Dear Deputy Ministers and colleagues

I hope you are all keeping safe and well during the COVID-19 crisis. This email provides an important update on project implementation issues.

Log frame

Since the project steering committee nearly a month ago, we have been engaged in a fairly lengthy process of reviewing and improving the project log frame, which has involved a series of consultations with the Results Oriented Monitoring (ROM) European Neighbourhood Region quality control team in order to ensure conformity with the new EU requirements for project log frames.  

The following is a summary of the changes made in accordance with the advice provided:

• The term  “Outputs” has replaced the term “Results” throughout the log frame;
• A number of the “Outputs” have been re-formulated to make them more output-oriented, i.e. ensuring that they really do represent outputs rather than processes or outcomes. However, we have tried to keep the wording of re-formulated Outputs  as close as possible to the “results” that had previously been discussed and agreed with you;
• Indicators have been substantially changed throughout the log frame to ensure that they relate more directly to project Outputs rather than to developments not directly linked to project interventions, together with revised baselines and targets;
• The number of Outputs in Component 3 has been reduced from three to two, with related redistribution of activities to the other two Outputs.

It should be noted that no changes were made to the Overall and Specific Objectives of the project, despite the fact that their formulation does not fully comply with EU guidance, because the suggested re-wording would have required a contract change which is not possible at the present time. We also resisted a suggestion to re-name the six components, because of the fact that the component titles provide an important link back to the original ToR of the project.

We hope that the changes to the log frame are acceptable, but I should be very grateful for any comments that you may have as quickly as possible.

Inception Report

The changes to the log frame will need to be reflected in the draft Inception Report, and I am now adjusting it to incorporate the terminology and wording changes at Output level. As soon as each of the beneficiary institutions have confirmed their acceptance of the revised log frame, we expect the Inception Report to be approved by the EU Delegation.  

Implementation of project activities

The COVID-19 lockdown and curfew will affect the implementation of a number of project activities, including any that would require travel to Georgia by international experts and any that cannot be carried out when social distancing is required, e.g. training. I shall therefore contact the MoESCS, MoESD, MoIDPLHSA / SESA and the Youth Agency during the next day or two to arrange Skype conference calls to discuss the consequent changes to the timing and implementation of affected activities. These changes need to be incorporated into our progress report on project implementation which is due to be submitted to the EU Delegation.

I look forward to our further tele-working over the coming days.

With best regards

David

 

DAVID HANDLEY

Team Leader

and Skills Development Expert

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Technical Assistance to Skills Development for Matching Labour Market Needs in Georgia

An EU-funded project under the Skills4Jobs Programme, Phase 2

Implemented by a Consortium led by GOPA Worldwide Consultants

Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport

4 Sanapiro Str. 0105 Tbilisi, Georgia

Cellphone: +995 595 400 371 (Georgia), +44 (0) 77 6880 7787 (UK)

david.handley@gopa.de; david.handley@pem-consult.de

Skype: handleyd