Interreg VI-B IPA Adriatic Ionian Programme – IPA ADRION Expression of interest for the selection of independent assessors

Introduction

The Interreg IPA ADRION Programme is a European transnational programme running from 2021-2027, successor of the ADRION 2024-2020 Programme The Programme covers an area of more than 70 million inhabitants, across the two shores of the Adriatic Ionian Seas and stretching over the Dinaric Alps. Compared to 2014-2020, the cooperation area is extended to two additional countries (North Macedonia and the Republic of San Marino), reaching 10 participating countries (Albania; Bosnia Herzegovina; Croatia; Greece; Italy; North Macedonia; Montenegro; San Marino; Serbia; Slovenia).

The Programme supports EU integration of the IPA participating countries. For the coming years, the Programme’s budget amounts to 160 million Euros, with an EU contribution of 136 million euros. The green policy will play a major role in the future funding scheme with 54% of the total allocations targeting environmental topics, including climate change adaptation, biodiversity, and circular economy.

The rest of the resources will be covering innovation (29%), sustainable mobility (9%), and the support to the EUSAIR governance (8%). The new funding scheme of the Programme will be able to tackle strategically a set of targeted objectives, as follows:

 Priority 1:SO 1.1: Strengthening innovation capacities in the Adriatic -Ionian region (ref. to SO 1.1 ERDF Regulation). SO 1.2: Supporting skills development in the Adriatic -Ionian region (ref. to SO 1.4 ERDF Regulation).

Priority 2: SO 2.1: Enhancing resilience to climate change, natural and man-made disasters in the Adriatic- Ionian region (ref. to SO 2.4 ERDF Regulation). SO 2.2: Supporting circular economy development in the Adriatic -Ionian region (ref. to SO 2.6 ERDF Regulation). SO 2.3: Supporting environment preservation and protection in the Adriatic- Ionian region (ref. to SO 2.7 ERDF Regulation). SO 2.4: Supporting sustainable multimodal urban mobility in the Adriatic -Ionian region (ref. to SO 2.8 ERDF Regulation).

Priority 3: SO 3.1: Strengthening a carbon neutral smart mobility in the Adriatic -Ionian region (ref. to SO 3.2 ERDF Regulation). The programme is co-financed by the European Union – ERDF and IPA III Funds. Further details can be found on the programme website of the former Interreg ADRION Programme at the following link: http://www.adrioninterreg.eu/.

The programme language is English.

Emilia-Romagna Region is the Managing Authority (MA) of the IPA ADRION programme and ART-ER, the in-house company of the Emilia-Romagna Region ruled by the regional law LR n. 25/1993, has been assigned with the role of hosting the Joint Secretariat (JS).

 Overall goal

With the present announcement ART-ER is looking for competent experts to support the JS in appraising the project proposals received in the framework of the programming period of the IPA ADRION 2021-2027 and according to the methodology defined by the Programme. 

The experienced individuals (thematic experts, professional consultants, academic researchers, practitioners, Interreg experts) are expected to have a high level of professional experience in one or more of the thematic fields covered by the Programme’s Priorities and in project proposals assessment combined with a sound knowledge of Interreg programmes and goals. 

The fee foreseen for each project proposal is up to a max. of EUR 450,-. 

In particular, the expert will be selected against the following requirements:

• Have a university degree;
• Have at least seven years of professional experience after the university degree in positions acquired preferably in the selected Specific Objectives of the Programme;
• Have a good knowledge of the Adriatic Ionian cooperation area and its challenges; knowledge on the territorial needs of the IPA countries related to enlargement will be considered an asset 
• Have a good understanding of Cohesion Policy and European Territorial Cooperation (Interreg) with a focus on transnational cooperation and/or international cooperation;
• Have a proven track record in similar work (i.e.: assessing applications of ETC or applications under programmes directly managed by the European Commission or international funding programmes, and of applying scoring system and making recommendations for selection);
• Be independent from projects partners and/or future projects implementation;
• Be fluent in speaking, reading and writing in English (at least C1 level or equivalent);
• Be computer literate.

Interested experts who fulfil the above-described requirements should enrol in the ART-ER roster, Sub-category 3.b Project evaluation and selection within Category 3. Advice on management of public funds (regional, national, European). The process to submit the application includes the sending of the CV in EUROPASS format and of the filled-in Application form (Annex A) specifying the interest in the IPA-ADRION Programme and in the Specific Objectives (maximum 2) of competence. If the application is incomplete, (i.e. non-provision of compulsory information or missing CV or Annex A) or if provided in other languages than English, it will not be considered for selection.

In order to ensure the independence of the quality assessment, the selected expert at the moment of signature of the contract will also sign a declaration on impartiality and confidentiality declaring that the absence of the conflict of interest, as well as committing herself/himself to inform the MA/JS if any conflict arises in the course of the assessment process. 

The registration by itself does not guarantee the selection for an assignment: the selection of experts will depend on programme needs and specific thematic requirements. It is however mandatory to be fully registered to become eligible for future selections.

Registration is open and expires after 2 years from the date of registration. Experts can re-submit an updated application after the expiration of their candidature.

The documents sent (Application form and CV) will be kept in the roster for two years from the date of enrolment. 

The experts will be selected on the basis of the criteria above indicated, having regard to candidates’ skills in the selected Specific Objectives and highlighted thematic fields in relation to the call specificities published by the Programme. The selection will be done by ART-ER in cooperation with IPA ADRION Managing Authority and Joint Secretariat. The procedure will be objective and follow the principles of non-discrimination and equal opportunities; gender and fair participating countries representation shall be ensured to the possible maximum extent. 

Candidates’ skills shall be considered only with regard to the selected Specific Objective(s) chosen by the candidate. 

Documentation shall be uploaded to the following link https://en.art-er.it/work-with-us/.

The CV and the ANNEX A must be uploaded in  the section “Attached documents”

In case of questions regarding this e call for thematic experts, please address: procedure@art-er.it