We recommend that:

• governance arrangements for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) should be delivered through existing Northern Ireland departmental structures;
• the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland should designate for the purposes of Section 75 the UK Government Department(s) responsible for the delivery of SPF funding in Northern Ireland;
• the government department responsible for the delivery of SPF funding in Northern Ireland, if designated, should show leadership and commitment in fulfilling its Section 75 duties, in the context of carrying out its functions in this area.

We recommend that:

• the UK Department/s involved in delivering SPF funding in Northern Ireland should put in place formal structures for collaboration with relevant government departments in Northern Ireland and follow best practice with regards to the promotion of equality of opportunity and good relations in the allocation of funding across Section 75 grounds, aligned with local needs and priorities;
• the Government Department responsible for delivering SPF funding in Northern Ireland should urgently ensure effective partnership working and engagement with key stakeholders, including with equality stakeholders and groups in Northern Ireland and follow best practice in terms of engagement with equality groups. This should include in relation to a) the design and implementation of the funding and b) engaging with the Department for the Economy and SEUPB on best practice in consultation;
• the Government Department responsible for delivering SPF funding in Northern Ireland should ensure the collection and monitoring of robust equality data across all Section 75 groups, including disaggregated data, as well as ensuring the effective monitoring of outcomes related to equality and good relations.

We recommend that:

• the UK Government should urgently provide greater clarity on how the SPF will ensure continued support for the promotion of equality of opportunity and good relations in Northern Ireland, including for some of the more disadvantaged groups;
• the SPF should, on an ongoing basis, support projects for 3 years or longer;
• there should be no reduction in previous levels of funding available under the ESF;
• continuation funding and bridging arrangements should be provided until the SPF is operational to avoid a financial ‘cliff-edge’ or break in funding, including for those organisations working with Section 75 groups that received Call 3 funding. Once operational, the SPF should include timelines that avoid gaps between funded programmes;
• the Government Department responsible for delivering SPF funding in Northern Ireland should ensure that the funding processes and auditing requirements are simplified, where possible, and measures are put in place to support organisations applying for funding, especially for smaller organisations. However, any simplification should not detract from the need for transparent and objective criteria, fair processes and the ability to monitor equality outcomes.

 
Specifically, there is a need for greater clarity on the arrangements for the SPF, including:

1. how the objectives of the SPF will support and the criteria that will be used to measure these equality objectives
2. the exact nature of the relationship between the Community Renewal Fund and the SPF
3. match funding requirements, including what percentage of matched funding organisations will be required to obtain
4. accountability and reporting mechanisms.

We recommend that:

• the SPF should include aims to promote equality and social inclusion, and combat poverty in Northern Ireland, and address the particular local needs of Section 75 equality groups, including those who are most marginalised and disadvantaged;
• the SPF should include transparent, objective criteria for eligibility and award and have adequate monitoring and accountability systems in place, including to ensure the effective promotion of equality of opportunity and good relations;
• there should be arrangements in the SPF to support sick leave and maternity leave for persons in funded posts, in line with domestic legal requirements;
• the SPF should measure both tangible and ‘soft’ outcomes, including ‘distance travelled’ metrics, particularly in areas relating to the promotion of equality of opportunity and good relations;
• the SPF should support apprenticeships in Northern Ireland, taking into account Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances. Should the SPF not include provisions to support apprenticeships, the Commission recommends that the Northern Ireland Executive should provide assurances that apprenticeships in Northern Ireland will continue to be funded.

We recommend that:

• the Government department delivering SPF funding in Northern Ireland should identify any wider structural barriers to equality experienced by Section 75 groups (for example, lack of affordable, quality childcare) and take mitigating measures that will help lessen the impact of these barriers;
• the Northern Ireland Executive and relevant Northern Ireland Departments should develop and implement wider strategies to address these structural barriers experienced by Section 75 groups.

We recommend that:

• the Northern Ireland Executive and Northern Ireland Departments should clarify how the needs of people from different equality groups, who have been supported through European funding, particularly ESF, will be supported by the Executive in the future, address any potential shortfall in funding, and incorporate ‘lessons learnt’ into future funding programmes.

We recommend that:

• the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) should publish an evaluation of the Community Renewal Fund, as soon as possible, to inform the continuing development and outworking of the SPF and include details on how equality of opportunity and good relations have been considered and promoted and which Section 75 groups have benefitted;
• the DLUHC should clarify the allocation of just under 3% of funding in Levelling Up to Northern Ireland. Given levels of greater need in Northern Ireland and the objectives of the Levelling Up Fund, proportionately greater resources would be necessary to support equality of opportunity and good relations in the region;
• there should be ongoing evaluation of the Levelling Up Fund to include details on how equality of opportunity and good relations have been considered and promoted and which Section 75 groups have benefitted;
• the Northern Ireland Executive provides bridging arrangements to ensure there is no gap in funding between the end of PEACE IV funding and commencement of the PEACEPLUS programme;
• in line with the SEUPB’s commitment, PEACEPLUS funding should enable smaller organisations to access funding provision.