs
Description
With this comprehensive and practical overview of EU grant management, participants will gain mastery in accessing EU funding and managing projects. The course teaches all the necessary skills to work with DG INTPA, DG NEAR and EU delegations on development projects. Rather than being intimidated by the grant application process, participants will develop their capacity to write proposals and prepare budgets, to manage EU grants in accordance with the PRAG rules and build appropriate monitoring.
Learning Objectives
At the end of the learning plan, you will be able to:
 
- Identify relevant EU funding opportunities and calls for proposals
- Prepare successful project proposals and realistic budgets
- Properly apply PRAG procedures concerning grants (for example, costs eligibility, amendments, reporting, procurement, record-keeping)
- Build and manage effective project partnerships
- Manage financial support with third parties
- Comply with EU requirements in terms of visibility and communication activities
- Set up a code of conduct for your organisation
- Report on results achieved and related costs incurred
- Prepare records and supporting evidence for expenditure verification
Virtual Classroom
This course provides practical guidance on how to prepare project proposals with the goal of obtaining funding from the DG INTPA/DG NEAR and the EU delegations for your development cooperation programs. Discover how the EU funding and programming system works and note our experts’ tips on how to establish a fruitful relationship with the EC and the EU delegations. Learn how to deal with calls for proposals and strengthen your competence in proposal writing and budgeting to be successful in the grant application process.
30 May & 6-13 June 2022
Managing EU Grants under PRAG rules and procedures
Discover how to manage EU grants according to the PRAG rules. Master the tools that will equip you to resolve all types of issues and challenges in the implementation of development projects financed by DG INTPA, DG NEAR and the EU Delegations. Become competent in cost eligibility, procurement, M&E, reporting and visibility. Ensure fruitful partnership and coordination mechanisms, learn how to properly deal with changes that might arise during project implementation and be ready for the expenditure verification.
eLearning
Gain in-depth knowledge and tools that will equip your organisation to act as a donor and award financial support to local CSOs, grassroots organisations or other entities within the framework of EU grants. Become familiar with the information that must be provided in your project proposals regarding this kind of “grants in cascade.” Be ready to manage financial support for third parties starting from the selection and award procedure, to the implementation and monitoring of related activities and results achieved, all the way through to reporting and expenditure verification or auditing processes.
Always Available
#EUinmyAction: EU requirements for visibility and communication
This course offers an in-depth overview of critical communication and visibility activities that should be implemented within the framework of EU-funded projects. Become familiar with the relevant requirements to ensure compliance with rules and standards and to effectively deliver key messages to the beneficiaries of EU-funded actions and other stakeholders. Learn what communication and visibility activities should be performed at each stage of the project cycle (proposal, implementation and reporting) and note our tips and examples that will help you properly organize this project component.
Always Available
Creating and implementing an effective Code of Conduct
This eLearning presents an exhaustive guide to developing and enforcing your code of conduct, which is a requirement that must be met to receive grants from the European Union. Get familiar with the principles behind creating a code of conduct and put them into practice using specific measures and a robust implementation strategy. Learn how to correctly apply and monitor the code of conduct and keep it updated moving forward.
Virtual Classroom
DAY 1
Module 1: The Financial Instruments for External Aid and the Trust Funds
- The MFF 2021-2027: focus on ‘Neighbourhood and the World’ and its financial instruments
- Main component of the NDICI
- Analyses and use the MultiannuaI Indicative Programmes (MIPs)
- Top priorities and management modalities of the Trust Funds
Module 2: How to Be Prepared for Funding Opportunities
- Align your objectives with the EU and partner’s country priority and expected results
Module 3: Working with the EU
- Two ways to get funding: direct negotiation and calls for proposals
- How to be proactive to ensure a fruitful relationship with the EC and EU delegations
 
DAY 2
Module 4: The Call for Proposals System
- Steps of the application process
- Using the guidelines for applicants
- Application documents and mandatory declarations
Module 5: Drafting Your Proposals
- General tips for successful proposals
Module 6:  Logframe Matrix
- Build your results chain
- Identify SMART indicators and reliable sources of verification
- Identify key assumptions
- Describe the main activities
- Results and indicators for development – a new DEVCO tool: how to use the tool for the preparation of good logframes
 
DAY 3
Module 7: Drafting the Concept Note
- Description of the action: how to identify and explain the project logic
- Relevance to the EU call and programme objectives
- Problem analysis
- Stakeholder analysis and description of target group and beneficiaries
Module 8: The Key Aspects of the Full Application
- Description of the action in detail
- Methodology: don’t forget a list of equipment and supplies and the organisational structure (staff employed)
- Sustainability: risks, impact, multiplier effects
- Workplan
 
DAY 4
Module 9: Drafting the Budget
- The budget format
- Direct (actual costs and apportionment of local office costs) and indirect costs
- Eligibility principles
- Financial support for third parties
- Volunteer work
- The possible use of simplified cost options
- How to justify the costs
Module 10: Key Elements of the Implementation Rules to Take into Consideration When Preparing the Budget
- Human resources vs consultants
- Handover of equipment and supplies
- Contingency reserve for possible situations of hyper-inflation
DAY 1
Module 1: The PRAG and its Rules for Grants
- Introduction to the PRAG
- The main rules related to grants
Module 2: Signing a Grant Contract with the EU
- Main actors of the grant contract
- The special conditions and the annexes
- Key information from the special conditions
Module 3: Key Steps at Project Start-Up
- Steps and success factors to ensure a good partnership
- Activity planning
- Setting up monitoring tools
 
DAY 2
Module 4: Procurement Rules and Procedures
- Procurement principles and rules (e.g. EU restrictive measures, rules of nationality and origin)
- Procurement planning/implementation
Module 5: Project Monitoring & Evaluation
- Internal monitoring system results-oriented
- External evaluation: when it is required, what it is useful for
- EU M&E exercises: EU evaluation and ROM missions
- Importance of record keeping
Module 6: Record-Keeping
- Main rules regarding record-keeping
- Let’s prepare a checklist of supporting documents to ensure the eligibility of costs
Module 7: Main Provisions on Communication and Visibility
- Main contractual obligations
- Communication and visibility plan
- Tips to implementing communication and visibility activities
 
DAY 3
Module 8: Dealing with Changes
- Unilateral modifications and request of amendments/addenda: steps to take
- Suspension procedure
 
Module 9: Reporting Rules and Payment Procedures
- Main reporting rules
- Deadlines for submission of reports
- Payment procedures
- Currency conversion rules
- Brief introduction to the interim and final report formats
- Annexes to the interim and final reports
- Handover of equipment and supplies: main requirements
 
Module 10: Expenditure Verifications or Audits
- Main objectives of expenditure verifications and other types of audits
- Tips to be prepared for expenditure verification
eLearning
Module 1: Propose Financial Support for Third Parties
- Let’s analyse key information from the guidelines for applicants of calls for proposals
- Who are the third parties of financial support?
- Checklist of key elements to be provided at proposal stage
 
 Module 2: Select the Beneficiaries of Financial Support
- The different types of selection procedures
- Calls for proposals
- Preparation activities: call announcement, full details of the call for proposals, publication of the call
- Proposals reception, evaluation and selection
- Supporting evidence of the evaluation process
 
Module 3: Awarding Financial Support
- Signature of agreement with the beneficiaries of financial support: key responsibilities of both parties
- Startup of financial support: briefing third parties on the use of EU funds
- Other activities of capacity development
 
Module 4: Monitoring and Reporting
- System of control set up to verify the eligibility of costs
- Reporting expenditure of financial support beneficiaries
- Supporting evidence and documentation that must be kept in your possession
Module 1: Exploring the Basics: Obligations and Definitions
- Why are visibility and communication activities requested?
- Basic obligations
- The use of the EU emblem
 
Module 2. Planning Visibility and Communication Activities
- Key elements and tools of the communication and visibility planning process
- Suggested template for a communication and visibility plan
 
Module 3. The Implementation Phase
- Overview of different channels, tools, activities and products that can be used
- Important elements that should be respected
 
Module 4. Reporting and Follow-Up
- Reporting obligations
- Specific requirements at the end of the action
Module 1: NGOs and Accountability
In this introductory module, we will explore the answer to the following question: Why is it important to adopt a code of conduct?
 
Module 2: Key Steps to Develop Your Code of Conduct
This module provides guidance and tips for getting started and properly organising the process of developing your organisation’s code of conduct.
 
Module 3: Key Topics to Include in Your Code of Conduct.
Your code of conduct should be developed to match the needs of your organisation, but certain specific principles and rules must almost always be included – we will look at them in detail.
 
Module 4: Implementing Your Code of Conduct
Enforcing the code of conduct should be one of the highest priorities of any organization. This module provides guidance on how to define your implementation strategy.
 
Module 5: Monitoring and Reviewing
A code that becomes outdated will quickly lose its importance and relevance. This module presents steps that can be taken to ensure that your code is always up to date.
By subscribing to the learning plan, you will have access to each course in the punto.sud learning platform. From here, you can join the live sessions, download the course materials (including PowerPoint presentations, official EU documents, infographics and other useful links and materials), complete the eLearning modules, review the recordings of the live sessions and complete the initial and final test and participate in the active forum.
Throughout the whole period, by using the forum you will be able to communicate with the trainers, post questions and share information and best practices with other participants.
Staff of not-for-profit organisations (not suggested for UN agencies and other pillar-assessed organisations’ staff) with limited or no experience with EU development programmes.
- Consultants who are interested in a detailed overview of the EU programming and funding system, the grant application process and grant management.
- University or post-graduate students.
 
Previous experience or knowledge relating to the access and management of EU funds is not required.
You will need access to a computer or tablet with a microphone and speakers or a headset, as well as an Internet connection. The course will be held over Zoom – no additional software is required.
- Virtual class – for 2 weeks after the end of the last training session
- eLearning – for 30 days after you first access the course
Once you have completed all the training material and passed the exit test, your certificate of attendance for each specific course will be available to download from the learning platform.
Once you have also concluded the learning plan exit test, you will receive the final certificate. The certificates are always available in your profile page with historical data of all punto.sud Academy courses you’ve attended.
Skill Level
Intermediate
950Euro
(excluding VAT - to be added if due)
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