ThExperts

A non-profit association comprised of a group of International Experts having extensive experience in assisting the management of EU funded projects in external aid, in the frame of de-centralised activities having joined efforts to develop an essential software tool to enhance capacity and utilisation of best practices to be made available to all Project Management Units.

In late 2007, a group of colleagues met to discuss the possibility of creating a tool to improve management for the administration of EU funded projects. A brainstorming meeting was then organised in 2008 to identify a common willingness to proceed on a voluntary basis towards its development. In late 2008, a general backbone of the features was developed and tasks distributed among the various participants. In April 2009, a first version of the tool was realised for testing, and the final product is foreseen to be ready in September 2009.

Starting from a pre-developed project web site template (which also assures necessary visibility activities), the web-based tool will allow for easy management of the Programme Estimates measurement of performed activities and controlling cash flows (commitment and disbursements) allowing new PMU Director(s) to easily produce their Start-up Programme Estimates and proceed with the establishment of the Overall PE and develop annual PE(s) up to project closing. While controlling commitments and disbursements, the system will allow for implementation of a control on procurement procedures. An additional module for technical and financial monitoring of grant scheme projects is also developed.

The experts having contributed to the development of the tool are:

• For the Visibility component 
  Veronique Ruggirello
  Elena Romani   
  Gilles Duffaut    
  Valerio Caruso
• For the Administrative/Financial and Procurement component        
  Gian Luca Bombarda 
  Jean-Marc Labis         
  Gilles Petit          
  Elie Bassil          
  Rania Muna       
  Daniela Ottavi             
  Cristiana Gaita   
  Katia Rebowska          
  Cinzia Fuggetti
• For the Grant Schemes Management and Monitoring       
  Francesco Badioli      
  Tarek Shata       
  Mario Casadio   
  Silvia Torresi      
  Stephanie Horel
  Giovanni Gordiani      
  Gianluigi Gnudi 
• For the IT development        
  Fadi Hajjar          
  Francesco Fedele      
  Massimo Zaniboni      
  Bernadette Wakim      
  Rasha Bahbouh
  Saraa Shetewi
  Samer Nazha        
  

This is also an occasion to thank all of them for voluntarily providing their valuable assistance in developing this tool while working on their own diverse assignments.