SCOPE OF THE TRANSNATIONAL ON-DEMAND ACCESS
The increasing presence of coexisting hazards related to pollution
and environmental threats in the Mediterranean Sea is a problem that
goes across political boundaries, as coastlines are known to be
interconnected by strong dynamic flow fields that propagate
materials in space and in time across the whole basin. The
riparian countries are called to endeavour for transnational
coordinated actions based on evidence-rooted joint and common
interventions, and to undertake assessments, mitigation and
actions together. Efforts are needed for capacity building,
sharing of expertise and knowledge, avoiding duplication or
re-inventing the wheel, namely to practically bring the national
systems and resources closer to each other, and to act together
in a concrete practical manner.
The capitalisation process in SHAREMED is precisely directed
to achieve this cohesion and joint effort by: (i) supporting
joint and co-ordinated observations to describe the marine
ecosystem in its integrity (physical & biogeochemical) and
within the larger scale scenarios and ranges of variability,
(ii) enhancing international networking, dedicated assessments
to quantify and locate non-local sources of pollution, and to
study connective pathways for the transport of pollutants in
the Mediterranean region, and (iii) systematizing existing
knowledge and sustaining a common understanding of environmental
threats and pollution, including those of transboundary origin,
for long term strategies and common action plans jointly with
stakeholders.
Capitalisation activities are directed to take stock and bring out
synergies from existing relevant projects, initiatives and networks
in the Mediterranean area, and to exploit these assets to promote
further and achieve cross-cutting benefits. Such a process entails
the apprehension of existing capital, namely knowledge, expertise,
human resource and infrastructures, to merge and complement initiatives,
building further momentum and critical mass through joint efforts and
collaborations, and through the sharing of ideas, assets and
commitments towards common goals.
The Transnational On-Demand Access actions are a major innovative and
practical capitalisation endeavour aiming to achieve these targets
through joint sub-projects offered by SHAREMED partners to Mediterranean
recipients, to achieve doable actions through the joint effort of give
and take by donors and recipients, to implement and set up systems at
the recipient sites, or to train, or to undertake joint observations
and assessments on relevant thematics.
This activity is a joint effort of all the SHAREMED partners and
coordinated by Prof. Aldo Drago on behalf of the project lead partner
OGS (Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale, Trieste).
THE TRANSNATIONAL ON-DEMAND ACCESS - HOW IT WORKS
This activity consists in the pairing of donor institutions with
recipients in the Mediterranean countries, to undertake some practical
hands-on doable actions offered by the donor to be chosen on-demand for
execution with the recipients and at the recipient sites.
Project partners and collaborating entities are putting on offer
a number of practical on-the-field activities consisting of a wide
range of readymade, tangible and achievable sub-projects to be
implemented in recipient Mediterranean institutions (including
non-EU) beyond the project partnership. Twelve different and wide
ranging offers are available, some of which are being offered to
more than one recipient. The recipients will bring forward their
own skills and resources to be merged and for exploiting the skills,
knowhow and facilities of the donors, to do joint collaborative
and supervised on-demand actions capitalising on existing assets
to share technology, methods, expertise, facilities and knowledge
on marine threats, hazards and observations in the Mediterranean Sea.
The offers are each presented on a common template describing the nature
of the activity, the end product and the requisites needed from the part
of the recipient. Some of the offers comprise travel for physical exchange
between counterparts, and related costs are covered by the donors. The
offers comprise new, supportive or complimentary actions to aid existing
projects and initiatives (national and international), addressing specific
problems/needs, and providing the implementation or testing of systems
such as in numerical modelling, web products and service development,
specialised training and other targeted actions. The offers are
delivered in the form of supervised sub-projects at the recipient
sites, to the advantage of capacity building, sharing of expertise
and joint collaborative work with non-project partner entities.
This is expected to trigger a multiplier effect, inciting
established personnel in recipient countries to embark on practical
deliverables, and addressing in a perceptible manner the overarching
goal of PANORAMED to promote the sharing and exploitation of
existing project results.
THE TRANSNATIONAL ON-DEMAND ACCESS - HOW TO APPLY
The Second Call for Transnational On-Demand Access is now open.
Applications can be received until
30th April 2022.
You can apply
here.
The offers are described through
factsheets
that contain the essential information on the activity on offer,
including the donor institute and responsible persons, the final
deliverable to be achieved, the requisite matching skills and
resources needed from the part of the recipient, and the expected
timeline for implementation.
Eligible applicants should be qualified professionals (individuals or
groups) formally engaged within a legal entity in any country in the
Mediterranean region, and with a proven track record of marine-related
responsibilities, projects or engagements. Applicants are expected to
fill in an online application form which includes:
-
contact and professional details about the applicant/s
-
letter of intent by the applicant/s
-
letter of recommendation by the responsible of the legal entity
to which the applicant/s pertain
-
list of resources made available by the applicants for the
execution of the activity
-
letter of commitment from the part of the applicants
The successful applicants will be selected by a Selection Panel,
composed of members from the Steering Committee of SHAREMED.
Submitted applications will first be checked by the WP6 management
team to ensure formal compliance with the rules of the Call and
the validity of the technical skills, competence and preparedness
of the applicants to benefit from the offers. The formal assessment
of the applicants will be the sole responsibility of the Selection
Panel. In case of over subscription to any of the offers, the
selection will be made by the Selection Panel according to criteria
established by the Panel who will prepare a shortlist in order of
merit. The decision of the Selection Panel will be considered final
and without appeal.
The shortlisted applicants will undergo a three-step process involving:
-
Validation of each offer by the donor SHAREMED partner
(feasibility assessment).
-
Preparation of a plan and schedule of execution together
with target deliverables as agreed by the donor and recipient.
-
Final assessment and approval of the plan by the Selection Panel.
Once the activity is completed both the donor and the recipient/s will
prepare separate reports describing the implementation of the activity,
with proof of results and description of deliverables.
Activities selected from the first call are currently being executed.
Six offers were approved. They engage with 13 recipients from 6 countries
(Spain, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Montenegro and Greece). These activities
are expected to be executed in the first quarter of 2022.