PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The LIFE programme introduced action grants for capacity-building projects for the 2014-2017 funding period. These are projects designed to build Member States' capacity to participate more effectively in the LIFE Programme. Specifically, these projects propose interventions to develop the capacity to submit successful applications for funding for projects under the sub-programmes for Environment and Climate Action. Member States that meet the criteria may each receive funding of up to one million euros for one capacity-building project. Only national level public bodies responsible for implementation of LIFE in an eligible Member State in the European Union may apply for capacity-building projects.
OBJECTIVES
The strategic aim of the LIFE NFEP PL project was to help Polish applicants to submit high-quality proposals for funding under the LIFE Programme during the project implementation period 2016-2019 and afterwards. This would be accomplished by strengthening the capacity within NFOŚiGW, the LIFE NCP, to improve how it provides assistance to LIFE project applicants, by assigning 2 new employees dedicated to project implementation and through staff training courses dedicated to all personnel involved in LIFE implementation in Poland, focusing on project evaluation and assessment. The LIFE NCP would organise workshops for potential applicants, and prepare and publicise a guide on how to prepare a good project proposal. Since knowledge of English is still a barrier for some applicants, especially from the public sector, the capacity building project would provide a wide range of translations of LIFE documents. The project also aimed to disseminate knowledge of the LIFE Programme in Poland, mainly by organising LIFE open days and events focused on particular environmental topics.
RESULTS
The LIFE_NFEP_PL project held consultations on LIFE funding applications every year during its duration, on average 44 applications annually (50 applications foreseen annually).
On average 871 people participated in training courses (exceeding the target of 630). The planned number of Polish LIFE project proposals submitted in the individual call (at least 40) was achieved only in 2017; the average obtaining was 24. Moreover, the number of Polish proposals approved by the European Commission (foreseen at least 5), was achieved also only in the 2017 call (6 projects), but not for the 2016 call (3 projects), for the 2018 call (1 project), or for the 2019 call (4 projects).
However, the indicator defining the share of international applications (proportion of multinational consortia) was exceeded (on average 42%, while 13% was planned).
The use of the European Commission resources was unsatisfactory compared with the previous financial perspective, when as part of the calls in the period 2008 to 2013 Poland used about 92% of the national allocation. With the target level of 95.9% assumed for the LIFE_NFEP_PL project, the indicator of the use of the national allocation in the sub-programme Environment (for 2014-2017) was achieved at a level of 36%.
Therefore, although most actions were implemented on schedule, the project failed to achieve the overall objective of increasing the quality of applications submitted in the consecutive LIFE calls, and the planned “number of successful proposals” in 2016-18 and the "number of project proposals submitted" was not achieved in 2016 and in 2018-19.
On the other hand, a wide media and information campaign conducted by the project, including six sponsored articles, radio broadcasts on LIFE, training activities and an Information Day, indicated that interest in the LIFE programme in Poland had increased, which was reflected in the results of the project’s media monitoring action.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section).
