{"id":8119,"date":"2025-10-16T11:48:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T11:48:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onprojects.es\/?p=8119"},"modified":"2025-10-23T08:07:01","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T08:07:01","slug":"managing-and-communicating-eu-projects-insights-from-the-milimat-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onprojects.es\/en\/managing-and-communicating-eu-projects-insights-from-the-milimat-project","title":{"rendered":"Managing and communicating EU projects: Insights from the MILIMAT Project"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

European funding programmes may appear technical and bureaucratic at first. However, behind the acronyms are people and organisations working together to deliver tangible benefits<\/b>. Over the last decade, our team at OnProjects has helped consortia navigate this landscape<\/b>, supporting them with everything from shaping proposals<\/a> to delivering communication activities<\/a>. Rather than presenting theory, we believe that real-life examples are the best way to illustrate how good management and communication translate into results.<\/p>

One such example is MILIMAT<\/b>, an Erasmus+ Cooperation partnerships in vocational education and training<\/a> project that we supported from conception to completion, and which was led by the Italian farmers\u2019 association CIA Umbria<\/a>. While the topic addressed the integration of migrant workers into multicultural agricultural teams, the processes involved in securing funding<\/b>, coordinating an international partnership<\/b>, and communicating results <\/b>are relevant to anyone working on European projects.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

MILIMAT<\/a> set out to help rural entrepreneurs, farmers and migrant workers to build teams based on mutual understanding and respect.<\/p><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

This article looks at how we contributed to turning this vision into a recognised good practice<\/b> and shares lessons for other professionals in the EU funding ecosystem.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Understanding the starting point<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Even before the initiative was backed by Erasmus+, the idea had already taken root in Spain. The regional farmers’ union, COAG Ja\u00e9n<\/strong><\/a>, identified the need for training and tools<\/b> to help rural entrepreneurs, farmers, and migrant workers build multicultural teams. MILIMAT therefore aimed to develop training materials and a digital platform<\/b> that could overcome language, cultural and technological barriers.<\/p>

The challenges were not trivial. Many seasonal workers are recruited informally and may not speak the local language. Agricultural employers often have little time for complex registration processes or training courses. Our role was to translate these realities into a coherent work plan<\/b> that evaluators would recognise as both ambitious and feasible.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Laying the foundation: drafting the proposal<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The proposal stage sets the tone for any EU-funded project<\/b>. OnProjects worked closely with COAG Ja\u00e9n and the wider consortium to develop the application. Our team reviewed the narrative, ensured that the needs analysis was evidence-based and took responsibility for the administrative and submission procedures. By relieving the partners of these tasks, we enabled them to focus on the project’s technical vision, while ensuring compliance with Erasmus+ requirements<\/b> and maintaining logical coherence across the work plan.<\/p>

The chosen approach was to centre the project on developing a user<\/b>\u2011<\/b>friendly digital platform<\/b>. This wasn\u2019t just a website; it was intended to be an interactive training environment comprising e-learning modules, a database of case studies and a collaborative space where farmers and migrant workers could exchange experiences. Our experience in the sector has shown us that effective communication and dissemination are increasingly vital for the success of EU projects<\/b>, so we ensured these elements were embedded into the project design from the outset. This approach not only improved the quality of the outputs but also helped maximise the project\u2019s visibility and impact.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Coordinating across borders<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Successful consortia depend on trust and clear communication<\/b>. Throughout the MILIMAT implementation, our team supported coordination by organising meetings, maintaining schedules, and monitoring quality. In practice, this involved setting up internal communication channels, sending out detailed agendas before each meeting, and taking concise minutes of the decisions made, which were shared with all partners. Acting as a trusted coordinator, we enabled the lead organisations to focus on the content<\/b>, while ensuring that timelines and deliverables were met<\/b>. Drawing on our management experience, we anticipated and avoided typical pitfalls and contributed to the project’s smooth progress.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Building the digital platform and training system\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

At the heart of MILIMAT was its training platform<\/a>. In collaboration with subject-matter experts from the consortium, we produced a summary report<\/b>, a set of case studies<\/b>, and several training modules<\/b>. These covered topics such as intercultural communication, labour rights and team building. All these materials were hosted on a digital platform developed by OnProjects.\u00a0 The platform’s design balanced visual appeal with ease of use, and we ensured full compatibility across devices and languages. Alongside the e-learning space, we developed a collaborative platform<\/a> that connects employers with migrant workers<\/b>, enabling them to share opportunities and experiences.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Communication, dissemination and long\u2011term impact<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

From the outset, we knew that a project dealing with migration and agriculture needed careful communication. OnProjects therefore led the communication and dissemination activities<\/b>, creating a coherent visual identity, multilingual materials and an outreach strategy that continued beyond the project’s official end date. We produced promotional materials, social media content and newsletters tailored to farming communities and migrant support organisations. While this commitment to extending dissemination beyond the project’s end is unusual for a small-scale project, it aligns with our philosophy: results should live on and serve the community.<\/p>

This approach bore fruit in several ways:<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>