Holding Training Seminars for Tunisian Officials

From May 25th to 29th under the Twinning Project Tunisia “Institutional Building of Regional Development Agencies for the Promotion of Private Investment”  two Formez experts, Ms Claudia Salvi and Ms Miranda Labella, went to Tunis to the Ministry for International Development and Cooperation for training CGDR employees (General Commissioner for Regional Development), and subsequently to Kassérine to hold a seminar for ODCO employees (West-central Development Body).
The activities fall under the cycle of the training activities already embarked on in Tunisia by Formez experts Mr Alberto Costa, Ms Lucia Santuccione and Ms Daniela Castagno, who worked on capacity building for planning and programming and outlined the opportunities offered to Tunisian bodies by the new 2007-2013 European Neighbourhood Policy.
In conclusion of this cycle of seminars, the last mission focussed on themes like partner search for international programmes and the direct funding sources involving Tunisian counterparts.
On this occasion, the mechanism of candidature for direct Community programmes like Tempus and the 7° Framework Programme, was outlined through direct working on candidate application forms and on the guide-lines of reference. The existing databanks to be used for international partner search were presented.
In the framework of the training cycle, particular relevance was given to practical exercises and debates; participants were requested to formulate project ideas and to identify adequate funding lines in light of the funding already outlined.
On the other hand, once again the debate represented an important occasion for comparison, useful for experts and beneficiaries who in this way, could share opinions about the problems to be solved and the idea to be developed.
The hints and ideas emerged during these sessions certainly represent a starting point to continue to work on future project initiatives, so as not to disperse the activities and the efforts carried out so far. In conclusion of the seminars, the wish and need emerged by the Tunisian officials to develop an assistance course throughout all project phases, with the ultimate purpose to create the conditions to allow them to gain absolute autonomy when submitting candidate application forms under Euro-Mediterranean programmes by developing project ideas and by establishing new international partnerships. This could be done also on the basis of the sectoral and geographical priorities which emerged during the project activities and the liaisons established with the Italian institutions on the occasion of the study visits realized in Italy.