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| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
A
Accessional Candidate Country - A country which has applied for membership of the European Union. The process of increasing the size of the EU is called "enlargement".
Accountable Body - An organisation that has agreed to be the applicant for a partnership of organisations.
Actual Costs - ESF will contribute to any actual eligible costs that are incurred during the running of an approved project. This includes staff and utilities (gas, electricity) costs.
Added Value - Projects funded through ESF should add value in a cost-effective way that enhances and sustains quality assured standards of delivery.
Additionality - ESF projects are designed to provide additional opportunities for individuals who, for a variety of reasons, are either ineligible for statutory provision or whose circumstances are such that they render statutory provision unsuitable. Therefore, ESF support should be given to project activities, which would not otherwise have taken place or would have done so less effectively. EU regulations required that ESF money may not replace public or other equivalent structural expenditure by the Member State. Projects must be additional to normal activities, which means that the project must not be financed by money diverted from a similar project in another area.
ALI - Adult Learning Inspection
Applicant Organisation- Legally constituted and established body eligible to apply for EU funds
Audit - An inspection of the systems and financial records of a project in order to confirm the accuracy, reliability and eligibility of funding claims.
Audit Trail - Transparent and detailed records of expenditure of European Social Fund monies kept and maintained by the applicant organisation including receipts, invoices etc.
B
Beneficiary - the person ultimately receiving the aid.
Benefits in Kind - Non-financial support given to a project. E.G. staff or volunteer time spent on a project. The value of this support in financial terms is calculated by multiplying the number of hours contributed by the recognised hourly rate for the job undertaken. Hours are recorded on Time Sheets and signed by the contributor. Other "in kind" benefits can be use of facilities, expertise, equipment etc. which, when calculated at current market rates, can be expressed as a monetary value or benefit to the project.
C
Capacity Building - Aims to build the capacity of those organisations best placed to access groups in greatest need in the labour market and thereby to improve access to ESF for the target groups.
Capital Funding- Funding that is eligible to be spent on buildings/fixtures and fittings/ large items of expenditure rather than the running costs of a project.
Certifying Authority - the CA certifies declarations of expenditure and applications for payment to the European Commission.
CFO - Co-Financing Organisation
CFI - Common Inspection Framework
Co-Financing - A system of distributing European Social Funds in the UK. A Co-financing Organisation [CFO] has to be a statutory body. It applies to the regional Government Office to co-finance ESF money by matching it with its own discretionary funds from Central Government. The CFO then contracts with a range of organisations to deliver European Social Fund provision. The provider receives 100% of project costs as opposed to the direct bidding route under the old system which still requires a minimum 55% match funding to balance a maximum ESF contribution of 45%.
Community Initiatives - Special measures within the structural funds designed to stimulate member states to work together and implement policies of common interest across the EU. There are four Community Initiatives for the programming period 2000-2006: EQUAL, INTERREG III, LEADER+ and URBAN.
Competitiveness and Employment - covers all the territory outside of convergence. 75% of this must deliver against the Lisbon Agenda.
Complementarity - For a project to be successful in gaining approval and accessing ESF money, it must be eligible. If it is eligible, it will, automatically, have complementarity or linkage with all statutory provision. It is the responsibility of the project applicant organisation to identify actual and potential statutory provision with which it will or can have complementarity and to demonstrate the level, nature and quality of that linkage.
Convergence – this covers member states and regions where development is ‘lagging behind’. Regions targeted by the ‘convergence objectives’ are those whose per capita GDP measures in purchasing power parities is less than 75% of the community average – Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in the South West. 65% must be spent on competitiveness and innovation objectives to deliver the Lisbon Agenda.
Co-operation – covers regions having land or sea frontiers, for actions promoting integrated territorial development and support for inter regional cooperation and exchange of experience.
CSF - Community Support Framework - A document approved by the European Commission that sets out priorities for action, funding requirements and the Operational Programme (OP) for ESF in each member state. The current document outlines how ESF will be spent in the period 2000-2006.
CVS - Councils for Voluntary Service
D
Decommitment - money that has not been spend in the appropriate programming period reclaimed by EC.
Demarcation - ensuring the Funds are not funding the same activity, easier as we have the full suite of Funds.
Depreciation - The calculated loss in value of an asset due to age, wear and tear, deterioration or obsolescence
Direct Bidding - Bids that are made directly to Government Office for European Social Fund.
Disallowance - where the processes of the implementing bodies are found to be in violation of EC rules, this leads to a big fine.
Displacementand Additionality - these funds cannot be used to displace national expenditure which would have been made There will be a financial correction if this is not observed by the commission.
DWP - Department of Works and Pensions - has overall accountability for ESF in England
E
EAFRD - European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development - sometimes called the Rural Development Regulation (RDR) replaces the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGGF) which was implemented as EAGGF in Cornwall and the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP) in the non Objective 1 areas of England.
EAGGF - European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund - this fund finances the common organisation of the agricultural markets, the processing of agricultural products and the structure of agricultural holdings. It assists in part financing national agricultural aid schemes and in developing and diversifying community’s rural areas.
EFF - European Fisheries Fund - replaces Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG).
Eligible Costs - Costs that are to be taken as allowable charges for a project.
EQUAL - The Community Initiative to develop and disseminate new ways of delivering employment policies in order to combat discrimination and inequality felt in connection with the labour market.
European Employment Strategy - This strategy defines Guidelines for promoting employability in each member state of the EU.
ERDF - European Regional Development Fund - a European Structural Fund for reducing regional imbalances and assist disadvantaged regions, particularly run-down areas facing restructuring problems and industrial decline and rural areas.
ESF - European Social Fund - a fund aimed at combating youth and long-term unemployment and promoting the integration of the workforce into the changing labour market. The only structural fund committed exclusively to individual people.
European Commission - The European [Communities] Commission for Employment and Social Affairs, which initiates policy and monitors its application, has its headquarters in Brussels and representatives in all 15 Member States. The Office of Commission Representative in the United Kingdom is located at: 8 Storeys Gate, Westminster, London SW1P 3AT T 020 7973 1992 F 020 7973 1900 W www.cec.org.uk
European Regualtion - this is agreed by Ministers and sets out the broad design of the Fund.
EU - European Union. Established by the Treaties of Maastricht and Amsterdam creating new areas of co-operation and co-ordination between member states, additional to those of the former European Community.
G
Global Grants - Grants (usually at the 100% level), for small-scale organisations (SSO’s), administered by intermediary funding bodies (IB). Designed to overcome the problems experienced by SSO’s in accessing funding i.e. lack of time, expertise and competition from larger organisations.
GOSE - Government Office for the South East - Comprises regional offices of the DTI, DfES, DETR in the South East. Working in partnership with SEEDA [South East Economic Development Agency - RDA] local communities and representing Government at the regional level.
GOSW - Government Office for the South West - Comprises regional offices of the DTI, DfES, DETR in the South West. Working in partnership with the South West RDA and local communities, representing Government at the regional level.
Government Office - Representation of Central Government in the regions since 1996-7, which has ultimate accountability in the region for ESF budgets.
H
Hard Outcomes - These are the measurable outcomes of an ESF approved activity e.g. skill qualifications, jobs - full or part-time, further training, self-employment. These include numbers in voluntary work as well as those progressing to Government Programmes.
Horizontal Issues - Projects should take account of four horizontal issues. These are environmental issues and sustainable development, information society, equal opportunities between men and women, and local development.
I
IB - Intermediary Body - any body or public or private service which acts under the responsibility of a managing or certifying authority, or which carries out duties on behalf of such an authority vis-à-vis beneficiaries implementing operations.
Implementing Regulations – these lay down detailed rules for the Council regulation for each fund.
Intermediate Labour Market - Employment opportunities, voluntary and paid, created by community initiatives and, primarily, serving community needs.
INTERREG III - One of the Community Initiatives, funded through the ERDF. To promote inter-regional and transnational cooperation to combat economic and social exclusion.
Intervention Rates - This refers to the percentage of funding that ESF will pay towards the cost of a project. These are found in the annex of the regulations and cover all public and EU expenditure on a project. For example the maximum EU intervention rate for the Convergence programme is 75% and 50% for Competitiveness.
Irregularity – any infringement of a provision of community law resulting from an act or omission by an economic operator which has, or would have, the effect of prejudicing the general budget of the EU by charging an unjustified item of expenditure to the general budget.
IS - Intermediary Structures - Non-profit organisations at the local/regional level. Provide a buffer between community organisations and statutory bodies in deploying funds (see Local Social Capital and Global Grants)
L
LEADER+ - One of four post-2000 Community Initiatives funded through the EAGGF. In order to be successful, LEADER+ must form part of a region-wide strategy to assist in rural development and to ensure competition and sustainability throughout the EU.
Lisbon Agenda - to make Europe the most competitive and dynamic knowledge based economy in the world. Particular focus on competitiveness, innovation, knowledge based economy and sustainable development.
LSC - Learning and Skills Council - locally-based and employer oriented, the LSC has the lead role in the co-ordination, planning and funding of adult education, post 16 education, inheriting much of the work from TEC’s and FEFC’s. Contacts available on www.lsc.gov.uk The LSC’s are Co-financing organisations for ESF. There are 12 LSCs at local level in the South East and South West regions and 47 LSCs nationally with their headquarters at the National Learning & Skills Council in Coventry.
Local Learning Partnerships - Forums for local providers of education and interested parties. Working with the LSC’s, they will identify the specific training and skills needs of the area.
Local Social Capital - Core community facilities and human resources giving rise to initiatives designed to promote social organisation, networks and social trust. These are the hallmarks of communities that are socially and economically prosperous. The EU funds projects under article 6 that seek to promote social capital. Intermediary bodies channel funds to grass roots organisations through 100% global grants.
M
Managing Authority – The MA would be responsible for Programme Governance, Strategic Programme Development, Programme and Performance Management, Programme reporting and compliance and Programme closure from 2016.
Match Funding - ESF will only provide up to 45% of the funding for projects (see Intervention Rates). The remainder, made up from alternative sources: public or private, is known as match funding.
Match Funds - Project expenditure financed by sources other than ESF.
Measure – a set of operations aimed at implementing a priority axis.
Member State - is the whole of the UK, including England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
N
National reserve – Funding which can be held back and used to reward performance.
National Strategic Reference Framework – prepared with reference to the EU strategic guidelines which provides the framework for the Operational programmes in Convergence and Competitiveness.
NOF - New Opportunities Fund
O
OCT - Open and Competitive Bidding
OP - Operational Programme - Provides a detailed description of the deployment of ESF resources in each country. The OP supports employability and human resource development activities through Objective 3.
Operation – a project selected according to the criteria laid down by the monitoring committee and implemented by one or more beneficiaries allowing achievement of goals of the priority axis to which it relates.
Operational Programme – document submitted by member state and adopted by the Commission setting out a development Strategy with a coherent set of priorities to be carried out with the aid of the Fund.
P
Paying Agency – who pays the end beneficiary
PMC Programme Monitoring Committee - Regional committees created to implement and manage the Operational Programmes. Additional responsibilities include drafting project selection criteria, major project approval and financial management of ESF budget in the region. Take their lead from the GBMC.
PMFC - Public Match Funding Certificate - Required for ESF application. Designed to ensure that public bodies are aware of and abide by their responsibilities as match funders (see Match Funding).
Priority Axes – one of the priorities in an operational programme comprising a group of measures which are related and have specific measurable goals.
Programming – the process of organisation, decision – making and financing in several stages intended to implement on a multi annual basis, the joint action by the community and member state to achieve the priority goals of the Fund.
Programming Period ESF support is available between 2000 to 2006 under the current EU regulations this is known as the "programming period".
Project - The activity for which funding is being sought under a particular Priority. Projects are referred to in the Regulations as "operations".
Project Eligibility Before projects or plans can be considered for funding under any of the Programme's Priorities they must meet Structural Funds eligibility criteria. This means that they must:
- Normally occur within the Programme area
- Correspond to one or more of the activities defined within the SPD
- Contribute to one or more of the Programme objectives
- Quantify outputs and provide details of clear and attainable targets
- Demonstrate an additional and sustainable benefit to the economic development of the area
- Be within the categories which the Structural Funds can assist
- Have a sound funding package in place, identifying the recipients of the funds and the sources of match funding
- Provide value for money _ Require the minimum grant necessary to enable the funding to proceed ("gap funding")
- Not duplicate existing activity
- Not substitute existing planned expenditure.
Public expenditure – any public contribution to the financing of operations whose origin is the state, regional and Local Authorities, the EC, including lottery and levy body funding.
R
RAISE - Regional Voluntary and Comunity sector - network of networks.
RDA - Regional Development Agency.
Regional Committee - Each region has established a Regional Committee responsible for decisions relating to the regional implementation of the Objective 3 programme within the national framework.
RDP - Regional Development Plan - the RDP is produced by Government Office for the implementation of the objective 3 programme. It relates the National Operational Programme [NOP] to the specific needs of the region. It identifies strengths and weaknesses and provides a coherent strategy and a set of priorities appropriate to regional needs.
Revenue - income generated by a project.
S
Soft Outcomes & Outputs - soft outcomes or outputs of an ESF approved project are more difficult to measure than hard outcomes since they involve a different approach to measurement. Measurement is based on performance against a task recorded over a specified period of time then to progression or distance travelled along a continuum. Examples include improved punctuality, personal care and presentation, personal organisation, increased self-confidence, improved communication and social skills etc. Government Office will provide more guidance as to what can be classed as 'soft' outcomes but both soft and hard outcomes will be credited.
Social Exclusion - partitioning of a group, individual or sector from the normal activities of society because of economic or social factors.
SPD - Single Programming Document.
SRB - Single Regeneration Budget.
T
TA - Technical Assistance - a percentage of the fund (up to 4%) which can be used to facilitate access to the funds.
Target Group - Section of the population which is targetted at European, National, or Regional level by the ESF activity, e.g. people with disabilities.
U
URBAN - One of four community initiatives, funded through the ERDF. The URBAN Initiative tackles economic and social regeneration of declining urban districts, focusing on the creation of effective local partnerships. It aims to offer distinct added value and complement mainstream programmes.
V
VAS -Verification and Audit Section. The financial watchdog of the DfEE ESF unit. VAS provide information and advice on the management of ESF monies and visit projects to carry out audits.
VCOs - Voluntary and Community Organisations
Registered Charity No. 1069563
Company limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales.
Registration No. 2707087
