Contribution Agreements of EU-Funded projects

3-day session training course designed to strengthen the participants’ skills and capacity in managing EU-funded international cooperation projects

Course Description

This 3-day interactive training course is specifically designed for professionals working in pillar-assessed organisations, such as UN Agencies and Member State organisations, who manage EU-funded projects funded by DG INTPA and DG NEAR. You’ll develop the essential skills required to manage Contribution Agreements empowering you to secure and effectively manage EU funding. You’ll be ready to apply for EU funding through direct negotiations with the EU delegations /EC or by applying in calls for proposals. Obtain the tools you need to solve all types of issues and challenges within the framework of Contribution Agreements signed with DG INTPA, DG NEAR and the EU Delegations. Build competences in reporting, modifications and addenda, visibility and communication activities, M&E, verification of expenditure, and EU right of access. Share practical experiences with the other participants and create checklists and infographics with lessons learned and best practices.

Learning objectives

By the end of the course you will be able to:

Understand the differences between direct and indirect management of EU-funded actions.
Enhance your ability to prepare compelling EU project proposals
Properly prepare the special conditions in cooperation with the EU.
Ensure the eligibility of costs and monitoring of expenditure.
Easily handle changes, requests of modification and addenda to the agreement.
Properly implement your Communication and Visibility Plan.
Be familiar with the reporting rules.
Know how to prepare your organisation for a verification of expenditure by the EU.

Structure and total commitment time

By subscribing to this course, you will have access to a dedicated page on the PuntoSud learning platform. From here, you can join the live sessions, download the course materials and complete all the assignments.

The curse is structured in 3 days of 4 hours of interactive online sessions combined with self-learning. Total time commitment over the period of the course is approximately 15 hours:

Preliminary tasks – 1 hour – you will be asked to introduce yourself, complete the survey on training expectations and go through some preliminary training materials.

Live sessions – 12h – 3 sessions of 4 hours each - the session will be facilitated by PuntoSud experts and includes lectures, plenary and group discussions, group work, quizzes and online interactive exercises. The live sessions will be recorded and made available in the learning platform.
Additional learning material – 1h30m – for the duration of the course, you will have at your disposal additional readings and documents, exercises and interactive eLearning modules that you can follow at your own pace.

Forum discussion – you can ask questions and share relevant information with the trainers and the other participants.

Final tasks – 30 mins – complete the exit test and fill out the evaluation form.

Who is this course for

This course is created for staff of pillar-assessed organisations involved in EU resource mobilisation and management of EU-specific agreements.

Basic knowledge of EU project implementation rules for pillar assessed organisations is suitable but not mandatory.

Technical requirements

You will need access to a computer or tablet with a microphone and speakers or a headset, and an Internet connection. The course will be held over Zoom – no additional software is required.

How long you will have access to training material

All the material will be available 7 calendar days before the starting date and until 30 calendar days after the end of the last training session.

Certificate of attendance

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. The certificates are always available in your profile page with historical data of all PuntoSud Academy courses you’ve attended.

How to buy the course and other FAQs

For any queries please have a look at our FAQs. If you don’t find what you’re looking for or need additional information, please get in touch with our customer care service.

DAY 1

Module 1: Working with the EU: Two Management Modalities

Long-term framework agreements
Two ways to get funding: direct negotiations and calls for proposals
Differences between EU direct and indirect management

Module 2: Preparation of Project Proposals

Key elements of the description of the action
Logframe and the results-chain
Budget and eligibility of costs
Communication and Visibility Plan

DAY 2

Module 3: Contracting Process Under Indirect Management and Calls for Proposals

Contribution Agreement (CA) and annexes
Special conditions – points of attention
Main differences in CA under indirect management versus resulting from a call for proposals
Roles and responsibilities of the organisation and implementing partners