HIT tools and management verifications on PODIA: two new learning modules to simplify your life

What are “deliverables”? How does the new management verification system differ from the ENI CBC approach? If you have any doubts about technical aspects of project implementation, our online e-learning platform Podia at tesim.podia.com contains two new courses for you!

Some time ago we announced a new type of support – a quick-to-digest online courses – for those of you busy with their daily work and with no time to dig into all the technical details related to project implementation in the new Interreg NEXT framework.  This time we are happy to announce that two new learning modules have been added to the Podia platform: one dedicated to the HIT Tools and the second dedicated to the management verifications. Let us tell you more about these two.

HIT Tools: the project cycle in your hand

This new online tool is part of TESIM’s broader effort to support the ENI CBC programmes in their transition to Interreg NEXT.

In fact, the Interreg programmes have worked since 2019 in developing harmonised implementation tools (HIT Tools), which refer to templates, model documents, checklists, and process descriptions for the entire project implementation cycle.  Practically, HIT tools comprehend documents for project selection, contracting, reporting and control, based on the experience of Interreg programmes over several periods of implementation. This compilation was done thanks to the support of Interact colleagues, who did a massive job – together with programme representatives – to harmonise documents and procedures, finding out what was more important and what less, and standardizing the terminology. 

Today for the first time, Interreg NEXT programmes can also benefit from the HIT Tools experience by using them as a source of inspiration, as well as by comparing them with the experiences and good practices in the ENI CBC. The tools are in line with the legal provisions, which makes these documents a good benchmark. Moreover, the programmes which have selected JEMS as their information management system are bound to use HIT templates, at least to some extent. However even the programmes that have chosen other management and monitoring systems, can benefit from the HIT tools.

This new TESIM online module is mainly aimed at the programme practitioners, responsible for the development of procedures and templates. Here you will find suggestions based on the comparison of the ENI CBC practices and the HIT Tools, using these last ones as basis.

Management verifications: a lower admin burden

The new approach in the management verifications for post-2020 programmes can be well considered as a typical example of the “continuity with a twist” that illustrates the transition from ENI CBC to Interreg NEXT.

Through three TESIM products – the Podia learning module and the two written documents in our library https://interregtesimnext.eu/library/ – we have tried to comprise a series of elements representing the new approach.

This new online module aims at covering the management verification process, highlighting the main aspects for key stakeholders. In principle, the target groups of this course are the authorities at the national level and the controllers, as well as the representatives of the Monitoring Committees (MC), Managing Authorities (MA), Joint Secretariats (JS).

Concerning the content, here an example of what you can find in the new course. Take the control system of the ENI CBC programmes: here you had two verification layers, first an auditor (or public officer) would examine the expenditure, then the MA verified the report before including it in the payment requests to the EC. Now, with the NEXT programmes, these two layers will be combined into one. One more practical example: during the 2014-2020 period, in a vast majority of programmes, expenditure verifications covered 100% of expenditures, and all programmes checked 100% of the reports. It was a heavy workload.  With the NEXT programmes, the standard will no longer be the verification of 100% of the expenditures.  So, while the main goal of the new management and control systems (MCS) is still to ensure that expenditures included in the programme accounts are legal and regular, with Interreg NEXT we are addressing a lower administrative burden for programmes and beneficiaries, and a different allocation of responsibilities between the bodies involved.

After finishing our online course, the target group should have a good overview of the main implications of the risk-based approach, and how to organise the administrative and the on-the-spot verifications.

We hope that the Podia learning module will be useful tool to obtain the knowledge to support the decision making in your respective programme!