Partnership in the fight against poverty: Good practices and recommendations

Elodie Fazi, EAPN8 December 2008

1. Introduction: partnership and social inclusion

1. Structural funds and social inclusion

What is the European Anti-Poverty Network? -24 national networks -Created in 1990

Structural funds matter for social inclusion- 78 million Europeans facing poverty - potential impact on poverty eradication (bringing resources and new approaches)- 12,4% ESF expenditure for inclusion + ERDF

1. Why partnerhsip?

Essential in the fight against poverty (complex and multidimensional: employment, services, health, education)

Requires bottom-up approaches and participation

Positive examples from past (EQUAL): how to make progress in mainstream SF programmes?

2. Participation and partnership in governance

2. Partnership in governance: what for?

Art. 11 SF regulation requests involving stakeholders (regional, local authorities, social partners, civil society and NGOs)

Good governance principle (democracy, transparency and legitimacy). But not only this:

- more and better information- better absorption of funds (improved selection of projects and information to beneficiaries)

2. Make it happen through the whole process

Participatory planning to strengthen ownership of structural funds : - strong publicity- go beyond a mere electronic consultation - make it really matter

Open up monitoring committees to civil society

Make evaluation more than an expert’s exercise

2. Golden rules for partnership in monitoring committees

- Open up beyond “traditional” partners - Transparent selection process and clear mandate for NGO representatives

- Apply to ERDF committees as well - Give full membership (not just observers)

- Make all documents available in advance to all members - Publish relevant information on public website - Train members to make sure they can play their role

3. Making sure NGOs can be real partners in projects

3. Who delivers projects (and how) matters

NGOs as partners in structural funds delivery (art. 5.4 ESF)- adapt to needs of excluded groups (Roma...) - need for multi-dimensional and integrated approach to inclusion (e.g. employment, social services…)

Yet numerous obstacles (information, administrative capacity, co- and pre-financing)

How to ensure that partnership goes beyond rhetoric?

3. Using technical assistance to strengthen partners’ ability to take part in projects

Providing targeted training for NGOs (UK, MT, SP, FR…):- information on ESF and other funds- financial management- project management, monitoring and control

Ongoing assistance for project preparation and appraisal:- application rounds- implementation, evaluation and reporting

3. Providing adequate procedures and financial mechanisms

Putting in place a global grant system (UK, FR, PT, HU, SP) to allow access from smaller organisations

Providing: - small-sized grants- 100% up-front financing - accessible application systems and procedures- support to applicants and grant recipients

4. Conclusion

2007-2013: less and less bottom-up approach, despite some progress

Partnership sometimes more rhetoric than reality

But not too late to act: European Parliament report requesting clear common definition and progress

Which role for the European Commission?