The project Technical Assistance for the IPA Training and Support Facility funded by the European Union has started on 14 June 2010 and will last for 24 months. It is contracted by the Delegation of the European Union and implemented by Lattanzio e Associati (Italy) in consortium with Formez PA (Italy) and France Coopération Internationale.
The implementing body is the Secretariat for European Affairs (SEA), which will have the aegis of the future IPA Training Facility. The target group is the whole Public Administration and final beneficiaries of EU funds.
The objective of the project is to assist the Secretariat for European Affairs in setting-up a sustainable Training Centre dedicated to implement trainings in the area of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) and in the future EU Structural and Cohesion Funds.
In the future, the IPA Training Facility will have the task of training and upgrading staff of the central and local Public Administration, as well as representatives of the civil society working with IPA. The IPA Training Facility will have also to ensure that relevant staff is prepared to initiate, develop, implement and monitor EU funded projects with appropriate analysis and reporting skills.
The project is composed of the following Components:
Component 1: establishment of a sustainable IPA Training Centre. This will involve the definition of a clear concept adapted to the local present and future situation of EU funding. The Centre will be set-up in accordance with national regulation and clear management rules. The IPA management staff will have the opportunity to study best practises of Member States and transfer the most relevant in the IPA centre.
Component 2: development of curricula and training delivery. A complex set of 4 curricula will be developed to serve the double purpose of training advanced users of the EU funds and new ones. It will be based on a broad range of practical themes such as drafting an Operational Programme, financial procedures, monitoring, impact assessment, reporting and many other. The project will take into account specific needs of the target groups and will focus on requirements demanded for a candidate to the EU. It is expected to train at least 7 00 civil servants at central level and municipal level.
Component 3: training of trainers. In order to achieve the above objectives, 30 governmental trainers will be selected, trained and upgraded to deliver ad hoc training. After upgrading in training methodology they will be trained on the curricula for IPA training mentioned in component 2. Their profile and engagement in the IPA training facility will be carefully designed so to ensure sustainability. Selected trainers will have opportunity to test their skills during training sessions.
Component 4: promotion and awareness is an important aspect for the IPA Training Facility. Training catalogues, brochures, practical guides will be therefore developed to ensure visibility of the Facility and of IPA.
Component 5: another important target group is the civil society which will be reached through a series of 8 workshops all over the country.
Component 6: for the sustainability and upgrading of the IPA Training and Support facility, it is necessary to encourage networking of the management and training staff with colleagues from Member States. The Project will therefore set-up basis for this networking through membership, recommendations for the future and organise participation of some IPA trainers to a regional conference.
A transversal topic to all components are the cross-cutting issues (gender equity, minorities, environment, good governance), which the Project will have to address carefully.
At the end of the project, the Country should count onto a sustainable Training Centre able to offer standardised quality-controlled training services through an experienced network of trainers.
