Management and implementation Operational Programme Human Capital

According to art. 60 of Council Regulation (WE) 1083/2006, Managing Authority (MA), supervised by Monitoring Committee of OP HC, is responsible for proper management and implementation of the Operational Programme Human Capital.

According to provisions of Act on the Principles of the Regional Development Policy, minister responsible for regional development acts as a Managing Authority of the Operating Programme Human Capital. In accordance with internal regulations prepared by minister responsible for regional development a specific unit of the Ministry of Regional Development plays a role of Managing Authority. Currently this function is played by Department for European Social Fund Management.

Because of the material scope of the programme and financial weight of individual priorities, management and supervision of implementation of individual priorities have been given entrusted to Intermediate Bodies (IB). In the central component, where, first of all, nation-wide systemic support is realized, functions of Intermediate Bodies have been entrusted to competent ministers. On the other hand, support for individuals, in accordance with the decision of decentralization, is provided primarily within the scope of the regional component; therefore responsibilities of the Intermediate Bodies have been transferred to voivodship self-governments.

Moreover, each Intermediate Body, considering the specifics of the Priority it is responsible for and the experience of the body acting on the territory, may, upon an agreement with the Managing Authority, delegate a part of the duties to 2nd Level Intermediate Bodies (IB2).

Regardless of the level of delegation, the Managing Authority is still fully responsible for correct realization of the Programme.

Managing Authority (MA)

The basic specific responsibilities of the Managing Authority of the OP HC include for example:

• preparation of description of a managing and control system for OP HC,
• preparation of procedures for the Managing Authority of the OP HC and approving procedures for
  the Intermediate Bodies;
• preparation, in cooperation with the Intermediate Bodies, standard reports, standard applications
  and other documents related to the Programme;
• preparation of guidelines concerning eligibility of expenditures upon OP HC;
• preparation of guidelines concerning implementation of innovative projects and supranational cooperation;
• establishment of a Monitoring Committee of OP HC, controlling its work and providing it with appropriate documents making it possible to monitor implementation of OP HC in line with its objectives;
• preparation of periodical, annual and final reports on realization of the OP HC and submitting them to the Monitoring Committee of OP HC for approval;
• preparation of expenditure acknowledgements and declarations, as well as payment applications
  within the framework of OP HC to a Certifying Body;
• evaluation of realization progress of OP HC on the basis of reports;
• monitoring realization degree of indicators and deviations in realization of selected indicators;
• controlling realization of OP HC on the ground of Annual Control Plan, including conducting systemic inspections in IB and, in particularly justified cases, inspections on the project sites;
• preparation of guidelines for Intermediate Bodies concerning preparation of Annual Controlling Plans within the framework of priorities and their approval, supervision of the Intermediate Bodies during inspections carried out by them;
• preparation of incompliance reports and passing them over to competent bodies, as per the National Strategic Reference Framework realization system.

Intermediate Bodies (IB)

Chief duties of the Intermediate Bodies under the OP HC include:

• management of individual Priorities realized within the framework of OP HC. The Intermediate Body takes responsible for appropriate realization of the Priority, and the OP HC Managing Authority is responsible for all incompliances;
• preparation of criteria for selection of projects within the Priority framework, on the basis of documents prepared by the MA;
• preparation of description of the IB management and control system.

Particularly, the Intermediate Body is responsible for:

• selection of projects proposed for realization within OP HC;
• assuring that the selection of projects to be financed is conducted in accordance with criteria used for OP HC and that these projects are in line with applicable EU and national rules throughout the time of their realization;
• making decisions on financing a project selected and entering into agreements with beneficiaries;
• checking if co-financed products and services are delivered and if expenditures declared by beneficiaries have been really borne and comply with applicable EU and national regulations;
• making sure the beneficiaries and all bodies involved in realization of the priority used separate accounting systems or appropriate accounting codes for all financial operations related to the project.

2nd Level Intermediate Body

Entrusting an entity with the role of a 2nd Level Intermediate Body will be based on an agreement/contract between the Intermediate Body and an institution indicated/selected to this role by
the Managing Authority’s approval. En exemption is the activities related to realization of Priority V Good Governance, where an agreement/contract is signed directly by the OP HC Managing Authority and an entity indicated/selected to playing the role of a 2nd Level Intermediate Body.

Tasks entrusted to 2nd Level Intermediate Bodies may be connected with:

• receiving applications from beneficiaries;
• selecting projects for subsidizing and entering into contracts with beneficiaries;
• submitting expenditure declarations and acknowledgements to the Intermediate Bodies;
• monitoring individual projects;
• verification of utilization of funds by the beneficiaries, including on-site controls;
• preparation of periodic, annual and final reports on the activities;
• archiving all project-related documentation for 3 years after the program closing or partial closing date.

Intermediate Bodies and 2nd Level Intermediate Bodies of the OP HC Central Component

Intermediate Bodies and 2nd Level Intermediate Bodies of the OP HC Regional Component