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The Investing in People program

Mme Josick van Dromme, Chef du secteur \"Investing in People\", Office de Coopération EuropeAid

The Investing in People program covers the regions and countries which participate in the same time at the Financing Instrument for Development Cooperation (DCI), the European Development Fund (EDF) and the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument ( ENPI). What is its plus value when compared to the geographical programs of the European Commission?

The Investing in People program is a thematic program of the European Commission, as well as the EU Support to Non-state Actors (NSAs) and local authorities program which you have just quoted. As opposed to geographical aid programs, which represent bilateral partnerships between the EU and the concerned countries, the thematic programs have a global, world approach. The Investing in People program covers developing countries in regions like: the ACP, Latin America, Asia and Central Asia, the Middle East and the European Neighbourhood (region for which the program has a specific financial envelope for the multi-annual programming period, assigned from the ENPI funds).

This global approach allows us to facilitate cross-border and trans-regional actions in the projects that we support. In the same time it gives us an innovative approach, particularly by means of experience and good practices exchanges or the sensitization of populations and decision-makers. In this respect, another added value of the thematic programs is the ability to work through the different calls for proposals with the civil society actors and the local authorities of the countries where we intervene. This allows us to benefit from their ground expertise and their links with the local communities, but also from their capacity to influence the national policies. This program gives us the opportunity to act at an international level given the work bounds we have with international organizations recognized for their expertise in fields such us: health, education, equality between men and women, employment, decent work conditions and social cohesion, childhood and youth, culture.



What are the selection procedures?




The main selection procedure is the call for proposals, which, as a general rule, puts into competition non-state actors and\\or local authorities. The purpose is to receive projects which respond to the priorities and objectives that we define for a certain field of action. The second main procedure that we use is the joint project with an international organization, when this organization was identified as the best capable of implementing the objectives pursued in a certain field. For example: we chose WHO (World Health Organization) for the implementation of different systems of information concerning the lack of professionals in the health area.



The calls for proposals launched today within the program framework are a part of the 2009 and 2010 annual action program, which are based on the multi-annual programming scheme for 2007-2010. When will you be launching the next multi-annual action program?




To facilitate the implementation of the objectives of the program, the programming phase 2007-2013 was divided into two parts: 2007-2010 and 2011-2013. The priorities for this second period are being studied by the European Commission and by the other concerned actors (member states, European Parliament and civil society). The adoption of the new multi-annual indicative programme is planned for May-June, 2010.



What are the management procedures for the calls for proposals launched within the framework of the program? Are they managed from Brussels or by the different Delegations of the European Union in the concerned countries?




First of all, I would like to insist on the fact that there are no local calls for proposals (calls aiming at a specific country), in the Investing in People program, contrary to the programs NSAs or EIDHR (human rights) for example. Our calls aim mostly at several regions or the higher quoted regions. The management of the calls is insured by the EuropeAid Cooperation Office, situated in Brussels. After selecting the best projects, the European Commission signs with the beneficiaries grant forms. These are managed by the Delegations of the EU or by the Head Office, depending on the concerned countries.