EISS

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EISS EQUAL Event 3rd July 2001 Fiona Bates GB
EQUAL SUPPORT UNIT
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Agenda

• 1. Where to find help
• 2. Framework for implementation
• 3. Leading principles
• 4. Development partnerships
• 5. Working with ESF
• Contact the GB EQUAL Support Unit

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1. Where to find help

• 3 Support Units
• GB, Wales, Scotland (GB co-ordinates)
• GB Support Unit our role includes
• Support to applicants (information line,
  help-line, DP outline form, events, clinics)
• Scoring of bids
• Support in selection process
• Thematic Network Groups secretariat
• Support to DPs at every stage of lifecycle

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Where to find help

• What we dont do
• write any part of your bid for you
• share information with you about other bids
• set policy.
• NB Remember to check the ADAPT and EMPLOYMENT
  web-sites for examples of good practice across
  the EQUAL themes
• www.adapt.ecotec.co.uk
• www.employment.ecotec.co.uk

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2. Framework for implementation

• Funding - 4 Actions
• Action 1 setting up DPs - from 15th Nov. 2001
  (5 of budget)
• Action 2 implementation - from 15th May 2002-May
  2004/5 (75 of budget)
• Action 3 thematic networking / dissemination of
  good practice / impacting on policy - from 15th
  May 2002 (15 of budget)
• Action 4 technical assistance 5 of
  budget(available before Action 1)
• Pre-funding stage - focus for today

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Pre-funding stage

• Now to 30th July 2001
• developing rationale and justification for DP
• forming initial DP
• consultation with key stakeholders policy
  makers, funders, ultimate beneficiary groups
• research - evidencing innovation, labour market
  justification, added value of transnationality
• Equal Opportunities policy (need written EO
  policy to be eligible to apply)
• manage bid-writing process.

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Pre-funding stage

• What makes a good bid?
• communicates the rationale and vision for the
  DP
• principles of the programme clearly embedded
• particular attention to EO and Innovation
• addresses thematic priorities of EQUAL in GB
• succinct - remember maximum word counts apply.
• NB Read the guidance carefully on what
  constitutes a full, partial or incomplete answer.

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Pre-funding stage

• Submission date 12.00 noon 30th July 2001
• Scoring and selection August - September 2001
• notification of results - early October 2001
• appeals process
• approval process
• completion of European questionnaire
• All documentation to be completed by 14th
  November 2001.

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Action 1

• 15th November 2001 for up to 6 months
• common start-date across the Member States
• what is expected of you
• consolidation of DP formal agreements with
  partners, legal constitution
• completion of Transnational Co-operation
  Agreement (TCA)
• completion of Development Partnership Agreement
  (DPA).
• Expected end date - before 14th May 2002

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Action 2

• 15th May 2002 for 2-3 years
• common start-date across the Member States
• what is expected of you
• delivery of domestic work programme
• delivery of transnational work programme
• thorough monitoring and evaluation
• active role in TNG work - 2 TNG meetings, 2
  national events, 1 EU event per year - remember
  to include in Action 2 budget.
• expected end-date- May 2004 - May 14th 2005

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Action 3

• Action 3 funds
• thematic networking
• dissemination of good practice
• impact on national policies
• Availability
• at earliest point that results available to
  disseminate
• agreed by TNGs
• appropriate for policy impact
• value for money.

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3. Leading principles of EQUAL

• Fundamental elements for each DP
• Linked to scoring questions
• Key eligibility requirements
• Thematic approach
• Innovation
• Equal Opportunities
• Transnational co-operation
• Mainstreaming
• Empowerment

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Thematic approach

• DPs must work to a single theme
• focus on common lessons regarding discrimination
  and equality
• transferability of results across target groups
  essential
• target groups are not the primary focus of most
  themes
• key eligibility question (5/8 marks)

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Innovation

• differentiates EQUAL from mainstream provision
• different forms / levels of innovation
• forms process, goal, context
• levels local, regional, national, transnational
  significant element of DP activities
• justification based on wide sources (inc
  EMPLOYMENT and ADAPT)
• reflect in work programme
• key eligibility question (8/12 marks)

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Equal Opportunities

• FUNDAMENTAL to EQUAL development and delivery
• EO integrated at all levels in DPs -
• ensure working in an equal way (address race,
  gender, disability at all levels, also
• address wider EO issues
• describe partners EO policies
• provide EO plan for DP (to be developed during
  Action 1)
• emphasis on monitoring and evaluation
• key eligibility question (14/20 marks)

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Transnational co-operation

• integral to DP activities
• at least 1 partner in EU
• can also work with partners outside EU
• no need yet for named partners
• levels of transnational work
• exchange info / experience
• parallel development of new approaches
• transfer and adapt approaches across MSs
• joint development
• aim for creative outputs - ensure added value
• base ideas on research

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Mainstreaming

• Mainstreaming is the use of DP findings and
  adoption of new practice
• consider horizontal and vertical mainstreaming
• link mainstreaming to theme
• activities and outputs should support
  mainstreaming
• DPs work with Thematic Networking Groups
• key eligibility question (4/6 marks)

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Empowerment

• developing capacity of disadvantaged individuals
  and groups to make informed choices and to
• influence DP development and delivery
• contribute to evaluation
• benefit beyond DP activities
• NB make use of experience of previous pilot
  projects
• Empowermenta new way of looking at inclusion and
  strategies for employthttp//europa.eu.int./comm
  /equal
• Towards an empowerment approach a guidefor
  projects, www.employment.ecotec.co.uk.

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Make sure you

• are familiar with the detailed guidance in
  Section 7 of the EQUAL initial guidance
• link objectives to priorities of chosen theme
• show how activities and outputs will deliver
  priorities of chosen theme
• contact the EQUAL Support Unit for clarification
  on any issues raised.

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4. Development partnerships

• Fundamental aspect of EQUAL
• relates to scoring questions on partnership,
  empowerment and impact.
• Should encourage partners who
• have skills, knowledge and experience to add
  value to the work programme
• can empower target groups to influence DP
  activities
• can reach target groups in greatest need
• have skills, knowledge and experience to manage
  and deliver work programme
• can monitor and evaluate
• can ensure effective mainstreaming.

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DP focus

• Focus on one theme only
• Separate application for other themes.
• Economic sector focus (if appropriate to theme)
• Geography
• UK wide, including NI (Theme I only)
• GB National (partners in England and /or Wales
  and Scotland
• Wales only
• Multi- regional (partners in more than 2 GO
  regions)
• Regional
• Local / subregional

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What is needed for Action 1 application?

• A Development Partnership of at least 2 partners
• Legally constituted lead applicant / DP (or in
  the process of becoming legally constituted)
• Lead applicant / DP must have a published Equal
  Opportunities policy
• Match funding secured for Action 1 (need to name
  match funders now evidence of commitment will be
  required to draw down Action 1 ESF).

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Indicative DP budget size - Actions 1 and 2

• Action 1
• maximum ESF up to 60,000
• needs to be matched (50 intervention rate).
• Action 2
• no upper or lower limits set
• range of budgets expected, depending on
  geographical focus
• need to indicate Action 2 budget now - will form
  a ceiling for project
• state indicative sources of match funding
• DPA will need to demonstrate value for money.

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5. Working with ESF

• ESF must support activity
• that would not otherwise have taken place
• that would have taken place in a different way
• DPs need to demonstrate clearly added value
• question 5.4 (why is the DP needed?)
• question 5.7 (innovation)
• Publicise ESF involvement

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ESF and EQUAL

• Greater alignment with Objective 3
• Identified improvements
• Be aware of changes
• Read Guidance thoroughly
• Contact the Support Unit for advice /
  clarification.

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How much can you claim?

• Intervention rate is maximum 50 for all DPs
• now based on total project cost
• May be flexibility within DPs if agreed within
  partnership, but overall intervention rate cannot
  exceed 50
• Balance provided by Match Funding.

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Match funding

• The amount organisations contribute towards the
  eligible costs of a DP
• Need to name sources at application
• Can be public - minimum of 10
• Can be private - no minimum requirement

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Eligible expenditure (1)

• Staff costs
• salaries, NIC, pension costs
• staff travel and subsistence (relating to ESF
  work)
• sick or maternity pay if in-line with
  organisations staff policy
• specialist training
• Beneficiary costs
• not expected in Action 1
• include consultation in staff costs

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Eligible expenditure (2)

• Other costs - can now include
• some changes for EQUAL - eg small items of
  equipment up to 1,000.
• Transnational costs
• reciprocity rules apply
• eligible costs can only be incurred WITHIN Member
  States
• costs incurred in PHARE / TACIS / MEDA countries
  ineligible / flights may be eligible if costs
  incurred in domestic country
• If in doubt, please contact the ESU.

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Payment arrangements for each Action

• 30 of Action 1 ESF available in advance as a
  float
• completion of project profile, advance claim
  form, public match funding certificates.
• Interim claims
• for money actually spent
• monthly / quarterly / or on submission of project
  closure report
• retention of final 20 until project closure
• Final payment
• follows project closure
• receipt of GSEs
• receipt of final audit certificate(new
  requirement) if gt 20,000 ESF

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Beneficiary eligibility

• Beneficiaries must
• be ESF eligible
• satisfy the requirements of the EQUAL theme
• May be
• Unemployed / long term unemployed
• SME employees, employers and companies under
  themes focused on helping companies
• Asylum seekers awaiting a decision on their
  applicationand without permission to work,
  eligible for support under Theme I only.

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Contact the GB Support Unit

• GB EQUAL Support Unit
• Priestley House
• 28-34 Albert Street
• Birmingham B4 7UD
• Helpline 0121 616 3660
• Information line 0121 616 3661
• Fax [phone]
• e-mail equal_at_ecotec.co.uk
• web-site www.equal.ecotec.co.uk