We continue with this post the mini-rubric of “frequently asked questions” related to europlanning activities. Following up on some questions we received, we address a philosophical topic, but one that is probably dear to many of our readers: what is EU projects and funding and “who is” an EU project designer?
In addition to whether or not you can identify with this portrait (you have the floor!) this issue can offer new or aspiring europrojectors interesting insights into how to approach europrojecting as a career path.
What does it mean to be an “EU project designer” and what are the main characteristics of the profession?
Qhe story of “EU projects and funding” and “EU project designers” is a relatively recent one, which has emerged in tandem with the spread of EU projects as a way of funding and implementing specific activities by local organisations, bodies and associations. Terminologically, this is a distinctly Italian lexical choice: according to Wikipedia (October 2018) there is no term similar to “europlanning” currently used in other countries.
From a substantive point of view, an EU project designer is distinguished from other professionals by his or her knowledge of the funding sources and project management procedures specific to the European Union and its related institutions: while most of the topics touched upon in our guide are familiar to you, you are probably an EU project designer!
If this is the lowest common denominator among Europrojectors, some elements contribute to their more nuanced sketch:
Europlanners are not a “one-of-a-kind” category
- An EU project designer must be equipped (not unlike other types of “designers”) with a solid foundation in project management, processing and writing skills in the technical field in which he or she works, and more general (but no less important) communication and interpersonal, administrative and financial skills;
- Other funders of projects that are not strictly European (United Nations, World Bank, USAid, regional banks such as ADB, AfDB, IADB, etc., just to name a few) use methodologies and require skills quite similar to those of Europrojectors.
Europlanning activities are varied in nature and involve different “nuances” (and skills)
- Europrojecting is not a stand-alone activity, but needs a thematic focus and concrete activities to be articulated “as a project,” or to be managed “as a project.” It is a methodology that cannot be completely divorced from the field of intervention: a minimum understanding of the subject matter is needed to come up with a good project in the scientific, educational, social, cultural, environmental, artistic, business, etc. fields;
- The ‘europrojecting activity has different characteristics (in terms of language use, reference interlocutors, and procedures used) depending on whether the project is funded by Community programs under direct management , from Structural Funds or by Territorial Cooperation Programs. .
Europlanners are by nature versatile figures and can have very different paths
- The professional backgrounds of Europrojectors can be very diverse. These are frequently people who have acquired their first Europlanning skills through involvement in the work of local authorities, university and research institutions, third sector organizations, associations or companies already active in the field; skills then consolidated through a specific course or personal in-depth study. Increasingly, the path is reversed, that is, preceded upstream by an in-depth course or pathway;
- Also the “ way of being a Europrojector ” varies greatly from person to person. Some EU project designers are part of the staff of an organization, association, entity, or company that participates in EU projects and funding, others are external consultants or freelancers; for some, EU project design is a full-time activity, for others, one of the aspects of their professional activity; some are experts in a specific subject or thematic area, others have the ability to adapt their skills to more than one area.
This very diverse and articulated identikit is probably one of the reasons why EU projects and funding activity is still poorly formalized and standardized, for example in terms of contracting and in labor relations; or why the definition of “category” tools (such as an order or a register of EU project designers) is still not very widespread and advanced compared to other professional categories.
By way of illustration, some of the characteristics that Europrojectors share are:
- Versatility, adaptability, the ability to see the global picture of an issue, extract the most interesting insights, analyze them and present them from different points of view. This is a key feature in the critical juncture between the project idea and a call for proposals, and in the subsequent preparation of the call for proposals itself;
- Theuse of language: whether Italian (sufficient for Structural Funds), English or another language, it must be used accurately (terminology), convincingly and attractively (simple sentences, clear speech structure, effective in the arguments used);
- Technical competence, understood both in terms of EU projects and funding (knowledge of the subject matter and continuous updating) and in terms of the scope of reference (one cannot write or present convincingly what one does not know: either directly, or through “four-handed” work with those in the organization who have insight into the thematic aspects of the project);
- Relational and work organization skills, which are essential to make project preparation an effective team activity, to find partners, and to stay up-to-date on all the news from Brussels and the local organisations;
- Methodological rigor, which is essential to avoid fatal administrative and procedural errors and to give solidity to the project with careful planning of the timeframe and financial, human and material resources needed to implement it.
Do you reflect yourself in this sketch? Can you think of other important aspects?
Happy europlanning to all!
