Expert training on EU funding for NGOs in Malta

THE Malta Resource Centre and Impetus Europe Consulting Group recently held an interactive two-day training course by Welcome Europe on "EU funding for voluntary organisations".

The event, held at Misco and attended by the public and private sectors, consisted of training on the different thematic and technical aspects of EU funding.

"This training course was the first of its kind in Malta. Those who attended gave very positive feedback following the event which facilitated an informed exchange of good practice and experience," managing director of Impetus Europe Karl Diacono said.

"We had a very good response - 35 participants from various NGOs working in different fields. We need to make full use of the EU opportunities for NGOs in Malta. Such training courses can be the first step to achieve this objective," MRC chairman Claudia Taylor East said.

"The training course focused on the European structural funds for Malta and an overview of European external funds for development projects," Philippa Said of Impetus Europe explained.

It is imperative for NGOs to realise the opportunities created by accessing both structural funds, which are manged by the local administration and direct access funds facilitated through programmes created by the European Commission present.

NGOs need to build the infrastructures required to manage these opportunities or better still, team up to ensure that synergies between them are the tools for success.

Ms Marie Defrance, Welcome Europe course trainer, highlighted that "support and technical assistance are an essential follow-up.

Participants were provided with a training handbook to follow the session and an annual subscription to the Welcomeurope Eurofunding Alerts (alerting by e-mails of the new funding opportunities from the European Commission on a weekly basis).

They were also given a 50 per cent discount on all Eurofunding Guides that are an excellent source of information of unding opportunities prepared by Welcomeurope and distributed in Malta through Impetus funding opportunities through the knowledge acquired on European structural funds and external funds functioning.

"To make use of EU funding, NGOs require capacity building, a legal framework, creativity, sustainability and a new NGO culture of building networks and partnerships to work together on projects, MRC director Godfrey Kenely said.

MRC is already providing administrative support to EAPN Malta, a network of 46 Maltese NGOs fighting poverty and exclusion. The development of networks on health and the environment are also being explored.

Furthermore, the MRC plans to hold discussions with the managing authority to explore means of developing a framework for capacity building for NGOs through the use of technical assistance funds.

Fr Manuel Cordina, OASI Foundation director, a course participant, said his participation in the training courses broadened his views and knowledge on the EU as a social force for Europe and a funding partner for all the social partners, including NGOs.

Another particular thing that surfaced during the two days of sharing of ideas and experiences is the need for all NGOs in Malta to build a common platform, a unifying structure to represent them in the future.

Dr Elena Tanti Burlò representing Equal Partners Foundation, another participant, said that on entering the session she felt it was the group of hopefuls - hopeful to tap on much advertised EU funds for NGOs.

Ms Taylor East concluded by saying she hoped that the new financial structural funds mechanism for 2007-2013 would provide the opportunity for Maltese NGOs to develop and manage projects.

The MRC used some of the funding it has received from the Forum Malta in Europe - Civil Society Fund for training on EU funding, to be able to subsidise the course fee for voluntary non-profit organisations.

www.mrc.org.mt