How should the experts assessing projects be contracted, and what should their relation be to the Fund Operator?
According to Article 7.5.2 of the Programme Implementation Agreement, at least one of the experts assessing each project application must be independent of the Fund Operator. This implies that such experts cannot be employed by any of the organisations in the Fund Operator consortium, be member of their boards or the Steering Committee or in other ways closely affiliated with the Fund Operator. As described in chapter 12 of the Fund Operator Manual, the Fund Operator can decide to select the experts either through an open call for tender, or invite them on the basis of previous experience with grant-making CSOs or other funding institutions, as long as the selection is carried out in a clear and transparent manner.