Effective support through coordinated work

How we helped the client

The customer – an agency under the Ministry of Justice – increased the level of cooperation with their European colleagues, both strategically and operationally. The main purpose of an international cooperation is the exchange of experiences and methods with other EU countries and to work together in strategic and operational work groups. There are funds to apply for from the European Commission, to be used for improvement projects and international cooperation.

The mission was to find ways of financing the agency’s operation and current internal and operational needs, considering the most common and most prioritized tasks.

How we did it

  • Creation of the role EU coordinator
  • Build-up and implementation of an EU funding function (full-time) at the headquarters. A strategy and process to take ideas to actual applications and how to run an approved project.
  • Creation of a function description for the EU coordinator. The coordinator shall provide support and mentoring regarding suitable project ideas, programs and funds as well as providing information about regulations and policies for EU financed projects. The EU coordinator shall also do quality assurance before sending applications are sent.
  • A review and identification of what funds and programs that were suitable for the agency’s operation.
  • All management teams within the agency now got information about the new service and the European Commission’s financing programs, how to apply for funds, potential project partners and how to get support during the application process

What we achieved

During 2008, 10 applications were made, out of those 8 were approved and funded. The projects are both national and international and have budgets from 200 000 SEK up to around SEK 8.5 million. In total, funding added up to over SEK 90 million for EU funded projects from year 2008 to 2010.

EU funding is now a financing tool to be reckoned with in most parts of the agency when planning new improvement projects. The approved projects are ongoing and many are well known in their expertise area, not only within the agency and cooperating agencies in Europe but also as a role model for projects in government administration.