GOVERNANCE
Empowerment and simplification processes for a digital and good governed
The GOVERNANCE Project – Empowerment and simplification processes for a digital and well-governed South Adriatic, funded by Interreg IPA South Adriatic 2021–27 Programme, represents a cornerstone in the strategy for administrative innovation and for strengthening the community dimension in the Southern Adriatic area.
With a total financial commitment of €4,498,540.98, of which a maximum EU contribution of €3,697,036.47, the Project operates across the territories of Apulia, Molise, Albania, and Montenegro, with the aim of supporting Local Public Administrations in their path towards improved efficiency and transparency. This is pursued through the simplification of administrative processes and the enhancement of employees’ skills and competences, both in terms of digital transformation and the effective use of European funds.
The Apulia Region, through the Department for Economic Development – Section for Digital Growth of People, Territory and Enterprises, leads the Partnership composed of the Molise Region, the Albanian National Agency for Strategic Programming and Aid Coordination – SASPAC, the Ministry of Finance of Montenegro, and the Ministry of European Affairs of Montenegro.
The project development path is structured into three main areas (Work Packages), each playing a specific role in the proposed process of change:
The first, “Institutional Empowerment and Networking: the Multifunctional Hub”, represents the transversal core of the project and concerns the creation of a Multifunctional Hub: a dynamic and interconnected community of professionals, supported by a digital platform designed to promote experience sharing, collaboration among local administrations, and continuous professional development. Within this space, university professors, public officials, and thematic experts from Italy, Albania, and Montenegro collaborate to share tools, good practices, and to provide operational support to interested public administrations.
The second, “Processes and Digitalisation Tools”, is dedicated to the development and adoption of digital tools and customised technological solutions aimed at simplifying administrative procedures and improving the delivery of public services. Each partner will be involved in implementing pilot actions at the local scale, testing concrete digital solutions built upon the real needs of the territories, within a continuous process of technical exchange and knowledge sharing inside the project network.
The third, “Training and Skills Development”, focuses on strengthening the competences of Local Public Administration staff through training courses, workshops, and tailored learning paths, such as the advanced training programme “Upskilling for GOVERNANCE”. The objective is to enhance digital skills, knowledge of European cohesion policies, and the capacity to manage programmes and community funds, with particular attention to the EU pre-accession process of Albania and Montenegro.
The GOVERNANCE Project envisages the integration of resources and expertise from all Partners, thereby promoting a collaborative approach that is essential for the effective implementation of territorial development initiatives. The adoption of policies fostering digitalisation, administrative simplification, and the sound use of Cohesion Policy instruments aims to establish a governance model that is both efficient and fully responsive to the needs of citizens and territories, thus consolidating the foundations for a resilient and progressively dynamic future for the Southern Adriatic area.
The GOVERNANCE Project intends to serve as an emblematic example of how the modernisation of public infrastructures and the promotion of cutting-edge administrative management can significantly transform the relationship between citizens and institutions, ensuring services capable of effectively meeting the needs of the community.