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The RFI action in the field of external cooperation programs

Emilie LAOT-YAHOU, Head of European Partnerships, Directorate of International Affairs - Radio France Internationale, emilie.laot-yahou@rfi.fr

What is your role within the RFI Directorate of International Affairs?

My team, namely Dora Jaffel, our intern and myself, are responsible for responding to calls for tenders/calls for proposals from the European Commission for Radio France International (RFI). Following the creation of the new consortium, combining RFI, France 24 television and the partner television channel TV5MONDE under one holding company, \\

Moreover, because of our expertise, our service is brought, in a timely manner, to manage other international funding (World Bank, DFID British cooperation, OIF, etc.) but some of these funds are based on rules that are very different from those of the EU.



What are the external cooperation programs in which you are most involved? What are the main projects you have going on at the moment?


We work primarily with the program \\\"Non-State Actors and Local Authorities in Development\\\" which is open to media. Insofar, as RFI, France 24 and TV5MONDE broadcast all around the world in 12 languages (including Arabic, English and Spanish), we can apply to many calls published by the EU delegations worldwide. This requires making choices based on our priorities (Africa and the Middle East) because we are presently undergoing simultaneously a dozen projects ranging from 75K € to 430K €, and that\\\'s a lot for us and our colleagues operating on the ground!


For example, we have just sent an application to the EU Delegation in Syria concerning an idea of Nahida Nakad (the former Grand TF1 reporter who is now head of the Arabic-speaking Pole FEA) who wants to teach the children of Syria how to make a radio/TV news show in Arabic.


We are also putting together a project draft on the Millennium Development Goals, in partnership with Good Planet, Yann Arthus Bertrand NGO... also a series of broadcasts in Kiswahili to combat violence against women in Tanzania!


The projects that we put together are quite diverse and we work with teams who like and know the terrain, which makes the job so much more exciting!


As for the projects we have going on, I would mention our radio / TV programmes on Aid Development (TV5MONDE has also been awarded a prize on its series in Haiti, supported by the EU), our cultural programmes in Cuba, our professionalization operations of media in Africa to accompany the democratic transition, or the opening of a radio for natives in Venezuela!



How did the Welcomeurope tailored-made training session benefit your actions?


Dora and I have both a Masters II degree in European project management. I also teach at the Universities New Sorbonne and Cergy-Pontoise on this theme. We are very familiar with European projects, but we wanted to improve our applications thanks to the Welcomeurope training session.


Camille Constans (ndlr, Welcomeurope consultant) has studied one of our grant applications and pointed out its qualities and weak points. We have worked on the logical framework (including indicators and how to formulate the objectives and results). It was very useful as it thought us to start with the logical framework for the overall architecture of the project, and this greatly facilitates the drafting of the dossier thereafter.


As soon as we will have the opportunity, we would like to work on the methodology and sustainability of our projects with Welcome Europe.



Are you following the institutional reform of foreign aid?


Yes we are, since we work primarily with the external cooperation programs of the European Commission, we must stay informed on institutional reform and reorganization of the European diplomatic corps. At this point, I know that Ashton has found common ground with the European Parliament, but I do not know yet what the impact on funding will be. In the meantime, we continue our monitoring of the calls for proposals and go \\\"fishing for information\\\" from our EuropeAid contacts.


What do you think about the simplification of the procedures for the external cooperation programs?


To be quite honest, I find them more and more complicated, in an increasingly competitive environment! The main difficulty stems from the fact that the PADOR registration of partners is becoming increasingly common, including during the concept note phase. Or, requesting official documents to African partners in such a short time is a very difficult task!


But not to be discouraged, at the end it’s all worth it. One must understand that the management of EU funds is a craft, and there are professionals for it!