The aim of the project is to ensure the monitoring and observance of public interests regarding the utilization of European Union funds by strengthening the capacities of Latvian non-governmental organizations involved in the monitoring committees of these funds. Monitoring committees are the largest and most important forums in Latvia where crucial issues related to the implementation, monitoring, management systems, and strategies of European Union funds are discussed and decisions are made. Therefore, meaningful and high-quality representation of NGOs in these committees is particularly important.

The organizations involved in the project are the association “Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS” (leading partner), the association “Latvian Rural Forum,” the association “Alliance for Sustainable Development ” the association “Latvian Quality Association,” the association “Latvian Social Entrepreneurship Association,” the association “Latvian Society of the Blind,” and the association “Association of Germans in Latvia.”

The project will provide these organizations with the opportunity to fully monitor the use of EU funds over a period of two years, enhance their capacity through training and external expert assistance, and inform the public about the use of EU funds. The project also aims to offer systemic solutions to the state administration and the European Commission to strengthen the role of NGOs in monitoring EU funds. The materials developed within the project will be useful for other organizations operating in EU fund monitoring committees or planning to get involved.

The organizations involved in this project participate in the following EU fund monitoring committees:

1. Asylum, Migration, and Integration Fund Monitoring Committee (Providus),
2. Monitoring Committee for the Financial Support Instrument for Border Management and Visa Policy (Providus),
3. Monitoring Committee for the European Union Funds for the 2021–2027 planning period (Latvian Rural Forum, Alliance for Sustainable Development),
4. Sub-committee for Policy Objective 1 “Smarter Europe” of the Monitoring Committee for the European Structural and Cohesion Funds for the 2021–2027 planning period (Latvian Rural Forum, Alliance for Sustainable Development, Latvian Quality Association),
5. Sub-committee for Policy Objective 2 “Greener Europe” of the Monitoring Committee for the European Structural and Cohesion Funds for the 2021–2027 planning period (Latvian Rural Forum, Alliance for Sustainable Development),
6. Sub-committee for Policy Objective 3 “More Connected Europe” of the Monitoring Committee for the European Structural and Cohesion Funds for the 2021–2027 planning period (Alliance for Sustainable Development),
7. Sub-committee for Policy Objective 4 “Fairer Europe” of the Monitoring Committee for the European Structural and Cohesion Funds for the 2021–2027 planning period (Association of Germans in Latvia, Latvian Society of the Blind, Latvian Social Entrepreneurship Association),
8. Sub-committee for Policy Objective 5 “Closer to the People” of the Monitoring Committee for the European Structural and Cohesion Funds for the 2021–2027 planning period (Latvian Rural Forum),
9. Sub-committee for Policy Objective 6 “Investments from the Fair Transition Fund” of the Monitoring Committee for the European Structural and Cohesion Funds for the 2021–2027 planning period (Latvian Rural Forum),
10. Monitoring Committee for the Action Program for the Implementation of the European Maritime, Aquaculture, and Fisheries Fund in Latvia for 2021–2027 (Latvian Rural Forum),
11. Monitoring Committee for the Common Agricultural Policy for 2021–2027 (Latvian Rural Forum).

Contact person for communication regarding this project at the leading organization: Iveta Kažoka (iveta.kazoka@providus.lv).