Launched in 2004, the CEI Know-how Exchange Programme is a development

assistance instrument aimed to support transfer of experience from the EU to the

non-EU countries within the CEI region. The Programme originates from the belief that

economic development in non-EU member states can be strengthened by transferring

good practices and introducing benchmarks already tested and established in countries

that have gone through the EU accession process.

KEP projects are tailor-made to enable recipient institutions to enhance their capacity

building capabilities and quickly gain valuable knowledge. Eligible activities for KEP

projects include: on-the-job training, secondment of sta�, study tours, peer review

missions, assistance in the preparation of strategic documents (e.g. development plans,

reforms, strategic studies, etc.), technology transfer, technical assistance and other

interventions which promise e�cient and e�ective transfer of a given know-how.

Since the beginning of its activities, the KEP has been �nanced by the Italian Govern-

ment through the CEI Trust Fund at the EBRD. In 2008 the Austrian Government joined

the KEP through the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC), and is thus contributing

additional funds on an annual basis.

General about the KEPThe Know-how Exchange Programme focuses on areas of intervention where CEI donor

countries (EU members) demonstrate strong-rooted experience, and where bene�ciary

states (non-EU members) display the strongest need for assistance. These areas coincide,

generally, with the O�cial Development Assistance priorities of the donor countries,

thus enabling project promoters to combine co-�nancing from KEP funds and national

sources.

KEP Priority AreasThe Programme is open to all public and private sector bodies, international and

non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in the KEP areas of intervention.

Both know-how donors and bene�ciary institutions must be from CEI countries: the

know-how donor must come from a CEI country which is also a member of the EU, and

the recipient must be from a non-EU CEI member state.

Although most projects are likely to take the form of bilateral cooperation, it is possible

that more institutions get involved either on the donor or on the recipient side.

Applications must be submitted by the institution which acts as know-how donor in the

given project. The know-how donor is responsible for the implementation of the project

and the managment of the CEI grant.

The CEI o�ers grants covering up to 50 per cent of the total project cost, but no more

than a total amount of €40,000 per project. Su�cient co-�nancing must be ensured by

applicants from their own or external sources.

Approval procedures apply. For more information on project submission deadlines,

eligibility rules and application form: www.ceinet.org/KEP

How to apply

I. European integration, capacity building and market economy

✔ preparation for EU accession

✔ strengthening of the rule of law through the introduction of appropriate European standards

✔ strengthening of capacities of the central administration

✔ assistance in economic transformation

✔ support to second-generation reforms

✔ improvement of local labour market e�ciency and development of the micro, small and medium-size enterprise sectors

✔ strengthening of the administrative structures at regional and local levels

✔ strengthening of the social advancement of recipient countries

II. Agriculture, energy and environment

✔ energy (know-how transfers in the areas of energy e�ciency, renewable sources of energy, clean energy and climate change)

✔ environment (protection of the natural environ-ment, waste manage-ment, water manage-ment and water resource development)

✔ development of agriculture and rural areas (including food safety and food quality applications and regulatory standards, farm development plans, development of infrastructure for wholesale trade of agricultural products, training of specialists in farming-related areas; and promotion of rural and environmentally sensitive tourism)

III. Infrastructure planning and development

✔ technical assistance for infrastructure develop-ment

✔ development of Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Facts & Figures *✔ Financed by Italy and Austria;✔ Over 1 million EUR committed for KEP projects by Italy;✔ 300.000 EUR committed for KEP Projects by Austria through the Austrian Development Agency;✔ More than 50 KEP assignments �nanced so far.

* as of November 2010

KEPKNOW-HOW EXCHANGE PROGRAMME

PORTRAIN

The PORTRAIN project aimed to help the Port of Durres in Albania in their preparation to establish a training centre for safety regulations in the work environment. The project was carried out by and based on know-how made available by the Consortium for Intermodal and Logistics Training (CFLI), a training structure of the Port Authority of Venice, Italy.

The perfect match between the two main parties insured the success of this project. On the one hand, the CFLI had implemented an innovative system aimed to improve the safety of the working environment in the Port of Venice. On the other hand, the Port Authority of Durres was interested in setting up its own training centre consistent with the standards and good practices in place at European level. The management of the new training centre was charged with de�ning the services it would o�er, and preparing its business plan. Through this work, the management team sought to identify and adopt the most up-to-date methods in order to train its employees accord-ing to European benchmarks.

In this context, the CFLI approached the CEI to provide technical assistance to the Port Authority of Durres by transferring training practices and methodologies implemented in Venice. The two main activities of the project were training courses in Italy and on-site assistance provided to the management of the Port of Durres. Ultimately, however, the use of a multitude of know-how transfer methods was the deciding factor for the project’s e�ectiveness.

Support to the preparation of the Macedonian Rural Development Agency for the process of accreditation of IPARD

This project supported the establishment of the IPARD (Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance for Rural Development) Agency in Macedonia. The Austrian Agricultural Paying Agency, Agrarmarkt Austria, provided the Macedonian Agency for Financial Support in Agriculture and Rural Develop-ment with consultancy services and training programmes in order to ful�l all technical, legal and �nancial requirements for the successful management of the of the EU IPARD programme.

Consultancy services to the IPARD Agency on updating its operations and procedures and prepar-ing it for accreditation were carried out through the following activities:

✔ Updating of operations and procedures of IPARD Agency (Projects approval, Payment authorization, Check lists, Guidelines, risk analysis, procedures for return of funds)

✔ On the job training in the Internal Audit Department✔ Overview and recommendations of Control On the-spot Department✔ Assistance in the process of improving the accounting procedures✔ Overview in the work of ICT Department and assistance in selection of accounting software✔ Study tours

Case studies

For more examples of current and previous KEP projects as well as details on all aspects

of the Programme: www.ceinet.org/KEP

Central European InitiativeVia Genova, 9

34121 Trieste, Italytel. +39 040 7786 777email: kep@cei-es.org

Donor countries

Recipient countries

Ukraine

Moldova

Belarus

Poland

Czech Republic

Slovakia

Hungary

Romania

Bulgaria

MacedoniaAlbania

Montenegro

Serbia

Bosnia andHerzegovina

Croatia

Slovenia

Austria

Italy