Project Selection & Implementation process

The various steps for receiving ROP funding can be summarised as follows:

Schematic representation of the attribution of each ROP bodies in the selection of applications

ROP Application stage

The application stage starts with the “Call for Proposals” under a specific key area of intervention of ROP, and finishes with the submission of the Application by the applicant. Calls for Proposals are published in the national and regional media as well as on the current website.

The Calls for Proposals are inviting potential applicants to receive the respective Guidelines for Applicants and start preparing accordingly their Applications. The “Guidelines for Applicants” delivered to potential applicants provide all the necessary information regarding the eligibility of projects and of applicants, the project selection criteria, the required documents composing the application, and the procedures to follow for project implementation.

Guidelines for Applicants for the various Calls for Proposals per key area of intervention, region, and deadline for submission, can be found in the Funding Opportunities Search.

During the Application stage and until the deadline of a Call for Proposals, the ROP MA and IBs organise a number of Technical Assistance Events such as trainings, workshops and other, in order to support the potential applicants in the preparation of their applications. These TA events are summarised for each Call, in a Technical Assistance Calendar that can be found also in the Funding Opportunities Search.

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Evaluation stage

During this stage the ROP Intermediate Bodies (IBs) in cooperation with the Managing Authority (MA) evaluate the received applications, select the projects which are eligible for financing and announce publicly the selected projects. The evaluation of Applications is based on criteria that are pre-defined and are clearly stated in the Guidelines for Applicants.  

Evaluation is conducted by independent evaluators selected randomly from a relevant database of evaluators. Evaluation sessions are organised by the IBs and the results are sent for approval to the Managing Authority. 

The evaluation process includes an administrative compliance evaluation and a technical and financial evaluation, during which the IBs and the independent evaluators might ask for clarifications or adjustments from an applicant.

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Implementation stage

This is the longest and more demanding stage from the side of the successful applicant.

During this stage the successful applicants implement their projects in cooperation with the Intermediate bodies and in full compliance with the respective implementation procedures.

Strict rules apply in relation to payment and the monitoring of the progress of projects. The procedures applying during project implementation are specific per Call for Proposals and can be found in the respective Guidelines for Applicants.

Generally speaking, during this stage, the successful applicant signs a contract with the ROP MA, and implements his project according to the content, methodology time plan, and budget approved and included in his contract.

During this process, the local IB is doing regular checks on the progress of the project and supports the successful applicant with the administrative part of the project.

According to the progress of the Project, the successful applicant is submitting payment requests. Payments take place after the IB has checked that the progress of the progress justify payment and after the ROP MA has given its approval.

After the end of implementation, the project “owner” must maintain all the documents relevant to the implementation of the project for future controls.

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