The Council of Europe Development Bank is a multilateral development bank with an exclusively social mandate. By financing and providing technical expertise for projects with a high social impact it actively promotes social cohesion and strengthens social integration in Europe. It finances social projects, responds to emergencies and contributes to improving the living conditions of the most disadvantaged. It also contributes to the implementation of socially-oriented investment projects in areas, including sustainable and inclusive growth and developing climate action adaptation and mitigation measures. Enterprise Funding Schemes Enterprise Ireland provides a range of funding and supports for enterprise including the €60m 2017-20 Regional Enterprise Development Fund to support the implementation of the Regional Action Plans for Jobs. The fund aims to drive enterprise development and job creation by co-financing projects that can sustain and add to employment at a national, regional and county level. It supports collaborative and innovative projects involving a range of enterprises and public bodies, including local and community enterprise initiatives, innovation and technology partnerships and enterprise-led industry clusters comprising of at least five companies. Small Business Innovation Research Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) is the national innovation pre-commercial procurement initiative, administered by Enterprise Ireland. It aims to drive innovation across all sections of the public sector through the co-funding of competitive challenges that support engagement between technology companies and public bodies. It also supports small and emerging businesses by providing early-stage funding and a route to market, reducing risk through a phased technology development programme. A number of local authorities have run SBIR challenges to identify and develop smart solutions to challenges such as digital engagement, sustainable mobility, water quality and flooding. Other Supports Enterprise funding and business supports are also available from other development agencies such as the Local Enterprise Offices, with a number of schemes co-funded under the Southern and Eastern Regional Operational Programme, managed by the Southern Regional Assembly.
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Investment and Funding It is an objective of the RSES to support local authorities and state bodies and other stakeholders and communities in achieving the drawdown of investment funds, including national rural, urban, technology and climate funds, the EU Regional Operational Programmes and other EU funds available to the Region.
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Smart Growth Initiatives It is an objective to support smart growth initiatives that develop new solutions to existing and future urban challenges, including climate risks in the Region and will support local authorities and other appropriate organisations in the drawdown of climate and smart technology funds. 9.4 | Monitoring and Reporting A comprehensive and transparent monitoring and reporting process will be incorporated as part of the implementation plan for the RSES, based on legislative requirements and involving key stakeholders in the Region. Legislative Requirements The following arrangements for monitoring, reporting and evaluation of the RSES are required by legislation to measure progress: • The Local Government Reform Act 2014 requires that public bodies and local authorities to which Section 22A of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) relates must prepare and submit a report to their relevant regional assembly every two years indicating progress made in supporting objectives, relevant to that body, of the RSES; • Every two years, the Southern Regional Assembly will prepare a monitoring report on the progress made in implementing the overall objectives of the
Southern Regional Assembly | RSES
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