Taking place between 21 May and 09 June 2026.
A practical programme designed to equip participants with the skills to identify the right EU funding opportunities, develop strong project proposals, and manage EU‑funded projects effectively.
EMCS Academy has developed this training programme on EU Funding: Design and Management of EU Funded Projects for individuals seeking practical, hands‑on knowledge in understanding EU funding instruments, developing strong project proposals, and managing approved EU‑funded projects effectively.
The overall objective of this programme is to equip participants with the skills to interpret the EU funding landscape, identify the most suitable funding instrument for a given project idea, and successfully navigate the full lifecycle of an EU‑funded project, from initial concept to implementation, reporting and closure.
This programme builds and strengthens the capacity of stakeholders involved in EU funding, whether coming from the public service, public sector, NGOs, businesses, or those interested in entering the field. It provides a clear and structured understanding of:
The programme is highly practical, offering exercises and interactive elements designed to help participants directly apply the concepts, assess funding fit, translate ideas into structured proposals, and establish effective project implementation systems.
By the end of the Course, participants will be able to:
This course is made up of a total of 18 hours. These will be delivered over 6 sessions of 3 hours each.
| Module 1 | How EU Funds Work | 21 May 2026 |
| Module 2 | EU Funds Available in Malta | 21 May 2026 |
| Module 3 | EU Direct Management Programmes | 26 May 2026 |
| Module 4 | From Call to Project Proposal | 28 May & 2 June 2026 |
| Module 5 | Project Management and Implementation | 4 June & 9 June 2026 |
| Title | Content | Trainer |
| Module 1 How EU Funds Work | An introduction to the structure and logic of the EU funding system, providing the foundation for understanding how EU funds are programmed and accessed.
| Alison Mizzi |
| Module 2 EU Funds Available in Malta | An overview of the EU funding instruments implemented in Malta, highlighting national priorities, the funds available under Cohesion Policy, and other EU programmes managed at national level.
| Alison Mizzi |
| Title | Content | Trainer |
| Module 3 EU Direct Management Programmes | A structured introduction to EU programmes that are managed directly by the European Commission or EU agencies, focusing on competitive calls, partnership requirements and key funding opportunities open to Maltese organisations.
| Eszter Kosa |
| Title | Content | Trainer |
| Module 4 From Call to Project Proposal | A practical guide to reading programme/call guidelines and applying intervention logic to translate ideas into clear, competitive proposals.
| Eszter Kosa |
| Title | Content | Trainer |
| Module 5 Project Management and Implementation | A practical guide to managing approved EU‑funded projects in line with the Grant Agreement, financial rules, procurement obligations and audit requirements.
| Stephen Vella |
EMCS Training Centre
Centris Business Gateway II, Level 4,
Triq is-Salib tal-Imriehel Zone 3,
Central Business District,
Birkirkara
A certificate of attendance will be provided to participants who attend this training.
Total Learning Hours
Full course: 18 hours
Hours include contact hours, supervised practice hours, self-study hours and assesment hours.
Alison is a Director at EMCS and a leading expert in EU funding, Cohesion Policy and programme management. With over twenty years of experience in the field, she has worked extensively across the full policy and programme cycle, from the design and drafting of Malta’s Partnership Agreement and Operational Programmes, to evaluation, monitoring, project selection and implementation.
At EMCS, Alison leads the firm’s EU funding advisory services, supporting public, private and voluntary organisations in identifying suitable funding opportunities at both national and EU level. Her work includes proposal development, project planning and design, and implementation support, with a strong focus on ensuring alignment with EU priorities and funding requirements. She also advises on the formulation of funding programmes and conducts evaluation assignments, including Cohesion Policy evaluations and assessments of major EU‑funded initiatives.
Before joining EMCS, Alison spent fourteen years in the Malta Public Administration, primarily within the Managing Authority for Cohesion Policy. She was responsible for the management of ESF programmes, coordinated calls and project selection processes, and formed part of the Government core team that drafted Malta’s 2007–2013 and 2014–2020 Cohesion Policy programming documents. During this time, she also represented Malta in various EU fora and technical committees and provided extensive training to civil servants, programme managers and beneficiaries.
Alison holds a Master of Arts in European Studies and a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) in Management, both from the University of Malta. She has also served as President of the Malta Business Bureau.
Dr Eszter Kosa is a social worker and social policy expert, holding a Ph.D. in Social Sciences. Her special interest lies in the social inclusion of disadvantaged and vulnerable social groups (especially people living in poverty, the Roma minority, and migrants/refugees) through social work, civil society responses, and social policy measures.
Ms. Kósa has over 20 years of experience in program design and implementation, supporting vulnerable social groups applying case work, and research. She currently works in Malta, having previously worked in Hungary, the Balkans, and crisis areas such as Armenia and Eastern Ukraine. Her main focus areas are social inclusion, combating poverty (with a special focus on child poverty), equal opportunities, human rights, civil society development, and humanitarian aid.
Ms. Kósa has extensive experience with EU funding systems, proposal writing for EU and other international funding, policy and program evaluation, quantitative and qualitative research, capacity building through various training methods, and the management of international programs. She has been engaged with the public and for-profit sectors, and in the last decade, she has worked with civil organizations like SOS Children’s Villages International (HQ in Austria) and the Autonomia Foundation (Hungary). She has been a program manager at the Malta-based consultancy firm Binda Consulting International between 2018 and 2024. Since January 2025 she has been working as a manager at EMCS Advisory, being responsible for proposal writing, project management and project design.
Stephen C Vella, BA (Hons), MA, Dip Forensic Studies, Director of Corporate Services & EU Projects within the Foundation for Social Welfare Services with over 30 years of services rendered in the social field. Held various managerial positions in social related services, including residential services and acted as advisor to various Ministries on EU Funded projects. Carried out his university degrees in Ireland, obtain his masters in Italy and post-graduate Forensic Studies in Malta. Proficiently trained in procurement procedures, project management, youth work and health & safety.
Project led various ESF projects focused on the following issues: Integration of Asylum Seekers (PASSI); Training of frontline workers assisting persons at risk of social exclusion; Training young people to find suitable employment (Embark for life); and training of persons with disability to integrate into the labour market (Me2); and setting up of Community based social services (LEAP) across Malta and Gozo, and recently the OK Project and Hiliet il-Komunita’ – an ERDF project in Valletta focusing on the social dimension of the inner harbour region. Mr Vella currently also coordinates two nationwide food distribution schemes: FEAD (EU Funded) and the State Funded Food Distribution scheme.
Currently submitting new EU projects proposals for the Foundation, and in the last 15 years collectively managed over Euro 20 million from EU funds in social related projects.
He is currently actively involved within the Community of Practice (COP) European Competence Centre for Social Innovation and participate in regular meetings and sit on one of its Steering Group Committees.
