Dec 2008: The European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) Desk Study; NFS in partnership with IBF, have won the lot no. 4 Desk Study on EIDHR interventions 2000-2008 Part II - update and continuation.
NFS will be providing the core team of 5 experts to follow teh first Desk Study and to collect and systematise information on EIDHR projects between years 2000-2008 in order to provide teh European Commission with a better overview of past and ongoing support under the Initiative and the Instrument. NFS will also provide the Commission with reader friendly information material on the EIDHR(globally and by country, region, theme,etc.) and easy to produce reports and information materials according to internal needs and external requests for information on the EIDHR Interventions.

April 2008: Stakeholders welcome NFS Evaluation Report on the ILO-IPEC Project of Support to Turkey's Time-Bound Programme (TBP) more Stakeholders welcomed NFS's Evaluation Report on the ILO-IPEC Project of Support to Turkey's Time-Bound Programme.
The Project of Support to Turkey's Time Bound Policy and Programme Framework (TBPPF) on Child Labour is a direct result of the Turkish Government's adoption of a National Time-Bound Policy and Programme Framework (TBPPF), which has set itself the ambitious goal of eliminating Worst Forms of Child Labour (WFCL) in Turkey by 2014, in part through creating the opportunity for a convergence of efforts through the generation of a coherent and participatory policy for the elimination of child labour. The Project of Support has been financed by the US Department of Labour (USDOL) and the German Government.

February 2008: NFS Staff Member Invited to take part in New EU Forward-Looking Study on Africa's Energy Security
NFS will be providing a core team Expert for a forward-looking study on Africa's Energy Security launched by the European Commission. Working with IBF Consulting, the objective of the study on Africa's Energy Security is to provide a forward looking analysis and strategy on how to improve Africa's energy security, and to identify areas where Africa and Europe can work together to improve Africa's energy security. The study is intended to serve as a tool for the Commission and its partners in the further implementation for the Africa-EU Energy Partnership. Key focus areas will involve looking at possibilities and limitations in the use of Africa's indigenous energy resources, including fossil and renewable energy sources and assessing the investment needs of Africa's energy infrastructure.

June 2007: European Commission welcomes NFS findings and recommendations on extending the Trans-Eurasia Information Network (TEIN2) to Central Asia
NFS presents the findings of the Draft Final Report the TEIN-Central Asia Needs Analysis and Pre-Feasibility work to DG AIDCO and DG INFSO. The Commission expresses satisfaction with the work and the report is approved in July.

May 2007: Robert Schuman Day, Brussels - NFS Staff meet staff from the TODOS Children's' Development and Sport Education Project as part of a school visit
Increasing the awareness among children in Europe of the challenges facing children living in slums in Brazil - that is one of the challenges and goals of the TODOS project. The project visited a school in Brussels as part of the EU's Europe Day celebrations, to which an NFS staff member participated as part of the our ongoing work on monitoring of civil society projects for the European Commission.

March 2007: NFS completes work for the UNDP in New York and SNV in the Netherlands on Online Resource Papers on Leadership in Development
NFS completes work for the UNDP in New York and SNV in the Netherlands on Online Resource Papers on Leadership in Development. The papers looked at various aspects of leadership in developing countries, and are part of Capacity.Org an ambitious joint venture between UNDP and SNV. (www.capacity.org).

February 2007: NFS starts work to develop an online Compendium of EIDHR Projects for the European Commission
With ECORYS, a team from NFS has been contracted to undertaken a significant data collection and collation exercise to develop an updated Compendium of projects financed under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) over the period 2000-2006. The EIDHR is one of the EU's flagship initiatives in promoting democracy and respect for human rights across the globe.

February 2007: European Commission (DG AIDCO) asks NFS to Undertake the Needs Analysis and Pre-Feasibility Work on extending the Trans-Eurasia Information Network (TEIN2) to Central Asia
Following the successful mid-term evaluation of TEIN2, the European Commission (DG AIDCO) asks NFS to undertaken Needs Analysis and Pre-Feasibility Work on extending the Trans-Eurasia Information Network to Central Asia. 5 countries will be covered by the pre-feasibility work - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

January 2007: 'Excellent Job by the Consultants' - European Commission expresses satisfaction with the Mid-Term Evaluation Report from NFS on the Trans-Eurasia Information Network (TEIN2):
NFS presents the findings of the Draft Final Report on TEIN2 to DG AIDCO and the other DGs European Commission DGs on the Mid-Term Evaluation Steering Group - DG INFSO, DG RELEX, and DG RTD. The report's findings are welcomed by the Commission, with a number of the DGs present describing the report as best practice in the area of evaluation.

December 2006: NFS staff advise on winning EU funding at FP7 Seminar (EU 7th Framework Programme for RTD)
NFS staff members were recently invited as expert speakers at a seminar in Brussels for interested bidders to advise on winning EU funding at an FP7 seminar. Seminar participants benefitted from NFS staff members' insights as to what happens when your proposal is submitted to the European Commission - who evaluates it, what they look for, how your proposal is scored, and how to strengthen your chances of bidding successfully. For more info, go to www.interrecherche.com

November 2006: NFS staff member presents review findings and recommendations to the EU Member State Committee on Research & Innovation

October 2006: NFS staff appointed to undertaken the mid-term evaluation of the Trans-Eurasia Information Network
An NFS team, in partnership with the consulting company ECORYS, has bee appointed to undertake the Mid-Term Evaluation of the Trans-Eurasia Information Network. This network seeks to become the equivalent of the GEANT success story in Europe. A key part of the EU's vision for a global information society, the network is a highly strategic one for the EU.

August 2006: NFS staff appointed to undertaken a review of the FP6 Research & Innovation Work Programme
NFS has been appointed to undertake a review of the experience of the FP6 Research & Innovation Programme. The work includes research and compiling information on all of the calls for tenders and proposals launched under the Research and Innovation Programme, mapping out the workflow path and identifying workflow and time critical paths and time delays. It is expected that the review findings will feed into the finalisation of work practices for the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP).

August 2006: UNDP selects NFS to provide Communication and Content Development Services in support of its Leadership in Development initiative
For a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) joint venture, NFS is providing content creation and publication development for a series of Papers looking at leadership in developing country contexts. This work was part of a wider capacity building initiative of the UNDP, in association with the SNV Netherlands development organisation.

August 2006: UNDP appoints NFS staff member to Panel of Exert Reviewers for a Communication and Content Development initiative

June 2006: NFS staff appointed to lead the mid-term evaluation of the EU Co-operation Programme with the EU Overseas Countries & Territories

May 2006: UNDP selects NFS staff to act as Expert Reviews of a Communication and Content Development initiative

March 2006: NFS staff appointed to lead first ex-ante evaluation under the EU Structural Funds 2007-2012 Programming Period

February 2006: NFS staff invited by European Commission as part of expert panel to evaluate proposals for EU FP6 funding in the are of trans-national innovation networks (InnoNets) November 2005: NFS staff participate in evaluation of ICT demonstration projects in e-health and e-inclusion sectors under the EU @LIS Programme.

October 2005: NFS staff invited by European Commission as part of expert panel to evaluate proposals under the EU's future-based manufacturing programme (Manufuture)

September 2005: NFS staff invited by European Commission as part of expert panel to evaluate proposals from NGOs for EC funding under EU's development co-operation programme

April 2005: NFS contracted to develop marketing and sales IT solution for European operations of leading US consulting firm

March 2005: NFS contracted to provide validation for online content for subsidiary of Fortune 100 US corporation

February 2005: NFS staff invited by European Commission as part of expert panel to evaluate proposals from NGOs for EC funding under EU's development co-operation programme

February 2005: NFS staff invited by European Commission as part of expert panel to evaluate proposals for EU FP6 funding in the are of financing of innovation

September 2004: NFS Staff invited to act as Expert Advisors in a wide ranging evaluation of the European Commission's DG Enterprise & Industry Innovation Related Activities.

January 2004: NFS Staff lead evaluation of first ever impact evaluation of a European Commission Policy Communication on Competitiveness of major European Cluster