|
|
Financing
Sectoral Operational Programme Human Resources Development (SOP HRD) is financed in 75% from the European Social Fund (reimbursing) and in 25% from the national public sources (co-financing) which include: State budget sources, sources coming from the national appropriation funds (Labour Fund and State Fund for the Rehabilitation of Disabled People) and sources at a disposal (budgets) of the territorial self-government units. Both ESF sources and national sources constitute public sources. Apart from these sources, the SOP HRD budget includes, moderate as compared to entire budget but required, contribution of private sources.
Expenditures incurred within SOP HRD are financed from national sources. A project provider will receive funds for project implementation from the final beneficiary from national public sources. After he proves spending these means it will be possible for the competent institutions to apply for a reimbursement from the ESF of 75% of the amount spent. Thus achieved sources will contribute to the national sources of financing.
Under SOP HRD, a project provider chosen in a call for proposals procedure will receive funds for project implementation in a form of a grant (that is on a payment in advance basis), in instalments, according to the timetable which is an annex to the Project financing agreement. The first instalment may amount to 20% of the sum of financing for the first 12 months of project implementation. The reception of the next instalment is subject to providing a settlement of accounts for 80% of funds received so far. In that way a project provider will not need to credit his project.
What is then the financial contribution of a project provider to the implementation of a project selected in a call for proposals? The minimum amount of this contribution, described, as private contribution should amount to 1% of total eligible costs. The obligation to provide private contribution does not require direct involvement of financial resources of a project provider. Required minimum 1% amount of the contribution can be provided in the form of in-kind contribution, e.g. a voluntary work. Allowing the use of premises for the project rent-free can also be a private contribution.
Private contribution is understood as:
- contribution of project providers who own private funds, i.e. in particular NGO’s; and
- contribution of territorial self-government units within Measures 1.2 , 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6.
In the announced calls for proposals, the final beneficiary may specify the expected contribution of territorial self-government units – according to financing tables from SOP HRD. Both the contribution in kind and expenditures incurred from private funds which are a part of the private contribution need to meet the requirement of eligibility.
Projects including granting a public support are governed by other rules. Public support is assistance granted from public funds, which brings profits to certain enterprises and which affects competitiveness and trade exchange between UE member states. All forms of assistance for entrepreneurs, including financing of training, have the nature of a public support. A private contribution, the amount of which is specified in ordinances regarding the manner of granting assistance, is required in projects referring to granting public support. Detailed information can be found in the section on “eligibility”.
Summing up the most important features of the SOP HRD financing system it should be remembered that:
- the project provider is not engaged in the process of settlement of finances with the EU,
- the project provider receives funds in advance,
- the project provider may be obliged to contribute a minimum 1% of private contribution to the project implementation, however, this contribution does not have to mean involving his own financial sources. This requirement can be satisfied with the in kind contribution.
|
|
|