SKILLS

Full project name: High LEVEL and market-respondent Competences for a Blue and Digitalized “Smart and skilled South Adriatic”
Project acronym: SKILLS
Role: Expert in Policy Analysis, Stakeholder Engagement, Communication and Monitoring & Evaluation
Programme: Interreg IPA South Adriatic 2021–2027
Contracted by: University of Montenegro — Institute of Marine Biology, Lead Partner
Geographical coverage: South Adriatic cross-border area — Montenegro, Albania, and the Italian regions of Puglia and Molise

SKILLS brings together public authorities, universities and development institutions from Italy, Albania and Montenegro to strengthen the availability of qualified professionals for the blue economy. The project connects policy cooperation, education and training with labour-market needs, helping the South Adriatic region respond to the green and digital transitions.

My assignment combined policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, communication, and monitoring and evaluation. I supported cooperation among institutions, education providers, research organisations and businesses, helping connect sector priorities with the project’s skills-development objectives.

The policy and stakeholder-engagement work focused on understanding institutional perspectives, identifying development and training needs, and supporting dialogue across sectors and borders. This approach helped establish a shared understanding of the challenges facing the blue economy and the opportunities for coordinated action.

Communication and monitoring support complemented this work by making project objectives and activities accessible to stakeholders and supporting the systematic review of implementation progress. My contribution linked evidence, participation and communication to practical project delivery, providing a basis for informed decisions and continued cooperation.