89 / 113
Partnership principle
89
Furthermore, there seems to be a
general acknowledgement of the importance of partnership
and involvement of relevant stakeholders
to achieve greater impact of programmes and
policies.
However, the extent to which relevant stakeholders are involved in practice and
whether their proposals are reflected
in the adopted documents and decisions
remains in
many cases unclear
as so far there is no systematic monitoring or evaluation of stakeholder
involvement
9
.
Major differences are perceived between the countries regarding the degree and quality
of stakeholder participation and the forms it takes
(from informal to formal and restricted
mechanisms),
as well as the involvement in the different phases.
Moreover, in many
cases the mechanisms and processes for involvement are weak, only happen in specific
moments or in certain phases (notably in the implementation phase) and are not linked to
capacity-building processes of relevant stakeholders and beneficiaries.
Having said that, despite differences between countries and the fact that there is still room
for progress, there is a
wide perception that the involvement of different stakeholders is
improving
(although such perceptions may vary depending on the actors involved in such
processes)
and that certain progress is observed in terms of mechanisms, processes and
methods for involvement.
Without being exhaustive, this chapter aims to present the mechanisms used and/
or planned by some of the countries analysed to involve stakeholders in the planning,
implementation and monitoring/evaluation phases, which could serve as inspiration for
others.
Information available so far does not permit assessing the extent and impact of the
initiatives already undertaken -those related to the planning and to some extent to the
implementation phase- and those planned for the implementation and monitoring/
evaluation phase.
9. The EC is finalising two studies on partnership: Directorate-General Regional and Urban Policy on the implementation of the new
regulatory provision of the involvement of partners in the preparation and implementation of Partnership Agreements and programmes;
and Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion on the results of an online survey on partnership in the ESF
programmes.