Fund for Decent Work andTripartite DialogueKnut RingstadProgramme Manager, Innovation NorwayRiga 13 December 2011

«PA22» STANDS OUT !• First programme to start , «Call» 20 October 2011• Agreed between EU and Norway: mandatory 1% of

Norway Grants in all 12 states• Innovation Norway Programme Operator. Programme

implemented in consultation with National Focal Point in Latvia• Total grant EUR 8 mill

ObjectiveDecent work promoted and improved tripartite cooperation between employers’ organisations, trade unions and publich authorities in supporting equitable and sustainable economic and social development

Expected Outcomes

• Improved social dialogue and tripartite dialogue structures and practices

• Enhanced understanding of the benefits of decent work

Social dialogue

• Negotiations, consultations or exchange of information and views between representatives of employers, workers and governments. In countries where the government or other public authorities do usually not participate in this dialogue, representatives of employers and workers alone can constitute the social dialogue

Why social dialogue• Social dialogue is the basis for the Norwegian/Nordic

welfare model• Improves communication between employers,

employees and other groups - provides a common platform for all on how to build a society and increase everyone’s welfare (consensus) • Facilitates decent work – leading to improved workers

satisfaction, productivity and also develops new local practises based on local knowledge and competence

Tripartite Dialogue

• A dialogue between representatives of three parties (governments, employers and employees) aiming to jointly shape labour standards, policies and programmes. In some cases, broader labour market and social issues can also be included in this dialogue

ILO’s decent work agenda has four pillars:

• Opportunities for work that is productive and delivers a fair income and security at the workplace and social security for families;

• Better prospects for personal development and social integration;

• Freedom for people to express their concerns, organise and participate in decisions;

• Equality of opportunity and treatment for men and women.

Bilateral cooperation

• In order to strengthen bilateral relations and take advantage of Norwegian expertise Partnership projects will be encouraged • Experience from recent programmes show a «win –

win», results better than expected for all involved• Partnership not compulsory, but will be given extra

points during the assessment• Template to enable «solid» partnership available

How to establish a Partnership

• Reference Group with major Norwegian social organisations established • Most major social organisation in contact through

European network and others• Innovation Norway will upon request provide

assistance

Who can apply?• Social partners, public authorities and organisations of

public authorities, constituted as legal entities in the Beneficiary States and in Norway with regular activities related to decent work and/or tripartite cooperation• “Social partner” means organisations representing

employers and employees; statutory roles. Entities at national, regional and local level are eligible• Norwegian entities can only apply in partnership,

«substantial» tasks to be performed

Type of activities:

• Promote Decent Work Agenda and/or Tripartite Dialogue• Promote bipartite dialogue across industries

and sectors• Bilateral activities to use Norwegian experience • Partnership building among social partners and

with public entities and private sector organisations

Type of activities:• Promote health, safety and environment in the work-

place• Ideas to foster work-life balance• Partnership-building with non-governmental

organisations• Promote gender equality in the work place and

company board-room• Promote non-discrimination in the work-place• Open to new and innovative ideas!

Cross cutting issuesThree cross-cutting issues are announced in the Call for proposals:•Good governance•Sustainable development•Gender equality These issues should be integrated in the project, to cut across all project activities

How to apply• Dedicated website (www.decentwork.no) :

- Electronic application form with a help function- Info on main issues related to verification forms - Rules and Procedures for the project applicants- Detailed «Standard Terms and Conditions»- Other relevant templates- More info on www.eeagrants.org

• All relevant info, including form, to be available at www.eeagrants.org

Important «technical» facts• Advance payment • Up to 90% Grant

• Cofinancing; 10%, if not cash, «in kind» only in the form of manpower• No Seed Money, an approved project will accept a

preparation cost up to EUR 2000.• Cost eligibility from the date Innovation Norway gives

its commitment

Approval process

• Innovation Norway signed agreement with Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reporting to Financial Mechanism Office in the Brussels.• All applications processed and decided by

Innovation Norway after consultation with beneficiary state (National Focal Point)

Timeline• 31 March 2012, 12. p.m. local Norwegian time –

Deadline applications• April -Technical assessment of applications• April - August: Processing of applications and grants

decisions• August: Project implementation (6 months project

period, max 24 months)• 31 December 2014: End of eligibility period for the

implementation of projects.

BENEFICIARY STATE FUNDS (mill. EUR)

• Bulgaria 0,473 Malta 0.016• Romania 1.135 Poland 3.065• Cyprus 0.04 Hungary 0.820• Slovenia 0.142 Slovakia 0.418• Czech Republic 0.693 Latvia 0.378• Estonia 0.252 Lithuania 0.449

Bilateral fund at programme level is 1,5%; 120.000 Euro

Innovation Norway –A public door opener

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• The gateway for businesses to public funds• 750 employees, 35 offices abroad, 20 in Norwegian Owned

by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the 19 county municipalities of Norway

•“Innovation Norway supports businesses that create tomorrow’s business life.”•Gunn Ovesen, CEO of Innovation Norway

Photo: Johnny Syversen / Innovation Norway