Equal Action 3

1
Equal Action 3

• Applications for funding, monitoring and future
  activities

2
Objectives today

• Introduce the Action 3 application form and
  guidance
• Agree the final Thematic Mainstreaming Strategy
  for each Equal theme
• Answer any questions on Action 3

3
4 key issues this morning

• The application and approval process
• The application form and guidance
• Thematic Mainstreaming Strategies
• Monitoring and future activities

4
What is Action 3 ?

• Action 3 is for DPs to work singly or in
  Mainstreaming Partnerships to carry out
• thematic networking
• dissemination and
• mainstreaming activities
• within or across Equal themes.

5
How much money is available ?

• Approximately 15 of the Equal budget is
  allocated to Action 3. This equates to around
  18m.
• As a guide, Development Partnerships applying
  either singularly or in groups should budget for
  up to 20 of their individual or combined Action
  2 ESF allocations.

6
When can I access funding ?

• One invitation for Action 3 applications
• opens 1 April 2003
• closing date of 31 May 2003
• Action 3 activity can start from 15 August 2003.

7
What activities can Action 3 fund ?
8
Networking

• Activities that are additional to those already
  funded through Action 2
• To encourage collaboration and peer-review of
  innovations
• Networking with
• other DPs
• TNGs
• Other contacts (incl. transnational)

9
Dissemination

• Publicity marketing materials
• Holding and contributing to events
• Conducting study visits (incl. transnational)
• Carry out additional research or evaluation work
• Publishing findings

10
Mainstreaming

• Mainstreaming is the adoption of the outcomes
  that are disseminated through Action 3
• Mainstreaming itself is done by the audience
  (vertical mainstreaming)
• Mainstreaming can also be done at peer-group
  level (horizontal mainstreaming)
• Action 3 can fund work to support the target
  audience in mainstreaming Equal outcomes

11
The application process

• Deadline for applications 31 May 2003
• Feedback on proposals by 31 July 2003
• Application form and guidance materials now
  available

12
The application process

• Support available from the Equal Support Unit
• its non-competitive !

13
The approval process

• Support Unit and TNG will raise issues in order
  to improve or clarify work-plans
• Equal Monitoring Committee will endorse selection
• You will receive a selection letter
• ESFD will contract with lead partners

14
The application form

• is called the Mainstreaming Partnership
  Agreement
• is built on the DPA format
• is available as a Microsoft Word Template file
  (budget section available as MS-Excel file)
• download from www.equal.ecotec.co.uk

15
MPA - Section 1

• Earliest start date is 15 August 2003
• Apply now for later start dates
• Latest end date is 14 November 2005

16
MPA - Section 2

• Applicant should be an existing DP lead partner
• Exceptions are possible - contact the Support
  Unit

17
MPA - Section 3

• Is the applicant legally constituted ?
• Does the applicant undertake to
• monitor equal opportunities ?
• monitor activities and expenditure ?
• evaluate processes and outcomes ?

18
MPA - Section 4

• Acting singly or in partnership ?
• Singly, if
• applying only on behalf of your organisation
• working alone or with other DPs who will apply
  separately
• In Partnership, if
• applying on behalf of your organisation and other
  DPs to be the lead partner
• working together with other DPs

19
MPA - Section 4

• If Singly
• identify any new organisations (not already in
  your DP) in section 4.2
• where applicable, use the workplan to show any
  tasks that are shared with other DPs applying
  separately
• If In Partnership
• list which DPs have joined your Mainstreaming
  Partnership
• identify any new organisations (not already in
  any DP in the Mainstreaming Partnership) in
  section 4.3b

20
MPA - Section 4

• In all cases provide
• information on roles and responsibilities of
  named partners
• information on project management
• a partnership diagram

21
MPA - Section 5

• Limit summary to 250 words, describing
• objectives
• outcomes
• rationale
• target audiences
• Summary will be used on Equal web site and for
  other information purposes

22
MPA - Section 6

• Objectives
• Clear and SMART statement of objectives
• Clear link between the Thematic Mainstreaming
  Strategy and your objectives
• Clear identification of target audiences

23
MPA - Section 6

• Target Audiences
• Clear strategy for engaging the identified target
  audience
• Clear link between the activities and the target
  audience
• Evidence of prior work undertaken, e.g. any
  consultation

24
MPA - Section 6

• Workplan
• Format provided in Annex to form
• Each objective broken down into tasks with
• owners
• contributors
• start and end dates
• monitoring and evaluation processes

25
MPA - Section 7

• Transnational activity is eligible if
• it is additional to activities in the TCA
• it is for the benefit of the UK programme
• ETGs will co-ordinate programme-level
  dissemination across participating countries

26
MPA - Section 7

• 7.1 - describe how your existing transnational
  activity (TCA) impacts on your mainstreaming
  activities
• are there any outcomes from your Action 2
  transnational activity that you are mainstreaming
  into the UK ?
• 7.2 - describe any additonal transnational
  activity, funded through Action 3
• use the budget to show any costs that are
  incurred by or on behalf of any transnational
  partners

27
MPA - Section 8

• List of outputs
• Make sure each output is reflected in the
  objectives and workplan
• Provide a description of each output

28
MPA - Section 9

• Expenditure
• Staff costs
• Other costs
• Transnational costs
• direct costing methodology only
• do not include pence

29
MPA - Section 9

• Other Costs
• Evaluation costs ringfenced
• Dissemination activity costs ringfenced
• includes all direct costs of dissemination, e.g.
  external printing of reports, exhibition costs,
  etc.

30
MPA - Section 10

• Income
• Public Match Funding
• Private Match Funding
• Revenue
• Consider revenue carefully - Action 3 activities
  may generate revenue during the lifetime of the
  Mainstreaming Partnership

31
MPA - Section 11

• Summary of Expenditure Income
• Must validate with sections 9 and 10
• Maximum ESF intervention rate is 50

32
MPA - Section 12

• Audit arrangements
• Provide details of internal and external auditing
  arrangements

33
MPA - Section 13

• Certification
• Note that this is expanded
• Signatory must be authorised by the organisation
• Signature and stamp must be original

34
Monitoring progress

• Profiling advance/interim claims
• Profiles required for all applications
• Profile on monthly, quarterly or six-monthly
  basis
• 30 of year 1 costs as advance payment on
  submission of profile/advance claim and public
  match funding certificates
• further advances based on satisfactory progress
  reports submitted with interim claims

35
Monitoring progress

• Significant changes closure
• Significant changes as in Action 2
• Final 20 ESF of last year allocation retained
  prior to submission of satisfactory closure report

36
Resources

• Thematic Mainstreaming Strategies
• Action 3 Application Form Guidance
• Equal Programme-level Mainstreaming Strategy
• Thematic Update Papers
• Commission Guide to Achieving Impact

37
Where do I find out more ?

• www.equal.ecotec.co.uk

38
Thematic Mainstreaming Strategies

• Set the parameters for funding Action 3
  activities
• Describe
• what will be mainstreamed
• to whom
• how and
• when
• Result in consensus among DPs and TNGs on Action
  3 activities