The Government introduced arrangements whereby ESF and required match funding are channelled to providers in a single funding stream. Bodies that do that, having been allocated funds direct from the Government Office, are called co-financing organisations (CFOs). CFOs are charged with delivering through competitive tendering the priorities and target groups identified for support in the Regional Development Plan and Foreword to the Plan. It is envisaged that co-financing will lead to reduced bureaucracy and administration for providers and help promote greater coherence, co-ordination and targeting of provision.
