- Funding Programme
- Year
- 2022
Networking between public administrations through skills
The European Commission aimed at strengthening Italy's administrative capacity by building skills for the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). It focused on enhancing skills, learning, and networks in regional and municipal governments, beginning with a stocktaking of current capabilities. The DFP (Department of Public Administration) coordinated at the central level the production of reports, case studies and development of strategies. the Project delivered a suite of outputs aimed at providing both analytical insight and practical tools: a background/stocktaking report, a skills needs/gaps analysis, a methodology and handbook for the evaluation of learning outcomes, modules capturing good practices, and input into the design of a strategy and action plan for sustained capacity -building, to be taken forward by the administration.
Context
Over the past decade, Italy’s public administration has undergone a period of transition, shaped by hiring constraints, demographic shifts, and evolving policy and skills demands. These dynamics have highlighted the urgent need to equip public servants with the skills required to respond to complex and fast-moving societal, digital, and environmental changes. In this context and recognising the pivotal role of subnational administrations in the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), the Italian administration, through the DFP requested technical support from the European Commission to strengthen the skills base, learning systems, and institutional capacity across all levels of public administration.
Support to be delivered
The project fostered significant engagement with subnational administrations through interviews, focus groups, and workshops across six regions, ensuring a field-based and inclusive approach. A comprehensive stocktaking report was developed, mapping skills gaps, training systems, and promising practices across government levels, creating an evidence-based foundation. The project highlighted regional innovations like job profiling, digital learning platforms, and inter-municipal cooperation, placing good practices at the forefront. Additionally, it co-developed a national strategy and action plan for learning and capacity-building, supported by a handbook for evaluating training impact, organizing workshops to promote collaboration and shared learning.
Results achieved
From a policy perspective, this Project contributed to the broader reform agenda by reinforcing the foundations for a more agile, skilled, and future -ready public workforce. It supported the development of technical and transversal competencies; such as problem-solving, project management, sustainability skills, communication, and cross -sectoral collaboration - essential for successful digital and green transitions and the implementation of Italy’s NRRP . The Project has also demonstrated the value of a systems -based approach to training and workforce planning, informed by evidence and grounded in the realities of subnational governance.
More about the project
You can read the documents related to the project here: