De facto development: Support to CSOs growth and development

Posted on

June 21, 2021

De facto development: Support to CSOs growth and development

Civil society organisations (CSOs) are key actors in voicing citizens’ attitudes and needs and encouraging active citizenship. They need both financial and non-financial support to continue to grow and make a contribution to building and fostering a democratic society.

This project aimed to build the capacities of CSOs to be professional, effective, accountable, sustainable and independent actors in the development of Montenegrin society. It consisted of three components: support to the growth of medium-sized CSOs in Montenegro; support to the growth of small CSOs in Montenegro; and support to the growth and development of civil society leaders.

The project resulted in the Transformation Roadmap and CSO Development Index for (self)assessment of organisational growth and quality of work. In addition, three Emerging Civil Society Leaders’ Forums (ECSLF) were held with a view to enabling an environment for increasing the impact of civil society, while the project also supported the establishment of the Youth Network of Montenegro. A total of 22 small and medium-sized CSOs were supported through a sub-granting scheme.

Project name:

De facto development: Support to CSOs growth and development

Sector:

Civil Society

Start time:

15/09/2017

End time:

14/09/2020

Location:

Montenegro

Budget:

333660.31€

Beneficiary:

Fund for active citizenship-fAKT

More info:

https://www.faktcg.org/
https://www.aktivizam.me/

News:

Additonal materials:

Grants

I choose a healthy lifestyle

It was implemented by the Eco Centre Dolphin from Kotor, with the aim of improving the knowledge and skills of primary school children in Kotor in respect of the benefits of healthy lifestyles, particularly through cooperation between civil society and educational institutions. The grant helped strengthen cooperation among CSOs and between CSOs and the public sector. It also enhanced the advocacy capacities, knowledge and skills of local CSOs that took part in relevant training courses, as well as environmental awareness about healthy lifestyles among school children who participated in educational and practical training sessions.

Lake Šas – the untouched resource of Ulcinj

It was implemented by Green Step from Ulcinj, with the aim of analysing the current situation the area of Lake Šas and initiating further steps towards its protection. Thanks to this sub-grant, the organisation improved its capacities and visibility. It also conducted research and prepared recommendations with respect to the efficiency of the management of Lake Šas. Furthermore, a roundtable discussion with representatives of national authorities and green CSOs helped define an initiative for renewing the procedure for declaring Lake Šas a protected area, which was submitted to the Municipality of Ulcinj for adoption.

Sound Source

It was implemented by the Student Active Frequency of Radio Avant-Gard – SAFRA from Podgorica, with the aim of creating equal opportunities for study and activism for visually impaired students. Some of the activities included recording relevant audio books and setting up a site with an audio library, as well as initiating a constructive dialogue and raising awareness about their needs. Being recognised as student radio station, with this sub-grant SAFRA enhanced its capacities and expanded its horizons towards people with visual impairment. It signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Association of the Blind of Montenegro and tailored its services to the needs of the visually impaired. In addition, the grant also helped design and launch the Sound Source digital platform for the visually impaired, which will serve as a database for future beneficiaries.

The environment is very important – let’s protect it urgently

It was implemented by LEGALIS, an NGO based in Pljevlja, with the aim of motivating the citizens of Pljevlja to take part in environment protection. LEGALIS established cooperation with the Municipality of Pljevlja and distributed around 50 led panels with educational brochures on environment and climate change. In addition, around 200 young people were directly involved in environmental protection activities in the most polluted municipality in Montenegro, which included educational workshops, community clean-up activities and the planting of 40 trees in the central part of Pljevlja.

Healthy and good connections

It was implemented by the Civic Creative Centre from Cetinje, with the aim of building the capacities of youth from volunteer clubs and/or youth clubs in Tivat, Budva, Cetinje, Berane, Nikšić, Danilovgrad, Podgorica and Tuzi in terms of peer education on sexual and reproductive rights. This sub-grant helped present an online counseling service for young people and increased their awareness about risky behaviors. It directly reached 250 young people from the above-mentioned municipalities, but the outreach was much wider as the Civic Creative Center conducted an intensive social media campaign. Also, the sub-grant facilitated capacity building training on financial management and philanthropy.

Protect nature, don’t waste energy

It was implemented by the Youth Civic Initiative from Rožaje, with the aim of raising public awareness about the importance of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources in Rožaje. The local community was informed and educated about the topic through a social media campaign and a special brochure on energy efficiency measures. Furthermore, more than 100 trees were planted in a joint activity involving local schools, institutions and civil society organisations. The sub-grant helped increase public interest in taking part in environmental protection, especially among youth, as more than 150 students from 5 schools attended thematic workshops and expressed willingness to be actively involved in similar activities.

#DoMoreBeMore

It was implemented by the Centre for Youth Education from Podgorica, with the aim of establishing mechanisms for developing and supporting youth activism at the national and local levels in the areas of importance for young people. This involved support for youth empowerment and networking by fostering youth participation, social inclusion, information and mobility. The sub-grant helped strengthen the capacities of the Centre for Youth Education and promote socially responsible programmes for young people through different events, as well as via the web, social media and traditional media. Furthermore, youth in Montenegro gained insight into all the benefits the European Youth Card (EYC). Thanks to the sub-grant, a total of 500 cards were made and distributed in Podgorica and in the north of the country.

An initiative to suppress the “imposed fate”

It was implemented by the Centre for Roma Initiatives from Nikšić, with the aim of enabling Roma and Egyptian girls to enjoy the rights defined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child through proper application of the legislative framework in combating early marriages. This sub-grant helped the NGO to improve its organisational knowledge and skills, including on project proposal writing. Furthermore, a public campaign against early marriages of Roma and Egyptian girls was conducted in Podgorica and Nikšić. In addition, an initiative to amend Article 444 of the the Criminal Code of Montenegro with regard to entering into an unlawful marriage was prepared and submitted by the Ministry of Justice.

Using occupational therapy: rolling wool in day care centres for children and youth with disabilities

It was implemented by Oaza, an NGO based in Bijelo Polje, with the aim of contributing to the development of social inclusion, particularly by improving the quality of social services to support community life and strengthening the capacity of the organisation to facilitate the rights of children and youth with disabilities. The sub-grant also helped the NGO to develop a training programme for work and occupational therapy with persons with disabilities involving the use of wool in creating therapeutic aids, which targeted representatives of parents' associations and social care public institutions. The programme was submitted for accreditation with the Institute for Social and Child Protection.

Youth for youth

It was implemented by Pro Futuro from Nikšić, with the aim of improving the position of young people, their personal and social development, and participation in social processes important for their further prosperity. This sub-grant helped increase youth participation in the creation and implementation of different cultural contents. A total of 30 young volunteers participated in the organisation of Bedem Fest. Also, the grant helped organise different training sessions on strategic marketing planning in arts and culture, integrated marketing communications, PR skills, logistics and introduction to legal and administrative procedures with a view to advancing the knowledge and skills of young people and their position in society.

Volunteer, be a friend!

It was implemented by the Staze association from Podgorica, with the aim of raising awareness about the needs of children and youth with disabilities by developing volunteer services and informing and recruiting volunteers to socialise with them. With this sub-grant, Staze improved its capacities and trained youth volunteers to work with youth with disabilities. With the help of trained volunteers, 26 children and young people, affiliated with Staze, received support and increased their cultural and social involvement within the community.

Women Matters

It was implemented by the “Urban Nova“ Herceg Novi, with an aim to improve cooperation between civil society organisations and representatives of the private sector in order to advance gender equality in local policies and practices. Within this sub-grant, online campaign, performance, exhibition, as well as workshops to exchange knowledge between CSOs, institutions, activists and artists were organised. Furthermore, research was conducted and the publication “Women Matters”, which promotes and affirms women’s creativity and activist heritage in Boka Kotorska Bay, was issued.

#howareyou

It was implemented by the Youth centre “Proactive” Podgorica, with an aim to explore the problems in the field of mental health of youth, address these issues with a participatory youth support and improve the internal structure and competencies of the organisational membership. During its implementation period, an online counselling centre and a website www.kakosi.me were established; and over 350 young people took part in workshops, presentations and counselling.

Active and Responsible for Themselves and the Community

It was implemented by the Association of Young Ecologists Niksic, with an aim to build capacity of the organisation and contribute to community development. The Action Plan adopted, the Strategic Plan created, and modern portal established enhanced the organisational capacity. Also, thanks to this sub-grant, the organisation better positioned itself towards decision-makers and established a volunteer service of “greeters”.

Developing a Security System and access to Justice for the LGBTIQ Community”

It was implemented by the LGBT Forum Progres Podgorica, with an aim to build organisational capacity for service provision and advocacy work via developing new web platform and improved community-based services, as well as trainings for strengthening in-house capacity for project cycle management. The LGBT Forum Progres increased its outreach and strengthened its capacities in areas of importance for the daily life of the LGBTIQ community. Within this sub-grant were conducted trainings on project cycle management, financial activities and planning, and new technical and technological solutions; as well as lectures on human rights, NGOs activism, media, psychology, law and justice. Also, legal aid and support was continuously provided, and the LGBT Forum Progres continued cooperation with the institutions in the field of legal and criminal damage protection of LGBTIQ people in Montenegro.

By developing the capacity for better services in the Snail’s Shell

It was implemented by the Association of Parents of Children and Youth with Disabilities “Snail Shell” Budva, with an aim to support development of the strategic plan of the organisation, participation in trainings in the field of project management, and licensing of social services for children with disabilities. Within this sub-grant, an expert-led Strategic Plan for a period 2020-2022 was developed and adopted; Memorandum on Cooperation with Daily Centre for children with disabilities in Budva signed; and service provision of the organisation improved.

ALFA Center Volunteer Club

It was implemented by the ALFA Centar Niksic, with an aim to contribute to its organisational development through establishment of ALFA Center Volunteer Club and organising several volunteer actions, training and study visit to relevant local and national institutions and organisations. Thanks to this sub-grant, the Volunteer Club was established and 20 young volunteers were recruited and trained. Additionally, the annual award for local (Niksic) Volunteer of the Year was successfully organised for the first time. In addition to promoting volunteerism, it also contributed to increased cross-sectoral cooperation, and even better public image of the organisation.

Improving the capacity and sustainability of the Center for the Children’s Rights of Montenegro

It was implemented by the Center for Children’s Rights Podgorica, with an aim to develop a fundraising strategy for the organisational sustainability; and create preconditions for obtaining the License for Supported Housing Service for youth upon leaving the home “Mladost” in Bijela, for children without parental care. Through development and launching of a web portal for online consultations, the Center for Children’s Rights Podgorica additionally innovated its services in accordance to the needs of beneficiaries. The organisation also amended its strategic documents with the “Strategy for Fundraising Action Plan”, developed by an expert.

Improving Community Living Support Services using assistive technology

It was implemented by the Association of parents of children with disabilities- “Zracak nade” Pljevlja, with an aim to develop community living service by using assistive technology and preparing the program for official accreditation with relevant authorities. During its implementation period, a special conference on assistive technology was organized in Podgorica. Thanks to the use of assistive technology, the quality of the services of the organisation was improved and the Program for the use of assistive technology in working with children and youth with disabilities in associations and institutions of social care was developed and accredited.

Strengthening the capacity of Ecological movement Ozon

It was implemented by the Ecological movement “OZON” Niksic, with an aim to enhance the capacity of the organisation and other stakeholders involved in the negotiation process for Chapter 27 on Environment. With this sub-grant, visibility and media presence of the organisation increased, as well as its organisational capacity. Knowledge and skills of the OZON’s staff and associates improved in the areas of circular economy, waste management, eco-psychology, effective communication and information dissemination. Also, 2 directions of potential income-generating activities were identified: managing protected areas; and providing consultancy services regarding information and public participation in decision-making and eco-strategic marketing.

Establishing a home-care assistance service for children and youth with disabilities and strengthening the capacity of Nardos

It was implemented by the National Association of Parents of Children and Youth with Disabilities in Montenegro – NARDOS Podgorica, with an aim to enhance capacity of the organisation and develop home-care assistance service to meet the standards needed for its official accreditation by the relevant state authority. Through this sub-grant, the NARDOS worked on standardization of home-care assistance service for children and adults with disabilities. It also supported development of the training program for this service. Final activity of the sub-grant was piloting the service for the duration of two months. It resulted in so-called monitoring lists, which served as the base for developing individualized work plans for seven beneficiaries.

Improving the organisational capacity of Local Democracy Agency

It was implemented by the Agency for Local Democracy Niksic (LDA), with an aim to enhance capacity of the organisation, develop a research pool and design transparency index for local self-governments. With this sub-grant, the LDA made significant progress in re-organising itself. Its basic strategic documents (statute, strategic plan, fundraising strategy and media plan) were re-defined; and better visibility and communication with the media and general public were achieved. Also, the LDA introduced innovative mechanisms to support youth participation in decision-making processes and developed methodology for measuring the transparency of the work of local self-governments in Montenegro.

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