As with all sectors and all aspects of daily and professional life, this is a special time for European calls for proposals. For our “one question, one answer” column, we analyze today an issue that is very much in the news these days:
This article is out of date.
What are the most obvious aspects of Covid-19’s impact on European projects?
The answer is not easy, because the situation is constantly evolving and changes a lot, not only from day to day, but also depending on sectors, types of projects, and what we mean by “European funds.”
But let’s try to summarize below the points that we believe are fundamental. What do you think and what are (and/or were) the most significant aspects of this period for you? Write to us and bring us your point of view!
Deadlines and daily life of projects
First, the coronavirus and the restrictive measures taken in all European countries have led program management authorities (at all levels, European, national and regional) to move forward the deadlines of many calls for proposals (we have discussed this: here and here). For what reason? There are several, obvious ones:
- To enable proponents to organize themselves logistically: for many, it is more difficult to finalize a project in quarantine, for example, in coordinating with partners and internal structures in their organization, or working without the tools and focus of an office;
- To enable proposing parties to organize themselves in conceptual terms: the Covid-19 marked a paradigm shift in many areas, priorities and reference tools, even if only (to stay on simple and universal examples), hindering the movement of people between European countries, a basic element of many calls and projects;
- To allow managing authorities to organize internally: in fact, the same offices responsible for launching calls, evaluating projects and monitoring interventions are subject to organizational difficulties very similar to ours.
In this regard, we encourage you to regularly consult the call alert services (including the one made available by CSVnet starting from our homepage) and (even better) the official information sources of the calls in which you are interested.
It is also important to make the most of the additional time that is given to revise the rationale for the projects we present in light of the changed European situation: for example, envisaging greater use of communication and remote co-working technologies, or a revisiting of interventions to mitigate (in each area of intervention) the effects not only of health, but also of economic, social and educational effects of the coronavirus-induced crisis. It will certainly be an important element in evaluations of current and upcoming projects.
Project implementation was also affected by Covid-19: project activities postponed or canceled, difficulties in maintaining contact between partners and with managing authorities, and the need to revise planned actions based on changed context conditions. Reference sites and contact with the respective contact persons should make it possible to solve most of the problems, but negative effects are inevitable for projects that by their nature involve the mobility of people between European countries and the exchange of experience. Here are some examples of web pages devoted to this issue, on some European programs:
- For the Erasmus+, Creative Europe, and Europe for Citizens programs: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
- For the Horizon2020, COSME and LIFE programs: 1 | 2
It is necessary to approach this period in the life of our projects with a good dose of flexibility, creativity and attention to opportunities: it is in periods like this that new solutions and new ways of approaching problems arise, which in these changed conditions are analyzed from a different point of view. In addition, increased time spent online in our working lives can (paradoxically) lead us to explore realities and develop contacts far from our usual networks.
New funding lines
Of course, as mentioned in previous posts (see here and here), the European Union’s response to the new challenges posed by the coronavirus is also seen through the provision of new funding lines and calls specifically for the time of emergency. In this regard, for the sake of clarity for those involved in Europrojecting, it is useful to make a distinction between four main types of “funding-Covid.”
- Some funding programs consist of zero-interest or low-interest loans and grants for businesses, designed to help them weather the period of economic hardship and its related employment and social repercussions. These funding programs do not require the development of a formal project proposal. Others, however, are channeled through the Structural Funds and their respective managing authorities at the Member State level, which can use them for various types of actions, initiatives, and calls for proposals: This is the case withthe Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative (and its “plus” version), whose regulations can be found here and here. Given their link to the Structural Funds, some of these actions may require the development of a project (and thus fall within the priority areas of interest to our readers), but it is necessary to monitor their nature, timeline, and application or participation procedures on the websites of various national and regional authorities. The Structural Funds (in particular, the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund) are, after all, the most significant means for implementing projects at the local, social, and business levels. The European Fund for Aid to the Most Deprived is also particularly important for addressing the most acute social effects of the emergency. Below, we recommend some national and regional sources where you can find more information:
Ministry of Economy and Finance -measuresto support health and the economy
Piedmont Region – European Funds (Calls for Proposals / ESF / ERDF / EAFRD) and Measures Related to COVID-19
Lombardy Region – European Funds (Calls for Proposals / ESF / ERDF / EAFRD) and Measures Related to COVID-19
Lazio Region – European Funds (Calls for Proposals / ESF / ERDF / EAFRD) and Measures Related to COVID-19
- Some funding streams are indeed made available at the European level through directly managed calls for proposals specifically dedicated to the COVID-19 emergency. However, most of them focus on health and technology issues—that is, on solutions and initiatives most directly related to the fight against the virus and the mitigation measures needed to counter its effects (medical, pharmacological, and biological research; technological research on data, ICT systems, and technical solutions; and the mobilization of laboratory, technical, and scientific capabilities and infrastructure). All of these opportunities are compiled on a portal dedicated to EU calls for proposals related to the COVID-19 emergency. Please note that the portal offers (on the left side of the page) the option to search for specific calls for proposals and programs. A compilation of calls for proposals and opportunities tailored for the Italian public is also provided by the Agency for the Promotion of European Research (APRE). Given the significant impact of the emergency on employment and society, we also highlight the calls for proposals under the EaSI Program (Employment and Social InnovationProgram —calls also available here);
- Finally, some funding opportunities do not strictly pertain to European projects but are made available by organizations, associations, agencies, and foundations with a philanthropic mission or that are committed to contributing to the fight against the virus. These funds come from private or public-private sources and may include EU co-financing. However, the procedures can vary widely, as can the sources of information and reference. For example, the European Youth Foundation has launched a call for youth initiatives in the fight against COVID-19, and the Central European Initiative has recently concluded a call dedicated to emergency responses. Where can you find information on this? The European Network of Donors and Foundations publishes and constantly updates a list of initiatives dedicated to this topic (here is the direct link). We’ve already discussed this here: the (global) philanthropy sector is responding strongly to this challenge, and the EFC (European Foundation Centre) website also highlights the most important initiatives on a dedicated page. In addition, CSVnet’s “infobandi” service (accessible here) lists some of the most interesting opportunities from non-EU sources, as does the European Commission’s dedicated portal.
As this brief overview shows, we need a broad perspective on European funds and even more comprehensive monitoring of opportunities to find “the ideal grant program” during this particularly difficult time for everyone—individuals, businesses, institutions, and local organisations. We hope that the information and links in this post will be of practical help in this regard!
A broader vision
Last but not least, we’d like to note that this period has seen the proliferation of various online training and self-learning initiatives: an opportunity to which we have dedicated—and will continue to dedicate— many in-depth articles in our Guide! Another very interesting aspect we intend to explore is the impact of COVID-19 on two particularly important issues of recent months—and of the months to come: the 2021–2027 financial framework and Brexit (1 | 2). While the coronavirus has had immediate effects on calls for proposals, it could also influence the evolution of policies and the very framework within which European projects are conceived and funded. This year’s European budget itself has (obviously) been amended to address the emergency (see this infographic).
We will be back there soon!
