European Social Fund: a practical example

Stockholm, 16th June 2012 « Finding our ways »

Stefania Pirani

IF European Projects Coordinator

A practical example: ESF in Ireland

ESF in Ireland is channeled through a variety of different programmes • Employment and Human Resources Development Operational

Programme,2000-2006 • Border Midland & West Region • South & East Region • PEACE Programme II • EQUAL Community Initiative • Human Capital Investment Operational Programme 2007-2013 • Human Capital Investment Operational Programme 2007-2013

(Revised 2009) • Human Capital Investment Operational Programme 2007-2013 (

2012 version)

A practical example: ESF in Ireland

Managing Authority

• Contact the unit and the person in charge for the ESF/disability actions • Check for information sessions

GUIDELINES + Q&A

First step: study the Guidelines

3 key elements

• Objective of the programme

What do they want to achieve throught my project?

• Target Group

Who do they want to reach?

• Budget and Timescale

How big and for how long?

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Administrative eligibility criteria

Deadline, applications forms, signatures, documents attached

• Content of the proposal

Type of activities, geographical impact, type of eligible costs

Scoring

• Selection Criteria

According to what criteria my application will be evaluated? What’s the weight of each criteria?

• Check List

Documents required

CHECKLIST

APPLICATION FORM

Second step: the application form

How to write the application

1) Organisation details

General information

2) Organisational Structure and Experience

Single applicant, consortium, relevant exeperience

3) Project Details overall objective specific objective Inputs/means activities results outputs target group final beneficiaries

How to write the application

overall objective Broader, long-term changes (directly or indirectly; intended or unintended) in the environment of the project. The project contributes to the overall objective, but can not achieve it alone. “to contribute to poverty reduction among vulnerable rural populations of Laos” specific objective Specific objective addressing the core problem(s) (e.g. improvements in area of intervention due to the improved capacity of the target group) “improvement of the living conditions by addressing needs and rights to access to water, sanitation, health education and first aid in 30 villages in the Vientiane and Sayabouri Provinces”

Important concepts

Input/Means: resources used Activities:the steps undertaken to transform inputs into

outputs, e.g. organization of the training sessions; Outputs: Goods and services delivered by the project (e.g. a

training session);

Results: Benefits derived from the outputs of the project (e.g. improved capacity of those who attended the training)

Important concepts

Important Concepts target group

It is very specific (50 unemployed young people with disability). Directly benefiting from the activities of the project. They are involved.

final beneficiaries

benefiting from the operation in the long term (impact), they might not be directly involved (parents of 50 unemployed young people with disability)

The terminology varies among different aid agencies, donors and implementers which can create confusion. It is especially important to keep in mind the difference between Outputs

and Results which are too often mixed up.

To be included

Dissemination and communication

Monitoring and evaluation

Sustainability

Human Resources Salaries (gross salaries including social security charges and other related costs) Travel Justifiable and appropriate rates, costs directly relate to project activities Overhead Cost Cost directly related to the activities eg phone

Budget

Equipment

Computer etc

Programme Costs

Hire of rooms for trainings, communicaiton costs

List of Cost/Activities ineligible

Budget

Thanks

stefania.pirani@ifglobal.org