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S2@25: Capturing and Transferring the knowledge of the Strand 2 implementation bodies for improved cooperation and cooperation governance
The S2@25 project is a twenty-four month cross-border project supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
It is being delivered by the Centre for Cross Border Cooperation (Lead Partner), Atlantic Technological University (Partner) and the North South Implementation Bodies (NSIBs, Associated Partners) established under Strand 2 of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement – Foras na Gaeilge, InterTradeIreland, Loughs Agency, Safefood, SEUPB, Tourism Ireland, Ulster-Scots Agency and Waterways Ireland.
The project aims to record the collective impacts of the North South Implementation Bodies and use the learning from that process to improve strategic cross border cooperation in the future.
The overall objective of the project is to record and reflect on the collective impacts of the North South implementation bodies, celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2024. It will identify and disseminate examples of best practice in their cross-border and all-island operations that will improve capacity for cooperation at a strategic level.
Outputs
The main outputs the project will produce include:
- A research report on the cross-border collaborative best practice of the implementation bodies and their experience of overcoming obstacles to their cross-border operations over the past 25 years
- A strategy jointly developed by the implementation bodies setting out how they could effectively contribute to addressing longer-term challenges and priorities shared by the two administrations, and any potential obstacles to their contributions and potential solutions
- A pilot action resulting in the testing of a short course on cross-border collaboration to improve capacity for cooperation through the transfer of relevant skills, and
- Eight organisations cooperating across borders in the development and execution of a demonstration initiative comprising three dissemination events, and in the implementation of the joint strategy.
The long-term impact the project expects to achieve is improved capacity for cooperation and cooperation governance, with the implementation bodies as a collective and their key stakeholders better equipped with a knowledge framework of strategic collaboration that can be applied not only by current actors, but also by those who will be responsible for cooperation in the future.
Project launch
The project launch and first dissemination event took place in Parliament Buildings, Belfast, on Thursday 17 October 2024. It involved our Chair Peter Osborne, Dr Caoimhe Archibald (Finance Minister at the Northern Ireland Executive), Andrew Condon (Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in the Irish Government), Gina McIntyre (Chief Executive of the Special EU Programmes Body), Dr Leeanne O’Hara, Dr Karen Orr, Seán Ó Coinn (Chief Executive of Foras na Gaeilge), Ian Crozier (Chief Executive of the Ulster-Scots Agency) and Aidan Campbell (Research Programme Development Manager at the Centre for Cross Border Cooperation). Read more.
The second dissemination event was held in Armagh on 12 December 2024 when we celebrated the impact of 25 years of the North-South Implementation Bodies. Read the news release, and watch a recording of the event, here.
February 2025
Work on the next stage of the S2@25 project has begun after D’Arcy Smyth & Associates’ (DSA) successful tender bid was approved during the latest meeting of the Project Advisory Board. This next stage of the project will conduct research on the implementation bodies’ collective contribution to both administrations’ shared priorities. The research aims are to identify commonalities between the priorities and relevant strategies of the two administrations on the island of Ireland; identify complementarities between implementation bodies’ strategies and work programmes; and highlight how the implementation bodies can collectively contribute to addressing the administrations’ shared priorities. The research will make a vital contribution to the overall objective of the project to record, reflect and enhance the collective impacts of the implementation bodies and is being led by DSA’s Principal, Michael D’Arcy.
May 2025
Chief Executives and Directors from Foras na Gaeilge, InterTradeIreland, Loughs Agency, Safefood, the Special EU Programmes Body, Tourism Ireland, the Ulster-Scots Agency and Waterways Ireland joined Cormac Devlin TD, Senators and TDs at a third event to mark a further milestone in the Strand 2@25 project.
Speaking in Seanad Éireann (Upper House of the Irish Parliament), Cormac Devlin TD, Cathaoirleach (Chair) of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, said: “Seven cross-border organisations were established in 1999 under Strand 2 of the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement. Tourism Ireland was incorporated in December 2000. Together they have had a positive impact in terms of social, economic, environmental and cooperation.
“I’m delighted to welcome speakers and guests to the Seanad for the S2@25 event which, coincidentally, is on the same day as the first meeting of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.”
Dr Anthony Soares, Director at the Centre, said: “PEACEPLUS funding, and the earlier Interreg funding, have made a significant contribution in addressing peace and reconciliation over the last 40 years. We were delighted to have the support of Foras na Gaeilge, InterTradeIreland, Loughs Agency, Safefood, the Special EU Programmes Body, Tourism Ireland, the Ulster-Scots Agency and Waterways Ireland.
“Our research will critique the collective impacts of their 25 years in operation. We are delighted to be supported by our S2@25 project partner, Atlantic Technological University.”
John McDonagh, Chief Executive of Waterways Ireland, added: “Waterways Ireland is responsible for the management, maintenance, development and restoration of 1,100 km of inland navigable waterways principally for recreational purposes.
“We are also the leading provider of greenways with 650 km of trails, including blueways. We have approximately 3.5 million users of our waterways annually and we have generated value of €809 million in the last 12 months. We are proud of what we have achieved over the past 25 years.
“Through the implementation of our 10-year plan, we are ambitious to grow social, economic and environmental well-being value for the public good, by enabling inspirational waterways experiences for the benefit of all.”
JP O’Doherty, Joint Interim Designated Officer at Loughs Agency, said: “Our participation in the S2@25 project highlights the progress made over the past 25 years through cross-border cooperation under Strand 2 of the Good Friday Agreement.
“As we mark this important milestone, Loughs Agency remains dedicated to the sustainable management of Foyle and Carlingford Loughs, protecting the environment, and contributing to peace and prosperity in our region. This project gives us a chance to build on our achievements and work together for a better future.”
Published Reports
We have two versions of the research report on the cross-border collaborative best practice of the implementation bodies:
This is the full report by Anthony Soares (Director of the Centre for Cross Border Cooperation) and Aidan Campbell (Research Programme Development Manager), part of the S2@25: Capturing and transferring the knowledge of the Strand 2 implementation bodies for improved cooperation and cooperation governance project.
This is the collective impacts version of the report, excluding the individual case studies for each of the North South Implementation Bodies. Authored by Anthony Soares and Aidan Campbell.
The Collective Contribution of Strand 2 Implementation Bodies
Michael D’Arcy examines the collective success of the North South Implementation Bodies and Phase Two of the S2@25 Project. He explores formation and common purpose, administrative resilience, mutually beneficial contribution, and the potential for reset and refresh.
