GOPA PACE - SUPPORT TO PLANNING, PROGRAMMING & COORDINATION TO EU & OTHER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

At a glance

Country:
Serbia
Sector: Governance
SDG Impact: 16
Client: EU

Start date: 04/2022
End date: 04/2025
Duration:

month(s)
Budget: 2.465.000 €
Type:
TA

WHY

On its journey towards socio-economic development and European integration, Serbia undertakes efforts to strengthen its institutions, enhance governance, and align its policies with EU standards and values. The country's need for support in planning, programming, and coordination related to financial assistance arises from the complexity and scale of managing external funds effectively and transparently, and the need for specialised expertise. Capacity building and support for national stakeholders raised as crucial to ensure that Serbia maximizes the impact of financial assistance while adhering to stringent EU standards.

The project aims to address critical issues related to the preparation, implementation, and monitoring of strategic and operational planning documents, as well as the management of financial assistance from the EU and other development partners in the Republic of Serbia.

WHAT

The intervention is essential for several reasons:

EU Integration: To assist the Serbian administration in effectively managing EU integration and pre-accession assistance, expediting preparations for EU membership.

Proper Fund Utilisation: To ensure the proper programming and utilization of EU funds, aligning Serbia with EU standards and requirements. Effective fund management is crucial for Serbia's path toward European integration.

HOW

The project employed various intervention methods, including:

On-the-Job Support:

Providing hands-on assistance to stakeholders involved in planning, programming, and coordination activities, ensuring the effective implementation of EU and development partner assistance.

Training Activities:

Organizing training sessions and capacity-building activities to enhance the skills and knowledge of national stakeholders involved in the planning and programming of financial assistance.

Procedure Development:

Developing and improving procedures to streamline the planning, programming, and coordination processes, making them more efficient and effective.

Document Preparation:

Supporting the preparation of planning and programming documents in collaboration with partners, aligning them with EU and development partner requirements.

Recommendations:

Offering recommendations and guidance on best practices to enhance the effectiveness of planning, programming, and coordination efforts.

RESULTS / ACHIEVEMENTS

Strategic Response:

The successful preparation of an updated version for 2023, ensuring alignment with evolving development priorities.

Action Fiches for IPA 2024:

The completion of 12 Action Fiches for IPA 2024, providing a clear roadmap for project implementation and fund utilisation.

Action Documents for IPA 2024:

The preparation of six Action Documents for projects to be financed under IPA 2024, facilitating the allocation and effective utilization of EU funds.

Indirect Management Procedures:

The development of procedures for Indirect Management by the Beneficiary Country for Annual, Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC), and Multiannual Programming, enhancing the efficiency of fund management.

Database of International Conventions:

The creation of a comprehensive database of International Conventions signed by Serbia, ensuring transparent and accessible information.

Sector Working Group and Monitoring Committee:

The organisation and implementation of numerous meetings of the Sector Working Group and the Sector Monitoring Committee, promoting collaboration and oversight.

Rules of Procedures:

Elaboration of a new version of the rules of procedures for the functioning of the Sector Working Groups, enhancing their effectiveness in guiding planning and programming efforts.