Training on financial and contractual procedures in the Framework of the 10th European Development Fund (EDF Training)

Created in 1957 through the Treaty of Rome and then launched in 1959, the European Development Fund (EDF) is the EU's main instrument for providing development aid to African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and to overseas countries and territories (OCTs). The 10th EDF programming period officially entered into force in July 2009 and covers the period 2008-2013. Due to the amendments and other differences between the 9th and the 10th EDF, and to ensure the sound and efficient management of EDF resources, the European Commission considered it essential to have a training programme for the countries that benefit from EDF funds.

As a specialist in providing training programmes, Human Dynamics — as a leader of a consortium of trainers — was contracted to supply training to enable National Authorising Officers (NAOs), Regional Authorising Officers (RAOs), the ACP Secretariat staff, and EC staff to better understand the main functioning of the 10th EDF so as to make full use of EDF resources. We have subsequently been awarded an extension to this project and it now covers the 11th EDF programming period.

We are delivering a series of courses on "Financial and Contractual Procedures in the Framework of the EDF" in English, French and Portuguese in the ACP countries and in Brussels. The course content provides an overview of the EDF, the procurement procedures, the implementation of the contracts, and it also explores co-financing. The location of each training is decided based on the requests of the respective NAO or RAO and it is coordinated with the contracting authority each year. 

In 2014 alone, Human Dynamics held 14 courses. In July 2015, Madagascar held its first EDF training, with18 participants passing the 9-day long course.