iSURFATLANTIC partners advance project implementation and monitoring framework
The iSURFATLANTIC consortium held its second coordination meeting to further advance the implementation phase of the project, with a strong focus on financial management, monitoring procedures, and operational alignment among partners.
The project is co-funded by the Interreg Atlantic Area Programme through the European Union and coordinated by OesteCIM, which continues to lead the overall management and coordination of activities across the four participating countries: Portugal, Spain, France, and Ireland.
This second meeting aimed to align expectations and clarify key aspects related to financial execution, reporting obligations, and monitoring requirements. Partners discussed the reporting framework, including Project Progress Reports (PPRs and pPRs), statutory obligations, and the preparation of mandatory documentation, notably SIGI registration and statutory auditor/controller contracts.
Several key implementation documents were shared with partners, including:
- Meeting minutes;
- Presentations on Implementation Step 2 and the Execution Work Plan (PPR1);
- Guidelines for project reporting in SIGI, addressed both to partners and the Lead Partner;
- A Task Assignment Template to support human resources allocation.
To facilitate efficient project execution, monitoring, and internal coordination, the Lead Partner introduced a project management tool, which will be continuously updated during consortium meetings. The tool is structured around three core components:
- Checklist (Administrative and Deliverables Control):
- Tracks mandatory documentation, reporting milestones, and deliverables for all partners, including deadlines and countdowns.
- Task List (Operational Tracking): Provides a detailed overview of tasks across all work packages, assigning responsibilities, timelines, and progress indicators to ensure accountability and timely delivery.
- Team Directory (Consortium Contacts): Centralises contact details and roles of consortium members, facilitating communication and clarifying responsibilities across management, financial, operational, and communication functions.
The tool will be explained in detail during the next meeting, but partners were encouraged to already consult and use it to support their ongoing activities.
In parallel, partners were reminded of the Interreg Atlantic Area communication and dissemination requirements. Relevant guidelines, templates, logos, and visual materials are being prepared, with reference to the programme’s official implementation resources.
OesteCIM is currently leading several key actions, including:
- Finalising the Partnership Agreement;
- Developing the iSURFATLANTIC branding book;
- Setting up a shared SharePoint workspace and the project website;
- Coordinating the definition of the date for the in-person Kick-off meeting.
Partners were reminded of several immediate actions required to ensure smooth project implementation, including updating the consortium mailing list, contracting statutory auditors/controllers, deploying the first project tasks (WP1A1 and WP2A2), and contributing to task distribution and project management instruments.
The consortium agreed to continue close coordination, with the next project meeting scheduled for 6 February, which will further address implementation progress, risk mitigation, and the organisation of the in-person Kick-off event.