Finding a partner organisation for an Erasmus+ project can feel a little like using a dating app. Every profile looks professional. Everyone claims to be “experienced,” “passionate,” and “reliable.” Then the Grant Agreement is signed, the first payment arrives, and a partner stops answering emails.
We discussed this in the “Partner Hunting – Red Flags and Green Flags” episode of The Erasmus+ Blueprint. It is worth putting the advice in writing, too. A partner that does not deliver can disrupt project activities, put funding at risk, and damage your organisation’s relationship with its National Agency.
Start with the OID, then check the project history
Organisations registered for Erasmus+ actions managed by National Agencies have an Organisation ID, or OID. Use it to confirm the organisation’s identity and registration details. Then search the Erasmus+ Project Results Platform to see its published projects.
Past participation does not prove that an organisation delivered good work. It does, however, give you a starting point for more useful questions:
- Does the number of projects seem high for the size of its team? Ask who will actually carry out your activities and how their time will be allocated.
- Did the invitation arrive as a generic mass email? Ask why they approached your organisation and what role they see you playing. You can also look for relevant organisations through specialist networks such as EPALE Partner Search.
- Do they claim expertise in every sector? An organisation may work across Adult Education, VET, Youth, and Sport. Ask for concrete examples in the sector that matters to your project.
Red flags to investigate
The instant yes. A serious partner needs time to review its capacity, read the work packages, and decide whether the project fits its mission. If someone agrees within minutes, ask how they assessed the work involved.
Unclear staff or facilities. Who will manage the project? Who will deliver the activities? Where will they take place? If the answers remain vague, request names and location details before making a commitment.
Copy-and-paste communication. If every message sounds as though it could have been sent to a hundred organisations, ask the potential partner to explain its specific contribution to your project and participants.
Financial opacity. Be cautious if a partner requests its full budget share upfront without a clear schedule of activities and payments, or resists an agreement that sets out responsibilities, deliverables, and steps for addressing problems.
Green flags worth prioritising
A strong partner often shows three qualities early in the conversation:
- Pedagogical curiosity. They ask about your learners, your institutional goals, and what participants should be able to do differently afterward—not only how many people you plan to send.
- Operational transparency. They share relevant organisation details, staff experience, and information about facilities. They give specific answers that you can verify.
- A practical understanding of Erasmus+. They can explain how their proposed activities support the programme’s priorities, learning outcomes, and quality standards, rather than simply repeating those terms.
Protecting your consortium
If you are coordinating a KA2 partnership, agree on each partner’s tasks, deliverables, deadlines, and reporting process before submitting the application. The coordinator has specific obligations under the Grant Agreement, so it needs a clear way to monitor both the work and the budget.
Ask prospective partners for examples of previous projects, professional references, or evaluation results they are permitted to share. Put the working arrangements in a Partnership Agreement that covers responsibilities, payment schedules, documentation, and what happens if a partner falls behind. If a change to the consortium becomes necessary after the project starts, check the Grant Agreement and contact the responsible Agency about the required procedure.
Proper partner vetting takes time during proposal development. That time is well spent if it helps you identify a mismatch before the project’s commitments begin. Choose your partners carefully.
This article expands on themes from the “Partner Hunting – Red Flags and Green Flags” episode of The Erasmus+ Blueprint, available on Spotify and YouTube.
