The Office of the Directorate General of Programmes (ODGP), which co-ordinates the co-operation dimension of the Council of Europe, held a third Open Day for the Permanent Representations and Observers to the Council of Europe.

In her welcome speech, the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni said, “ODGP is responsible for the programming, resource mobilisation and decentralised implementation for all Council of Europe activities that are not covered by the ordinary budget. Crucially, it coordinates donor relations and the relevant contractual issues too. So it is fair to say that ODGP supplies oxygen to the organs of our Organisation: without it, we could not function.”

The Director of ODGP, Verena Taylor, introduced the work of the Directorate and invited the diplomatic corps to learn more about how co-operation projects are managed by ODGP by imagining and creating their own project.  Four stands guided them though the key elements of Council of Europe projects:

• Programming
• Budget and support
• Donor relations and fundraising
• Cross-cutting issues

Heads and Deputy Heads of Council of Europe Offices were also present and provided practical examples of project implementation in the field.

If you wish more information on any aspect of the work of ODGP please do not hesitate to contact us.

• Speech by the Deputy Secretary General
• How to design your own Council of Europe project worksheet