2.2.4 Coordination of separate programmes
Joint implementation provides a unique opportunity to look at how to further improve coordination at the sector level. Different implementing partners may have separate contracting mechanisms and there may be parallel co-financing from a range of partners, but these specific tasks can all fit within a joint frame.
Bridging the Gap is a project aimed at focussing on strengthening the capacities of governments, national human rights institutions and organisations of persons with disabilities in five partner countries (Burkina Faso, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Paraguay and Sudan), as well as mainstreaming disability in international cooperation. Bridging the Gap-II supports the development, implementation and monitoring of disabilityinclusive sector policies and services in a participatory manner and in line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the SDGs, namely in relation to: inclusive education, universal access to health and employment, livelihoods and social protection, and data generation.
Based on the country actions, the project advances a disability-inclusive development agenda by raising awareness and strengthening the capacities of development partners and civil society, in accordance with the CRPD and the 2030 Agenda. Critical issues such as the overall respect of human rights, universal accessibility, gender and social sustainable development are meaningfully incorporated into the scope of the project.
Bridging the Gap-II is implemented by a consortium led by the International and Ibero-American Fundación Internacional y para Iberoamérica de Administración y Políticas Públicas (FIIAPP) and composed of the Spanish Agency for Development Cooperation (AECID), the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (IADC), the European Disability Forum and the International Disability and Development Consortium . The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland also contribute to the initiative.
Proper coordination of separate programmes is an important aspect of joint implementation. Ensuring synergies and coordination between bilateral, regional, transregional and global programmes is key to maximise impact and avoid fragmentation and duplication of efforts. In the frame of the ‘geographisation’ concept, a comprehensive and effective joint action in partner countries requires better integration of national actions with regional and multi-regional approaches. Coordination of regional/multicountry programs with bilateral ones during implementation is key for an effective joint implementation that contributes to maximising impact, avoiding duplicities and building stronger and more coherent partnerships.
There is certainly space for exploring innovative joint implementation methods that will contribute to aid efficiency, higher impact and stronger European cooperation in general. However, there is also extensive relevant prior experience in the implementation of joint activities by Member States Organisations and like-minded partners, on which future actions should build. Further synergies and collaborations should be encouraged. The table below presents a few examples:
| Type of collaboration | Programme/ Project 1 | Programme/ Project 2 and/ or 3 | Brief explanatory note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combination/ appropriation of agendas | Fight against drug trafficking in Bolivia | EL PAcCTO |
El PAcCTO is a regional programme that promotes dialogue on the fight against organised crime in Latin America. Bolivia participates in the project. Simultaneously, another EU bilateral project on the fight against drug trafficking at the national level is being implemented in Bolivia. In the context of an activity organised by EL PAcCTO in Montevideo, the Bolivian authorities identified a need (reinforcing the Specialised Multidis ciplinary Teams) that has been further assumed by the bilateral project, building on the existing synergies and complementarities between both programmes' expert teams and backup institutions. |
| Joint activity | Fight against drug trafficking in Bolivia | Fight against drug trafficking in Peru | Bolivia and Peru share a 1 000 km-long border. Both projects mobilised resources and facilitated the delivery of a joint training in the town of Desaguadero for security forces of both countries on integrated border management. As a result of this activity, the neighbouring institutions share a common operational tool with coordination mechanisms against possible cases of human or drug trafficking. |
| Joint activity | ECI Niger |
ATIPSOM Nigeria |
Both are projects in the field of security. The first, developing joint investigation teams and the second, promoting the fight against human trafficking and smuggling. Nigeria and Niger share common sources and manifestations of crime, yet collaboration levels are very low. After an initial contact with both projects' teams, a roadmap has been established to further strengthen dialogue and ultimately work jointly on common protocols. Authorities of both sides are optimistic and have confidence that cooperation will be enhanced, resulting in a better detection of false documents at the border |
The two projects work regionally in supporting drug policies, EU-LAC bi-regional cooperation programme on drug policies (COPOLAD III) in Latin America and EU and Central Asian countries to reduce the demand for drugs (CADAP VII) in Central Asia. In the margins of the bi-regional dialogue EU-Central Asia on Drugs, CADAP VII organised an activity with partner authorities. By involving COPOLAD III, this action allowed both programmes and partner authorities to exchanges on good practices and different views and approached when tackling similar challenges.