CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CEI) – DIEM Project
Developing Inclusive Education in the Mediterranean – Interreg NEXT MED Programme 2021–2027
Subject: Establishment of a Pool of Pre-Identified Experts and Service Providers – DIEM Project
As part of the DIEM project – Developing Inclusive Education in the Mediterranean, funded by the Interreg NEXT MED Programme, Animed SARL, Partner 4 of the international consortium, launches this Call for Expressions of Interest (CEI) to identify and pre-select experts, companies, and service providers who may be mobilized for the implementation of various project activities.
1. Presentation of Animed and the DIEM Project
Animed is a Tunisian enterprise operating within the social and solidarity economy, specializing in culture, heritage, inclusive training, social innovation, and sustainable territorial development. For several years, Animed has been involved in projects funded by the European Union and international donors, particularly in the areas of training, employability, social inclusion, cultural heritage valorization, and sustainable tourism.
The DIEM project (Developing Inclusive Education in the Mediterranean) aims to improve access to inclusive and quality training services in the field of cultural heritage by reducing social, economic, digital, and territorial inequalities. The project is implemented across six Mediterranean countries (Italy, Spain, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine) and targets three groups:
- Group A – Leaders: university professors and cultural heritage site managers
- Group B – Future Managers: young graduates or researchers in the humanities
- Group C – Local Communities: youth, women, NEETs, and vulnerable groups
2. Objective of the Call for Expressions of Interest
The present Call for Expressions of Interest (CEI) aims to:
- Establish a list of pre-identified service providers and experts (Animed’s Expert Pool) who may be mobilized within the framework of the managerial and technical activities of the DIEM project;
- Identify competencies, experience, and technical capacities available at national and international levels;
- Facilitate the subsequent launch of restricted consultations, direct mandates, requests for quotations, or targeted mission letters, depending on project needs.
Participation in this CEI does not constitute a contractual commitment and does not imply any guarantee of future engagement. However, it allows applicants to be registered as potential service providers for the project.
3. Areas and Categories of Services Sought (Indicative and Non-Exhaustive List)
For the implementation of activities under the Work Packages (WPs):
- WP1: Management and coordination
- WP2: Communication and dissemination
- WP3: Accessible cultural heritage training platform
- WP4: Training of trainers and vulnerable communities
- WP5: Experimentation of innovative and scalable solutions within training courses
Applicants may express their interest in one or more of the following categories:
A – Expertise and Technical Support
- Experts for the facilitation of meetings, workshops, and roundtables
- Technical and methodological assistance
- Support in drafting reports, analytical notes, and deliverables
- Translation and interpretation (FR / EN / AR)
- Expertise in heritage training or vocational training related to cultural heritage
- Expertise in Training of Trainers (ToT)
B – Stakeholder Engagement
- Design and implementation of stakeholder engagement strategies
- Conducting surveys, participatory diagnostics, and local consultations
- Territorial facilitation and community mobilization
C – Communication, Dissemination, and Visibility
- Drafting and dissemination of newsletters
- Design of educational toolkits (practical toolboxes)
- Promotion of events (online and on-site)
- Support for digital and editorial communication
D – Organization of Workshops and Events
- Logistical and operational organization of:
- Workshops to identify training needs in the cultural heritage sector (aimed at reducing the skills gap between training and sector needs)
- Local roundtables
- Identification and mobilization of participants
- Expert moderation and facilitation
E – Digital Expertise and Training Platforms
- Analysis and evaluation of hardware/software solutions and digital training platforms
- Technical support for adapting educational content
F – Training and Content Development
- External expertise for:
- Group A training: sustainable management of heritage sites (management plans, communication plans, marketing strategies, HR needs assessment, continuing staff training, etc.)
- Group A training: business planning and fundraising
- Development of toolkits for Group C: employment and entrepreneurship in the cultural heritage sector
- Training on best practices in sustainable heritage site management with concrete models
- Inclusive approaches and innovative, non-formal pedagogies
- Group C training: entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, etc.
- Participatory approaches (co-design, involvement of local communities, etc.)
- Social design: inclusion, reduction of social and economic barriers, etc.
4. Important Notes
- This CEI does not constitute a call for tenders.
- Only pre-selected service providers may be contacted at a later stage.
- Animed reserves the right not to follow up on all or part of the expressions of interest received.
- Incomplete applications may be rejected.
5. Contractual Procedures (For Selected Experts Only)
Experts and service providers selected through this Call for Expressions of Interest will be integrated into the DIEM project’s pool of pre-identified experts and service providers.
Inclusion in this pool may, depending on project needs and the nature of the assignments, lead to the signature of:
- Framework contracts, defining the general conditions of collaboration, including the legal and contractual framework, the obligations of the parties, confidentiality rules, intellectual property and data protection provisions, ethics and integrity requirements, conflict-of-interest prevention measures, as well as termination and dispute resolution clauses.
- Consultants and experts will be remunerated based on Animed’s fee scale, taking into account the nature of the assignments, the level of expertise, and the available budget, specifying in particular:
– Daily rates;
– Distinctions between national and international assignments.
Final financial conditions will be established in compliance with the financial management rules of the DIEM project and the Interreg NEXT MED Programme.
Inclusion in the pool of experts and service providers does not imply any exclusivity in favor of Animed.
6. Participation Modalities and Conditions
Interested candidates are invited to submit an Expression of Interest dossier including:
- A Letter of Expression of Interest specifying the relevant categories of expertise;
- A presentation of the organization or expert (profile, experience, references);
- A detailed CV (for individual experts);
- A list of similar projects or assignments carried out;
- Basic administrative documents (for companies, if applicable: company registration number, tax identification number);
- A declaration of honor confirming the accuracy of the information provided.
Applications must be submitted electronically to the following addresses: animed.sarl@gmail.com and contact@animed-network.com No later than February 15, 2026.
Email subject line: AMI_DIEM_Animed – Provider Name
7. Indicative Timeline
- Publication of the CEI: January 12, 2026
- Deadline for receipt of Expressions of Interest: February 15, 2026
- Selection period and establishment of the database: Ongoing throughout the project implementation period (expected until the end of 2028, with a possible extension).
8. General Principles
The selection and contracting of service providers will be conducted in accordance with the following principles:
- Transparency and equal treatment;
- Compliance with donor regulations and with the internal procedures of the project and ANIMED.