Supporting the Capacity for Social Innovation Using EU-Funded 2021-2027 Programmes

More than 500 programmes of the 2021-2027 programming period are now being implemented by Member States and regions in the EU. The context of implementation of these EU-funded programmes has become increasingly complex and dynamic for all types of EU funding (e.g. the European Social Fund +, the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the Recovery and Resilience Facility, and the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund). This is more broadly referred to as a VUCA context, which refers to:

• volatility: the speed and magnitude of change that is not in a predictable pattern;
• uncertainty: the difficulty in using past issues and events as predictors of future outcomes;
• complexity: numerous and difficult-to-understand causes and mitigating factors are involved in a problem;
• ambiguity: lack of clarity about the meaning of an event.

The business world has understood that the response to this lies in becoming more agile. Yet EU funding is seen by many as rigid, as it is dominated by strict regulations and long programming cycles. Are managing authorities stimulating project implementers enough to learn and innovate during implementation? Does EU funding really need to be at odds with agility? How can you reconcile novel approaches to programming, monitoring and evaluation together with EU regulations? This course is rooted in the latest research that focuses on the need to ensure rapid learning and improvement at project level.

What you will learn

This face-to-face course in Rome, over two days, will cover the following:

• We discover what VUCA really means in practice and how is it linked to the need for social innovation.
• We will review a range of options to ensure agility at programme level as well as at project level.
• The course will also highlight potential issues when using financing for results in a VUCA context.
• The role of monitoring and evaluation when striving for agility will be explained.

At the end of the course, participants should have:

• a clear understanding of the new complex context of implementation of EU funds programmes;
• a general tool kit for applying VUCA in EU-funded programmes;
• recommendations for needed organisational changes in Managing Authorities.

• officials from central, regional and local government, programme officers and managers involved with the implementation and evaluation of ESF+/ERDF/CF, AMIF, RRF or Just Transition Fund projects and programmes;
• project managers and developers;
• economic and social partners involved in structural funds management and evaluation activities, such as NGOs, higher education establishments, and consultants.

Project number: 2523601

Course venue
Scuola Nazionale dell’Amministrazione (SNA)

Senior Project Officer
Ms Nancy Vermeulen
Tel: +31 43 32 96 212
n.vermeulen@eipa.eu

Fee
The fee includes documentation, refreshments and lunches. Accommodation and travel costs are at the expense of the participants or their administration.

Discounts
EIPA member fee
EIPA offers a discount to all civil servants working for one of EIPA’s supporting countries, and civil servants working for an EU institution, body or agency.

Who are the supporting countries?
Civil servants coming from the following EIPA supporting countries are entitled to get the reduced fee: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden.

For all other participants, the regular fee applies.

Early bird discount
The early bird discount is not cumulative with other discounts or promo codes, except for the EIPA member fee.

Loyalty coupon
As a token of appreciation we offer all our participants a loyalty coupon for one of our future courses. The offer can be shared with colleagues and relevant networks. The coupon will expire one year after its release. This discount is not cumulative with other discounts, except for the EIPA member fee.

Meals
Dietary preferences can be indicated on the registration form.

Confirmation
Confirmation of registration will be forwarded to participants on receipt of the completed online registration form.

Payment
Prior payment is a condition for participation.

Cancellation policy
For administrative reasons you will be charged €150 for cancellations received within 15 days before the activity begins. There is no charge for qualified substitute participants.

EIPA reserves the right to cancel the activity up to 2 weeks before the starting date. In that case, registration fees received will be fully reimbursed. EIPA accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred (travel, accommodation, etc.).

A few days before the start of the course you will receive the log-in details for accessing the course materials. You can log in here.