{jathumbnail}This manual is concerned with how NGOs may best influence the management of the Structural Funds so that they may be effectively directed toward the reduction and elimination of poverty and social exclusion in Europe.
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The European Anti-Poverty Network holds the view that the Structural Funds have considerable potential to combat poverty, social exclusion and inequality. This manual is concerned with how NGOs may best influence the management of the Structural Funds so that they may be effectively directed toward the reduction and elimination of poverty and social exclusion in Europe.
It is not a policy document on the Funds, nor simply a guide as to how NGOs may be smarter at obtaining the Funds. Instead, it looks at the way in which the Structural Funds are designed, planned, publicized, delivered, monitored and evaluated – in other words how they are managed and how NGOs may play their part in that process. The manual is rooted in the practical, on-the-ground experience of NGOs in the current round of the Funds (2000-6) and looks forward to the new programming period (2007-2013). Examples from different states are cited or summarized at frequent intervals.
The manual does not attempt to achieve a perfect, equal representation of each member state – among 25 that would be difficult – but tries to convey an overall picture of the past, present and potential future management of the Structural Funds. The countries that contributed combine a mixture of large and small states, the ‘old’ and ‘new’ Europe, from the north to the Mediterranean Sea, from the west to the Baltic states, as well as different models of development.
The main chapters of the manual (2-7) take the following form:
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The Structural Fund framework under a number of key headings: information, planning and partnership, social inclusion, monitoring and evaluation, technical assistance;
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The reality, for NGOs combating poverty and social exclusion, based on the experience of EAPN members in the different states. The manual gives practical detail and tries to convey the situation on the ground;
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Suggestions, in the form of a checklist, of action which social inclusion NGOs could take to ensure their participation in the management of the Structural Funds. The checklists are at the end of each chapter;
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Additional information and good practice provided in panels.