3rd Interim report September 2011- March 2012.pdf - Renanetwork.org

Interim Report, No 3, 19 September 2011 – 18 March 2012
stable
Partner
countries have
insufficient
interest and lack
institutional
capacity to
provide (proper)
data or delegate
qualified staff to
the network
activities
Partner
countries have
insufficient
capacity to make
use of the
project results
Lack of will of
sectors in the
public
administrations
to cooperate
with their
colleagues in
other sectors,
like
environment
Different levels
or speeds of
involved
countries in
their
approximation
to the
environmental
acquis
Low
Medium
Medium
Medium
High
High
Medium
Medium
developments. To mitigate the effects of instability the
Consultant has developed pro-active (such as helpdesk,
personal approach, providing documentation and
explanation, web reference, etc.), bringing newly
involved stakeholders to the right level of understanding
and involvement.
In many cases of instability it should be possible in a
rather early stage to sense upcoming changes. This will
enable us to anticipate by (gradually) shifting our efforts
towards the new situation. Major or overnight changes
with an impact on project implementation may call for
consultations with the Contracting Authority to
conclude on the steps to take. The RENA website and
helpdesk have been established.
From the very start of the project cooperation between
the Secretariat and our experts and the RENA focal
points in the beneficiary countries has been established
on a very high level.
It is difficult to mitigate this risk, as the current situation
is the case in many countries, including EU Member
States. Through proper involvement of local staff during
the project (with making efforts to have to right people
attend the activities), and through the issuance of
reports, manuals, electronic information tools, we are
succeeding to reach the relevant audience for each of the
project elements, to sustain the project results (perhaps
to be used at a later date) and build on personal contacts
between peers across the region and across different
networks.
Will to cooperate is often influenced by fear for the
unknown, the uncertainty whether it will harm people’s
current status, benefits and powers. The Consultant is
practicing an open approach involving key stakeholders
first. So far no obvious non-cooperation or obstruction
occurred. If occurred our working group managers will
take the lead in mitigating the situation looking for
solutions. In case of sustained non-cooperation or
obstruction that hinders project quality we will seek for a
solution or conclusion in close consultation with the
Contracting Authority.
The speed in approximation to the EU acquis differs per
beneficiary country. RENA is taking into account the
different speeds in designing the project activities and
when drafting documents.
Ad hoc country specific assistance from the side of the
project is provided where possible in order to contribute
to mitigating the different speeds. The contracting party
is kept up-to-date of countries’ progress and may at its
discretion decide to discuss specific elements in a
political context.
External country specific assessments and specific
country assistance is for example taken up in the work
Human Dynamics Consortium 71