Setting the goal, paving the way for the next steps and growing together as a team were the main objectives of the first SocialFinanceLab Transnational Project Meeting (1TNM), which was held on 2 and 3 November 2020. Thanks to online conferencing tools, an engaging agenda, and enthusiastic participants, a solid starting point for the project was established.
Discussions on day one delved into areas including the overall goal of the project, the two planned intellectual outputs (IO), the project communication and dissemination plan, as well as the team's project monitoring and evaluation strategy. The day ended on a hight note with a brainstorming session contributing to the creation of a mission statement for the project.
Day two of the meeting began with a briefing on how the team can best work together based on the findings of a survey that all participants completed after day one of the meeting. The bulk of the time, however was spent discussing the details of the four phases to completion of the first intellectual output (IO1). IO1 compiles and analyses the background, current status, and availability of learning and training opportunities on social finance, with a focus on where the gaps are. IO1 will provide insights to ensure that the second phase of SocialFinanceLab- the creation of IO2- is on target to maximize our impact.
Despite the challenges that COVID-19 posed- namely, the need to move the meeting online instead of meeting in person- the first 1TNM was a success.
