European Commission, for current programming period 2007-2013 of the Structural Funds, underline the importance of the communication actions, highlighting the need of implementing such actions starting from a planning, realization, monitoring and evaluation process which is co-shared by all interested stakeholders. Formez, who support Italian Managing Authorities on Information and Communication plans, has implemented an experimentation with the aim of testing the applicability of Project Cycle Management (PCM) methodology to the drawing of the Information and Communication Plans.  The experimentation took place by Sicily Region (in the South of Italy) on 2006 and was implemented in a three-days workshop, during which the key players of the Regional Operational Programme of Sicily Region (all the different stakeholders ) were invited to identify the Information and Communication problems of the interventions co-funded by Structural Funds in 2000-2006 programming period in order to identify future strategies and objectives.

 In October, November, and December 2006, Formez has carried out intensive classroom and long-distance training activities on Project Cycle Management, for Sardinians involved in integrated project design. The guidelines’ handbook concerning Integrated Development Projects (made available by the Managing Authority of the Regional Operative Programme) foresaw the use of PCM methodology, as well as the use of participatory design for drafting projects, to be carried out through the adaptation of the GOPP method. In order to facilitate the work of those (public administration and private sector workers) involved in designing integrated projects and guaranteeing a homogeneous working scheme, we have set up classroom training activities (i.e. 19 days on territory which involved roughly 500 people and 7 facilitators!) in reference to PCM and GOPP methodology.