CTV – Quality in Eu projects

Gianmaria Capuano© Progetto FIAF-CSVnet “Tanti per tutti. Viaggio nel volontariato italiano

Quality is not something that begins when the proposal gets approved, it’s the balance of all your project activity. It starts in the ideation of the project and it ends with the follow-up.

Here are some tips about the things you should or should not do when it comes to creating a good quality European project:

1. Check your idea with the target group

The idea needs to be a solution to a problem, not just a theory. How did you find the problem and prepare?

the solution? Checking with a small group of users if your idea could be an added value for your project implementation.

2. Keep the program guide always with you

One of the first quality criteria in your proposal is to be compliant with the grant requirements or the program guidelines.

3. Selecting the right partners

Partner selection is really important. Each partner must be essential. How did you choose them and why? That needs to be transparent and detailed in the proposal.

4. Consider expected outcomes in term of indicators

In the planning phase, it’s important to design each outcome and to describe it using indicators. Those indicators will be useful to evaluate the achievement of the goals and the quality of the project.

5. Analyze the tasks

Each partner is going to have specific tasks. What will those tasks be and why are they given to each partner? How will you communicate? Do the partners have the knowledge, the skills and the attitude needed to implement the project?

6. Focus on communication and dissemination

Thorough communication is the key to a successful partnership. Your proposal must include every detail regarding communications between partners, trainers, and trainees as well as users in general. Dissemination of the results must also be considered and explained.

7. Explain your implementation strategy

A clear strategy about everything that will be happening during the implementation process of the project. This will be the most important point of the quality plan as it will show how the quality will be achieved.

8. Plan and manage the time properly

Knowing every step of the way, every hour that will be spent to implement your projects. Every little detail. Planning ahead will help you save a lot of time and of course, avoid any missteps or unexpected and unpleasant situations.

9. Assess and manage the Risk

A good quality assurance plan needs to be able to deal with the risks that might occur. Preparation is everything so make sure that your quality plan will analyze any possible risk and give solutions to every single one of those risks.

10. Do not spare any details

Even if you think that a specific detail might not be as important as others, include them anyway. Every detail counts. Do not make the mistake of thinking that excluding details might not hurt your quality assurance plan.

11. Do not forget to double-check

It is a common mistake to not double or even triple check the quality assurance plan. Yes, you spent long hours writing it and yes you made sure that all the details are correct but that does not mean that you should not check again and again.