Background:

The second training for the potential beneficiaries of IPA cross-border programmes under the CBIB II was organised in Montenegro on 7^th and 8^th May in Podgorica.

The trainings for the potential applicants in Montenegro were originally planned in the agreed Work Plan between the first and the second round of Calls for proposals for the programmes on the internal WB borders. However, the Secretariat for European Integration felt the need for the organisation of additional trainings for potential applicants even before the first round of the Calls for Proposals. The possible dates and number of trainings were discussed during several meetings.

Participants and objectives:

In total, 23 representatives from municipalities, NGOs, employment services, public companies, tourist organisations participated in this initial training. In addition, representatives from the Secretariat for European Integration, JTS for programme Croatia – Montenegro, and Antenna for programme Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro and Albania – Montenegro were also present.

Even though the level of previous experience and knowledge of the participants was not the same, all of them took active part in the training.

The main objectives of the course were the following:

• Potential grant beneficiaries have a general understanding on the cross-border programme implementation: what is Call for Proposals (CfP) and the role of the Guidelines for Applicants (GfA) in the CfP.
• Understand what is required from the applicants in the Application process;
• Understand what is important while preparing for the application process and what is a CBC partnership;
• Understand the principles of the logical framework (LF) approach and the link between the different levels in the LF;
• Understand what role the external factors have in the LF;
• Understand what role the indicators have in the LF and be aware how to formulate them;
• Understand the principles of the activity based budgeting;
• Understand the link between the project development process based on the LFA and the filling in the application form;
• Understand the concept of monitoring and evaluation in the project implementation process.

The objectives of the training indicate that the course was helping the potential grant beneficiaries to understand what is required in the grant preparation process, what does the cross–border partnerships mean, what are the main elements of a logical framework approach and how to fill in the application form.

The training consisted of the following sessions under the Preparation of the Grant Proposal:

1. IPA cross-border programmes content and relevant management structures;
2. What is Grant;
3. CBC Partnership;
4. Guidelines for Applicants;
5. Intro to LFA and Stakeholder Analysis;
6. Problem Analysis;
7. Objective Analysis;
8. Intervention logic;
9. Assumptions and preconditions;
10. Indicators;
11. Budgeting;
12. Filling in the Application Form.

Each day consisted of morning and afternoon sessions that were introduced in combination of theory with exercises/“learning by doing”, and due to the relatively short duration of the training, most of the topics were presented in plenary sessions and followed by “buzzing” – group discussions. Group exercises were organised on the following topics: stakeholder, problem analysis and development of the intervention logic.

Conclusion:

A two day training for such an active group of participants, as well as the importance of the topic presented, seemed not to be enough. Nevertheless, the participants showed high commitment to the training.

The participants evaluated the course extremely positively. The qualities of the lectures were considered very clear and interactive and the participants considered the course highly successful and useful.