ACROPOLIS Call

Information session January 13, 2014

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ACROPOLIS

Academic Research Organisations for

Policy Support

ProgrammeWelcome and programme of the dayOverall contextObjectives of the callThemes of the callOrganisational structure How to apply? BudgetQuestionsInformal setting for matchmaking

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Overall context New : joint DGD, VLIR-UOS, CIUF-CUD call

Apologies : Delay

Reform within DGD

Political context (2011-2013) : “usurperende bevoegdheden”, “compétences usurpées”

Two “lost” years : 2011-2013

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At last … the budget was released

What was at risk ? • Autonomy of the academic sector

• Scientific freedom – right to initiate

• Open calls, competitive peer based selection

• Cooperation model : beyond borders of countries, institutions, disciplines

• Budget

• VLIR-UOS as organisation

First priority for VLIR-UOS

• Pacification, restauration of confidence within the entire network

• Return to “normal” cycles of calls, selections

• Return to normal ambition to continuously optimize concepts, formats and frameworks, … through consultation, benchmarks, studies,….

Lessons learned

• Diversification of funds

• Communication strategy

Overall formal framework • 2014-2016 : three-year framework

• Transition period

• Ongoing agreements prolonged; mode of operation still the same (the same 5 programmes, financial framework, annual approval of programmes and budgets …)

• Debate on the innovations to launch as of 2017

Formal framework for the ACROPOLIS call

• DGD will list and evaluate all instruments for policy support, to feed into the new policy as of 2017

• New structures to be set up • Overall development cooperation policy structure at

Belgian level, involving also the communities (tbc)

• “ANGS” : “Forum” for exchange of information and joint context analyses per country, at the level of all indirect actors

New for this call• Joint call

• Joint formal framework (budget, mode of operation, …)

• Plea for joint proposals : • Beyond borders of disciplines, institutions, language• Involving project partners, ANGS, …

• Joint management structure (VLIR-UOS, CIUF-CUD)• Budgets will be pooled• One single contract

Demands from VLIR-UOS and CIUF-CUD

• Evaluation of existing instruments• Clear country focus, where possible• Approval of research questions by both the

academic coordinator and the DGD focal point• Involvement of DGD “attachés”• Systematic involvement by DGD of ACROPOLIS

groups in all relevant policy related matters• Academic freedom

VLIR-UOS and CIUF-CUD support partnershipsbetween universities and university colleges in Flanders and the South looking for …

Innovative responses to global and local challenges

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ObjectivesOpen to researchers of French speaking and Flemish universities, and Flemish university colleges

To support the Belgian authorities in their decision-making regarding Belgian development cooperation, on three well-defined topics

From KNOWLEDGE

to APPLICATION

=> evidence-based POLICY SUPPORT

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Themes1. Financing for development (Pieter

Vermaerke)

2. Integration of the environmental and climat change themes in the transition towards sustainable development (Renata Vandeputte)

3. Aid effectiveness with a focus on fragile contexts (Johan Debar)

Financing for DevelopmentContext• Review Monterrey Consensus• Post 2015 – Means of implementation• Modernization of ODA concept

Financing for DevelopmentAreas of work – Why?• Domestic resources Taxes, illicit flows and debt Social protection• Blending• ODA concept• Global Public Goods

Financing for DevelopmentActivities Domestic resources• TaxesTraining and operational guidance note Tax administration assessment tool Contributions to positions

• Illicit flowsAnalysis and case studiesTrainingOperational guidance policy coherenceContributions to positions

• DebtTrainingContributions to positions

• Social protectionCase studies

Financing for DevelopmentActivities Blending • Research (mapping, SWOT)• Policy coherence• Contributions to positions

Financing for DevelopmentActivities ODA concept• Research (Belgium / emerging countries)• Contribution to reflection modernization

ODA concept (LIC vs MIC, Global public goods, concessionality, other flows, etc.)

• Contribution to positions

Financing for DevelopmentActivities Global Public Goods• Research (Climate change / Biodiversity/ Finance)• Policy coherence• Contributions to positions

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Integration of the environmental and climat change themes in the transition towards sustainable development

Aid effectivenessMerge two workstreams, on aid effectiveness and on fragility.Previous work:• GRAPAX (appui aux politiques de paix)• GRAP-PA Santé• Research Platform on Aid effectiveness,

Antwerp IOB

Aid effectivenessBackground: 1. the international aid environment has changed (is changing)

Increasing share of countries in fragile situations.

Fragility: lack of political commitment and of capacity to deliver key public goods.

Aid effectivenessBackground: 2. donor hangover from the Paris Declaration• Donors naive about their capacity to take

on more fiduciary risks• The limits to accelerating policy reforms

through incentive systems and policy dialogue

• Selectivity and changing donor portfolios

Aid effectivenessScopePolicy tools on aid effectiveness:• Plan on Harmonisation and Alignment• Guidelines on National Execution• Vademecum on Budget Support

Policy tool on Fragility:• Strategy on Fragile situations• Toolbox on fragility (under construction)

Focus mainly on five partner countries: DRC, Burundi, Rwanda, Mali, Niger

Call for proposals launched (mid February)Finalisation in May (DGD-days)

Aid effectivenessPossible research topics:1. Test toolbox on fragility2. Budget support and corruption3. PEFA 4. EU Joint programming5. Flexibility and predictability6. Structural and humanitarian aid in protracted

crises7. Donors compete on labour market

Through mutual beneficial partnerships

Researchers Policy Makers (DGD-BTC/CTB)

Cabinet

BTC/CTB SUPPORT COMMITTEE

BIO, field staff of governmental agencies, media, municipalities, communities, NGOs, practitioners, partners in the South, …

NETWORK

VLIR-UOS CIUF-CUD

Partners in the South

and research missions

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TimetableDate Action Actor

16 December 2013 Launch of the call VLIR-UOS/CIUF-CUD office

13 January 2014 (10h), Brussels

Information session

 

VLIR-UOS/CIUF-CUD /DGD

1 February 2014

 

Deadline for submission of list of international experts/ referee list to VLIR-UOS and CUD-CIUF

Academic coordinator

14 February 2014 (16h) Deadline for submission of proposals to the Institutional Cooperation Offices

Academic coordinator

17 February 2014 (16h) Deadline for submission of proposals to VLIR-UOS and CUD-CIUF

Institutional Cooperation Offices

February-March 2014 Referee assessment Selected referees

By the end of March 2014

Selection by DGD DGD

Beginning of April Validation of the selection results Minister of Development Cooperation

Second half of April 2014

Notification of the selection results to the candidates VLIR-UOS/CIUF-CUD office

1 May 2014 Start of the ACROPOLIS programme Selected research groups

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BudgetOne budget holder among academics

Mandatory budget proposition- International travel costs- Operational expenses- Personnel costs- Coordination costs

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University Name ICOS Address Phone E-mail

Association KU Leuven

Sylvia Van Walleghem International Office

Atrechtcollege

Naamsestraat 63 bus 5001

3000 LEUVEN

016 32 40 57 sylvia.vanwalleghem@int.kuleuven.be 

Antwerp University Association

Magali Van Ballaer Dienst Internationale Samenwerking UA

Gratiekapelstraat 10

2000 ANTWERPEN

03 265 44 07 magali.vanballaer@uantwerpen.be

Association Ghent University

Helke Baeyens Directie Onderzoeksaangelegenheden – afdeling Onderzoekscoördinatie

Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 25

9000 GENT

09 264 30 35 helke.baeyens@ugent.be 

Limburg University Association

Lia Van Hoef 

Dienst Internationalisering en Ontwikkelingssamenwerking (DIOS)

Martelarenlaan 42

3500 HASSELT

011 26 80 14 lia.vanhoef@uhasselt.be  

University Association Brussels

Françoise De Cupere Vrije Universiteit Brussel

International Relations and Mobility Office

Pleinlaan 2 (mailing)

Pleinlaan 5 (visiting)

1050 BRUSSEL

02 614 80 82 francoise.de.cupere@vub.ac.be 

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UniversityName ICOS Address Phone E-mail

Université de Mons Natacha Mainil Service des Relations Internationales

Place Warocqué 17 (Bureau n°033 L)

7000 MONS

065 37 37 25 natacha.mainil@umons.ac.be 

Université de Namur Laurence Vieslet Services d’études du rectorat (relations internationals)

Rue de Bruxelles 61

5000 NAMUR

081 72 40 09 laurence.vieslet@fundp.ac.be

Université Saint-Louis - Bruxelles

Isabelle De Clerck Service d’appui aux activités CIUF-CUD

Boulevard du Jardin botanique 43

1000 BRUXELLES

02 211 78 50 isabelle.declerck@usaintlouis.be 

Université catholique de Louvain

Lucie Petillon 

Administration des relations internationales

Place de l’Université 1

1348 LOUVAIN-LA-NEUVE

010 47 83 55 lucie.petillon@uclouvain.be  

Université Libre de Bruxelles

Gaëlle Ducarme Cellule Coopération du Département des Relations internationales

Avenue F.D. Roosevelt 50

1050 BRUXELLES

02 614 80 82 gaelle.ducarme@ulb.ac.be 

Université de Liège Pierre Degée PACODEL

Traverse des Architectes 2 Bât. B3

4000 LIEGE

04 366 55 31 pierre.degee@ulg.ac.be

www.vliruos.be

Julie PoppeJulie.poppe@vliruos.be

Fabian KabashiFabian.kabashi@cud.be

www.cud.be

Johan DebarJohan.Debar@diplobel.fed.be

Pieter VermaerkePieter.Vermaerke@diplobel.fed.be

Renata VandeputteRenata.Vandeputte@diplobel.fed.be