Belgium: Grants (2) in the context of EU External Actions: How to manage an EU grant contracts?

Your organisation receives funding from EU for development cooperation projects? The different rules and procedures appear complex, and you would like to anticipate and minimise the contractual and financial management risks?

This 2-days training on “The management of grant contracts funded in the context of the EU external actions” is designed for professionals in development cooperation, who would like to improve their understanding of the management procedures of EU grant contracts, particularly in the context of the EU external cooperation (EU Budget or EDF).

This training will provide answers to contractual and financial questions such as: which steps do I need to follow to get the funds disbursed on time? How do I modify the contract during the implementation period? How do I anticipate the risk of ineligible costs? What do the teams in the field need to know? What type of co-financing is accepted?

This course describes the various aspects of the management of a grant contract co-financed by the EU, the institutional and legal framework applicable to grant contracts, the procurement rules under a grant contract as well as the closure and verification of expenditures during the implementation.

PARTICIPANTS

The course is designed for anyone involved in managing grant contracts financed in the context of the EU external actions (EU Budget or EDF). It is designed specifically for "desk officers”, project managers, and administrators / logisticians involved in monitoring and / or implementation of projects. No previous experience is required.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course aims to familiarise participants with the mechanisms and functioning of grant contracts awarded in the context of the EU external actions (EU Budget or EDF), from the signing of the contract until the final narrative and financial reports, in order to ensure a smooth implementation of the action.

COURSE CONTENT

The first day is devoted to the institutional and legal framework applicable to grant contracts and the rules regarding pre-financing and guarantees. During the second day, participants will learn which procurement procedures to use, the requirements for reporting, when and how to modify a contract, and what procedures to follow at the end of a contract.

TRAINING METHODOLOGY

Like our other courses, this course is given in a participatory and interactive way. The presentations will alternate with practical exercises based on real cases. Much attention is paid to the experience of participants who will have the opportunity to discuss the challenges they face and to exchange good practices with the other participants and trainers. With their background in EU procedures, the trainers will give practical advice and tools that will facilitate the daily management of grant contracts.

COURSE PROGRAMME

*Day 1

Context and signature of a grant contract

• Role of the actors and management modes
• Grant contract : special conditions, general conditions

and other annexes

• Signature of the grant contract: points of attention of the special conditions, pre-financing, financial guarantee…
• Co-financing : rules to follow

Day 2

Contract management during the project implementation

• Eligibility of costs
• Procurement and related rules (nationality, origin, exclusion)
• Monitoring & reporting
• Modifications of the contract, the action and the budget
• Closure of the grant contract

FEES

Fees include a comprehensive manual with the slides, background- and case materials, a USB key and lunch each training day.

2 days training = 750 € (21% VAT excluded)

It is possible to follow only this two days training or to combine it with the first 3-days training Module 1: “GRANTS in the context of EU External Actions: How to obtain EU funding?”.

MDF Brussels

Brussels,Belgium

Phone: +32 (0)2 242 19 09

Mail: info@mdfbrussels.be

or via our registration form on our website www.mdfbrussels.be