I am an international development professional with extensive experience in the design and management of grant-funded programmes and European and international cooperation. I joined EYE while exploring how the experience I built over the years could possibly support the creation of my own consultancy. My Host Entrepreneur, Silvia Anastasia, works in European projects and social innovation, offering a complementary perspective from that of a smaller entrepreneurial organisation. I decided to participate in EYE to strengthen my understanding of grant design and management, EC-funded operations, partnerships and organisational sustainability. An opportunity to dedicate focused time to the exchange during a break between contracts in August made this particularly valuable for my professional development and for testing the foundations of a possible future business.
I worked with Silvia on practical aspects of EU grant design and project management. We explored how funding opportunities are assessed, how project ideas are developed into coherent interventions, and how partnerships, roles, activities and resources are structured. I also gained useful exposure to the management of EC-funded operations, including planning, coordination with partners, communication, implementation choices and compliance. Our discussions were based on real project situations and helped me compare my experience within larger institutional settings with the perspective of a smaller organisation that must constantly connect technical quality with strategic positioning, available resources and long-term sustainability.
The experience strengthened skills that are directly relevant to my current professional development. I gained a broader perspective on EU grant design and management, particularly on how project development, partnership building and the management of EC-funded operations connect with an organisation’s strategy and sustainability.
EYE gave me the opportunity to look at grant design and EU-funded project management through an entrepreneurial lens, helping me understand how the experience I have built over the years could become the foundation for a future business.