Overview of TACSO achievements Compiled by Jasenka Perović
July 2013www.tacso.org
This project is fundedby the European Union
The European Union (EU) funded project Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations (TACSO) has for four years (2009-2013) worked on the main objective to strengthen the overall capacities and accountability of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) within the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) beneficiaries and to guarantee the quality of services of CSOs and a sustainable role of CSOs in the democratic process.
OVERVIEW OF TACSO ACHIEVEMENT
Compiled by Jasenka PerovićJuly 2013
2 TACSO Project | Overview of TACSO achievement - www.tacso.org
LIST OF ABBREVIOTIONS
ABA TheAlbanianBlindAssociationAEC Assemblée Européenne des CitoyensAL AlbaniaASB Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland eVASE Albania Social Enterprises ForumBCSDN Balkan Civil Society Development NetworkBeWMAN Balkan e-Waste Management NetworkBiH Bosnia and HerzegovinaBIOM AssociationforBiologicalResearchBON Balkan Organic NetworkBRESN BalkanRegionalEarlySupportNetworkCARDS CommunityAssistanceforreconstruction,DevelopmentandStabilisationCBC Cross Border ProgrammeCCSD CouncilforCivilSocietyDevelopmentCEID AssociationforMonitoringGenderQualityCELOR CentreforLocaldevelopmentCfPs CallsforProposalsCHP Republicanpeople’sPartyCISS MetamorphosisandCitizensofMacedoniaCONCORD EuropeanNGOConfederationforReliefandDevelopmentCPE CommissionerforProtectionofEqualityCRDP CentreforResearch,DocumentationandPublicationCSDev Civil Society DevelopmentCS Civil SocietyCSF Civil Society FacilityCSO CivilSocietyOrganisationsCSSA GovernmentAgencyforSupportingCivilSocietyCTCS YouthNetworkagainstCommercialSexualExploitationofChildrenDACU OfficefortheEUIntegrationsofSerbiaDEI DirectorateforEUintegrationsDGELARG DirectorateGeneralforEnlargementDoA DepartmentofAssociationsProvincialDirectorsECAS EuropeanCitizensActionserviceECLO EuropeanCommissionLiaisonOfficeECOSOC HeadoftheEuropeanEconomicandSocialCommittee’sEDROM EdirneRomaAssociationEIDHR EuropeanInstrumentforDemocracyandHumanRightsEMI EuropeanMovementInternationalENGOs Environmentalnon-governmentalorganisationsERRC TheEuropeanRomaRightCentreEU European UnionEUD DelegationofEuropeanUnionEUSG SecretariatGeneralforEUAffairsFPA Framework Partnership AgreementFYRP RomaYouthProgrammeGCDO TheGjirokastraConservationandDevelopmentOrganisationGOfCNGOs GovernmentOfficeforCooperationwithNGOsGONG CitizensSupervisingVotinginanorganizedmannerGTZ GermanAgencyforTechnicalCooperation
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HandiKOS AssociationofParaplegicsandParalysedChildreninKosovoHD Help deskHR CroatiaHUP CroatianEmployers’AssociationsICT InformationandCommunicationTechnologyIPA InstrumentforPre-AccessionAssistanceISC InstituteforSustainableCommunitiesISDY SustainabilityandDevelopmentofYouthISO InternationalOrganisationforStandardisationKAOSGL KaosGayandLesbianCulturalResearch–SolidarityAssociationKEPAD HumanRightsDefenceCentreKS KosovoKUZKA TheNorthAnatolianDevelopmentAgencyLAG LocalAdvisoryGroupLF LogicalframeworkLFA Logical Framework ApproachLGBT Lesbian,gay,bisexualandtransgenderedLOD LocalDemocracyprojectMB Multi-beneficiaryMK MacedoniaMN MontenegroMOBDER TheAssociationofFurnitureIndustrialists,ImportersandExportersMPs MembersofParliamentMTCYS MinistryofTourism,Culture,YouthandSportsNeLP NetworkofLawHIVPrevalenceCountriesNGOs Non-governmentalorganisationsOGG OfficeofGoodGovernanceOKORUZ QualityAssuranceofYouthWorkintheCommunityOPM OfficeofthePrimeMinisterOSCE OrganisationforSecurityandco-operationinEuropePADOR PotentialApplicantDataOnlineRegistrationPCM ProjectCycleManagementPQASSO PracticalQualityAssuranceSystemforSmallOrganisationsPRAG PracticalGuidetoContractProceduresforEUExternalActionP2P People to PeopleQAS QualityAssuranceSystemRO RegionalofficeROM ResultsOrientedMonitoringRS SerbiaRTP RegionalTrainingProgrammeSAP StabilisationandAssociationProcessSAPD StabilisationAssociationProcessDialogueSE Social enterprisesSeConS DevelopmentInitiativeGroupSEECHANGENET SouthEastEuropeanChangeNetSEEPRA SoutheastEuropeanPolicyResearchAssociationSEIO SerbianOfficeforEUIntegrationsSEKO SectoralorganisationofcivilsocietySEP Socio-Economic Partnership ProgramSOKNO QualityAssuranceSystemforNon-profitOrganisationsSTE Short-term Expert
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STGM CentreforCivilSocietyDevelopmentTA TechnicalassistanceTACSO TechnicalAssistanceforCivilSocietyOrganisationsToR TermsofReferenceToT TrainingofTrainersTR TurkeyTÜBİDER ITIndustryAssociationTÜSEV ThirdSectorFoundationUNDP UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgrammeUSAID U.S.AgencyforInternationaldevelopmentVAT ValueaddedtaxZID AssociationforDemocraticProsperityWBT WesternBalkanandTurkey
ThisdocumenthasbeenproducedwiththeassistanceoftheEuropeanUnion.ThecontentsofthisdocumentarethesoleresponsibilityofTACSOandcan innowaybetakentoreflecttheviewsof theEuropeanUnion.ThecontentofthisdocumentisconsideredinternalandmaybedistributeduponapprovaloftheTACSOTeamLeader. Ifyouuse thismaterial,pleaseciteTACSOas thesource,and include theWebpage fromwhich thematerialwastaken.Ifyoureproducethetextofthedocumentpleasecitetheoriginalcontributingauthorsandtheirorganisations.
Introduction
Component1:ProjectVisibility
Project Visibility - Phase one of TACSO
Project Visibility - Phase two of TACSO
Component2:Research,HelpDeskandGuidance
Research, Help Desk and Guidance - Phase one of TACSO
Research, Help Desk and Guidance - Phase two of TACSO
Component3–CapacityDevelopment Capacity Development - Phase one of TACSO
Capacity Development - Phase two of TACSO
Component4:RelationshipbetweenCSOsandExternalStakeholders
CSOs and External Stakeholders - Phase one of TACSO
CSOs and External Stakeholders - Phase two of TACSO
COMPONENT5:RegionalDimension
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TheEuropeanUnion(EU)fundedprojectTechnicalAssistanceforCivilSocietyOrganisations(TACSO)hasbeenimplementedforthepastfouryears(August2009–August2013).TheprojectispartoftheCivilSocietyFacility(CSF)whoseaimistostrengthencivilsocietywithinaparticipativedemocracy,aswellastostimulateacivilsociety-friendly‘environment’andcultureinalltheInstrumentforPre-AccessionAssistance(IPA)beneficiarycountries,i.e.Albania(AL),BosniaandHerzegovina(BiH),Croatia(HR),Kosovo*(KS),theFormerYugoslavRepublicofMacedonia(MK),Montenegro(MN),Serbia(RS)andTurkey(TR).
Theproject’sgeneralobjectiveistostrengthentheoverallcapacitiesandaccountabilityofCivilSocietyOrganisations(CSOs)withintheIPAbeneficiarycountriesandtoguaranteethequalityofservicesofCSOsandasustainableroleofCSOsinthedemocraticprocess,withthepurposetoincreaseandimprovethecapacityandactionsofCSOsaswellastheirdemocraticrole.Itisexpectedthatbytheendoftheproject:
• theprojectitselfandCSOs’roleindemocraticprocesseswillbevisibletothegeneralpubliconthenationalandregionallevel;
• CSOs’servicedeliveryinrelationtodemocraticprocessesonthenationalandregionallevelwillbeimproved;
• SOs’competencestoaccomplishtheirmissiononthenationalandregionallevelwillbeenhanced; and
• cooperationanddialoguebetweenCSOsandthegovernmentaswellastheprivateandpublicsectoronthenationalandregionallevelwillbestrengthened.
Withintheproject’ssetobjectives,therearetwomajordimensions:1)torespondtothespecificneedsofthecountries.i.e.CSOs,coveredbytheprojectwithinthecontextoftheobjectives;and2)topullthewholeregioninthedirectionofdesiredchangessetbytheCSF.
Inordertomeettheobjectivesanddimensionsoftheproject,thefollowingprojectstructurewasestablished:
1.aRegionalOffice(RO)whoseroleistocoordinatetheworkofthenationaloffices;provideguidanceinprojectoperations,communicationandstrategicaspects;liaisewiththeDirectorateGeneralforEnlargement(DGELARG);anddevelopanddelivercapacitydevelopmentandinformationsharingthroughregionaleventsandguidelines;
2.ninenationaloffices,withoneofficepercountry(twoinTurkeyduetothecountry’ssize)whoseroleistosupportandaddresstheCSOs’needsintheircountryrelatedtocapacitydevelopmentandtheCSOenablingenvironment;liaisewiththegovernmentrepresentativesresponsibleforcooperationwiththeCSOs,representativesoftheEUDelegations,membersoftheLocalAdvisoryGroup(LAG),stafffromtheotherTACSOnationaloffices,theRegionalOfficeandDGELARGwhenneeded.
Inadditionandcomplementarytothecoreprojectstructure,LAGswereestablishedineachcountrywhereTACSOisoperating.TheLAGsconsistofrepresentativesfromCSOs,thegovernmentandotherstakeholdersrelevanttocivilsocietysuchasthemedia,donorsandtheprivatesector.TheLAGs’roleistoserveasa‘corrective’measuretotheactivitiesandservicesdeliveredbyTACSO,i.e.itisa‘bounceback’bodyagainstwhichTACSOcantestwhetherornotplannedprojectideas,concepts,andactivitieswilltrulycorrespondtoCSOs’needs.
*Thisdesignationiswithoutprejudicetopositionsonstatus,andisinlinewithUNSCR1244andtheICJOpinionontheKosovodeclarationofindependence.2HereinafterreferredtoasMacedonia
Introduction
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Additionally,throughtheLAGS,TACSOhasensuredthatthereisgreaterparticipationintheplananddesignofactivitiesandservices.
Afterfouryearsofprojectimplementation,itisinterestingtolearnthat,perhapsduetoitsstructure,TACSOhasgrownintoaninterestingparadigmofaregionalproject,whileatthesametimemaintainingthatitisasmuchanationalprojectasitisaregionalproject.TACSOhasmanaged,toalargeextent,torespondtoCSOs’needsineachTACSOcountrywithoutjeopardizingtheregionaldimensionandyetwhendealingwithregionalinitiativesithasnotneglectedthenationalneeds.Moreover,nationalneedsareportrayedintotheregionalinitiativesandsomenationalinitiativesareanaturalfollowuptotheinitiativescomingfromtheregionaldimension.
TheTACSOprojecthasimplementedanumberofactivitiessince2009,whichcanbegroupedaroundtheproject’sfourmaincomponents:
1.ProjectandCSOvisibility;2.SupportservicestoCSOs:research,helpdeskandguidance;3.DevelopmentofCSO’scapacities;and4.ImprovementofthecooperationofCSOswiththegovernmentandotherstakeholders.
Thepurposeofthisreportistocaptureandreflectonwhathasbeenachievedwithintheproject’ssetobjectives,inregardstothenationalandregionalcontext.Theinformationpresentedinthereporthasbeencompiledfromquarterlyandinterimreports,whichweredevelopedduringtheprojectimplementationonaregularbasis;andfromotherreports,surveysandevaluationscarriedoutbyexternalshort-termexpertshiredbyTACSO.Itisimportanttomentionthatthereportiswrittensixmonthsbeforetheendoftheprojectsonotallactivitiesorachievementsareincludedinthereport.
FindingsonTACSO’sachievementsaregroupedperprojectcomponent,withthedifferencethatanadditionalcomponentisadded,theregionaldimension,withthereasonbeingtounderlinetheaddedbenefitsoftheproject’sregionaldimension.Hadthereportbeenwrittenagainstonlythefourprojectcomponents,thewealthofTACSO’sachievementsinthenationalcontextswouldhavebeenpresented,buttheimportantbenefits,thecomparativeadvantageoftheprojectderivingfromitsregionaldimension,wouldremaininsufficientlyperceptible.
Thereportiswritteninsuchawaythatitrespondstothepreferencesandtimeavailableofeachpotentialreader.Forthosewhodonothavetimetoreadamassivedocumentwithnumerouspages,eachcomponentisprecededbyagraphicaloverviewofthemajorachievementsofthecomponent.ForthosewhoaremoreinterestedtoengageinTACSO’sjourneyoverthepastfouryears,eachcomponentofthereportoffersagreaterlevelofdetailsrelatedtotheachievementsineachcountryandtheregion.
ThereporthasbeencompiledandwrittenbyTACSOCSOEUexpert,JasenkaPerovic.
PalleWestergaardTeam Leader Sarajevo,July2013
www.tacso.org - Overview of TACSO achievement |TACSO Project 7
www.tacso.org - Information Events and Trainings Country-Based Overview Report |TACSO Project 3
UnderComponent1ofphaseoneofTACSO,theobjectivewasthattheprojectwouldbecomevisibleforandwouldbesupportedbybothCSOsandotherexternalstakeholders.Bytheendofphaseone,thefollowingwasachieved:
1.1. Developed the TACSO brand as well as the enti re infrastructure and system for informati on sharing among CSOs in the region in regards to matt ers concerning the CSO community.
AccordingtothebrandingsurveysconductedinMacedoniaandBosniaandHerzegovinain2010,100percentofthosepolledinMacedoniaand89percentofthosepolledinBiHhaveheardofTACSO.AccordingtomediamonitoringbyTACSOnationaloffices,TACSOhasappeared459timesindifferentmediaintheregionduringTACSOPhaseOne.
COMPONENT 1: PROJECT VISIBILITYProject Visibility - Phase one of TACSO
# of press clippings / country / reporti ng period – TACSO Phase One
Interim 1 Interim 2 Interim 3
AL 0 1 17
BiH 7 11 30
HR 0 8 116
KS 6 11 1
MN 7 24 10
MK 4 20 24
RS 15 7 27
TR 0 67 43
Table 1. Press clippings reported by TACSO offi ces per interim report
ThenucleusofthedevelopmentoftheTACSObrandconsistedoffi ve main components:
1.DevelopmentoftheTACSOcommunicationstrategy-TACSOdevelopedacommunicationstrategythatwasusedbyeachTACSOofficeandprovidedgeneralguidanceaswellasaplanningframeworkforeachtechnicalassistance(TA)desk’sinteractionwithmedia.Inseveralcases,thestrategywasadaptedtothenationalcontextandmediasituation.
2.Establishmentofanetworkofcontacts-OneoftheinitialandimportanttasksfortheTA/helpdesks(HD)wastheestablishmentandsubsequentmanagementofcontactnetworksembracingtheCSOcommunity,relevantgovernmentinstitutions,mediarepresentatives,theprivatesectorandotherstakeholders.Thekick-offsofferedtheteamsanopportunitytoestablishinitialcontactswithalmost1,800CSOs.
www.tacso.org - Overview of TACSO achievement |TACSO Project 9
Thesecontactshave,inmanycases,beencomplementedbyeffortstomeetwithsmallergroupsoforganisationsorevenindividualCSOs.Arangeofinformationandpartnershipevents,individualconsultationsandotherinitiativeshavecontributedtotheexpansionofthenetwork.Therefore,thenumberofCSOsdirectly contacted by TACSO grew to 5,700in12to15monthsafterthekick-offmeetings.ApartfromthegovernmentalbodiesinchargeofcooperationwithCSOs,TACSOestablishedcontactswithapproximately60 additionalgovernmentalinstitutionsaswellaswithallrelevantnationalandlocalmediarepresentatives.
Inaddition,addressregisterswereestablishedthatincludeatotalof11,949e-mailaddressesfromalleightTACSOnationalofficesand730fromTACSOregionaloffices.
# of addresses registered to the TACSO mailing list – TACSO Phase One
Interim 1 Interim 2 Interim 3
RO 400 730
AL 700 730 750
BiH 400 520 659
HR 240 604 826
KS 250 700 700
MN 435 600 600
RS
560 660 1056MK
600 812 1630
TR 3500 4500 5028
6685 9526 11979
Table 2. Overview of the increase of addresses registered to the TACSO mailing lists
3.Developmentofpromotionalmaterialandpublicrelations/communicationactivities-Substantialeffortshavebeenmadebothattheregionalofficeleveland,inparticular,byeachTAdesktoproducepromotionalmaterials.AllmaterialsareproducedwiththeTACSObrandingconceptandinclude:
• TACSOprojectbrochuresfortheregionalofficesandallnationalofficesinvariouslanguageversions.• ProjectflyersandbannersinEnglishandnationallanguages,roll-uppostersforthekick-offevents,pens,
notebooks,stickers,signposts,letterheadswithlogo,envelopeswithlogo,andsimilaritems.• SpecialbrochuresongrantopportunitiesforCSOsinKosovoandleafletsonhelpdeskactivitiesin
MacedoniawereproducedbytheindividualTAteams.
4.Aunifiedsystemforproductionofnewsletters-Establishedatotalof42newslettersproducedbytheTACSOnationalofficesand28e-newslettersproducedbytheTACSORegionalOffice.
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5.DevelopmentandupdatingoftheTACSOWebsite-theWebpage,althoughregional,isalsoadaptedtonationalcontextscontainingpartsinnationallanguagesforTACSOnationaloffices.Itiscontinuouslyupdatedinordertoofferthelatestinformation.
Table3.OverviewoftheincreaseinthenumberofsinglevisitorsandWebpagevisitsthroughoutTACSOPhaseOne
# of single visitors and Web page visits throughout TACSO Phase One
Interim 1 Interim 2 Interim 3
Single visitors 1,798 5,681 6,987
Web page visits 2,913 10,087 11,130
DuringthesecondphaseofTACSO,theoverallobjectiveofComponent1shiftedtowardsmakingtheprojectandtheCSOs’rolesindemocraticprocessesvisibletothegeneralpublicattheregional,nationalandlocallevels.Thefollowingwasachieved:
2.1. TACSO became a recognised brand and gained importance.
TACSOcontinuouslyworkedonpromotionandvisibilityoftheprojectaswellasonofferinggoodqualityservicesinordertoreachingouttoCSOs.
AccordingtothebrandingsurveysconductedinMacedoniaandBosniaandHerzegovinainDecember2011,theprojectwasfairlysuccessfulinpromotingitsservices.Forexample,95percentofthesurveypanelinMacedoniabelievedthatTACSOhadprogressedfrom2010to2011,whileinBiHthenumberofCSOspolled,whohadheardofTACSO,grewfrom89percentin2010to100percentin2011.
Inaddition,thebrandingsurveyshowedthatinMacedonia:
• Almost90percentoftheCSOsbelievethatthecivilsocietybenefitedfromTACSO.• Seventy-eightpercentbelievethatTACSOislocallyrelevantandhasadapteditselftotheneedsofthe
Macedonianenvironment.• Over75percentseeTACSOasrelevantoressentialtotheirwork,whichishigherthanthe2010branding
surveyof63percent.• The86percentofCSOsthatbelievethatTACSOishelpfulingatheringinformationandknowledgeforEU
projectsisfairlyhigh.• Eighty-twopercenthaverecommendedTACSOtootherorganisations.• ThepercentageofthosethathavebeenincontactwithTACSOhasincreasedincludingthosethathave
beenincontactmorethantentimes.• NinetypercentofthosepolledfindTACSOinformationeasytoaccess.• Morethan93percentoftheCSOs’representativeshavevisitedtheTACSOWebpage.• TACSOisseenasaserioussourceofinformationforCSOs.
Project Visibility - Phase two of TACSO
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The branding survey in BiH showed:
• Eighty-fourpercentofCSOswouldrecommendcollaborationwithTACSOtoanotherCSO/institution/mediaoutlet.
• Onehundredpercentofpolledrepresentativesofstateinstitutions,77percentoftheCSOsand67percentofmediahavevisitedtheTACSOWebsite.
• TheexpertiseofTACSOrepresentativesencounteredbycivilsocietyorganisationswasgiventhehighestgradation“good”bymostofthosepolled.Seventy-eightpercentofthatgroupgavethehighestmarkforthepointthattheyarewellacquaintedwithEUprojectissues.In2010thatfigurewas72percent.
• Fornon-governmentalorganisations(NGOs),inbothresearchyears,2010and2011,themostcommonwayofencounteringtheTACSOprojectwasattendanceatvariousconferencesandseminars.
• Two-thirdswofthosewhoattendedtrainingsandseminarsbelievethattheywereusefulandthattheygainedalotofknow-how,whereasone-thirdconsideredtrainingpartlyuseful.Noonesaidtheydidnotbenefit.
• InterviewswithCSOrepresentativesconfirmedtheviewfromthepollthattheTACSOprojectisapositivefactorinthecivilsocietylandscape,andithashelpedinconnectingCSOswitheachother.
Theprojectcontinuestopublishprintedandelectronicnewslettersattheregionallevel,aswellasthecountrylevel,andthenumberofsubscribersfortheelectronicnewslettergrewtobetween40,000-50,000 addresses duringthesecondphaseofTACSO.Thenumberofsubscriberstotheelectronicnewsletterincreasedbybetween 334 percent to 417 percent,incomparisontothenumberofsubscribersoftheelectronicnewsletterinthefirstphaseofTACSOwhichwas11,979.Inaddition,theTACSOnewslettersaredistributedtoseveralthousandreadersinhardcopies.
Accordingtopressclippings,TACSOwasmentionedinthemedia1,205timesfromAugust2011-December2012,i.e.inthe16monthsofthesecondphaseoftheTACSOprojectimplementation.ThismeansthatthenumberofappearancesofTACSOinthemediaincreased by 263 percentbytheendofthe16thmonthoftheTACSOOne,PhaseTwoprojectimplementation.ThisisincomparisontothetotalnumberofmediaappearancesofTACSOinTACSOOne,PhaseOne.Themediacontentispositive towards TACSO and emphasisesitsregionalcomponent,aimsandobjectives.
Inbothsurveys,MacedonianandBiH,over90percenthaveindicatedthattheinformationfromTACSOiseasytoaccessespeciallyviatheWebsite.DuringthefirstsixmonthsofTACSOPhaseTwo,theWebsiteregistered74,910visitsand38,539uniquevisitors.Fromthe7ththroughthe12thmonthofprojectimplementation,theWebsiteregistered71,188visitsand235,829pageviewsmadebysome37,387uniquevisitors.Thismeansthatthenumber of visits to the TACSO Web site increased 656 percentbythemiddleofTACSOPhaseTwocomparedtothenumberofvisitsattheendofTACSOOne,PhaseOne.Thetotalnumberofsingle visitors increased by 543 percent.Sinceitsinception,theTACSOWebsitehashad144,985 unique visitors with 1,408,808 views and 307,350 visits.
2.2. TACSO contributed to the promotion of civil society (CS) and democratisation in the Western Balkans and Turkey (WBT).
TACSOsupportedCSOsintheregionsoCSachievementsindemocratisationbecamemorevisibletothewiderpublic.Thesupportcanbeobservedinatleastfourareas:
1.InvolvementofjournalistsinTACSOandCSactivitiestoeducateandsensitisethemaboutCSroles andissues. 2.PromotionofsuccessstoriesofCSOs.
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3.StrengtheningcapacitiesofCSOsto interact with mediaandpromotetheirownagendas. 4.Co-organisationofCSrelatedeventswhereCSachievementsareinfocusandmediacoverageis ensured.
Involvement of journalists
UptoJanuary2013approximately50journalistswereinvolvedindifferenteventsorganisedbyTACSO.InthemajorityofitseventsTACSOincludedmediarepresentativesasparticipants,thusinvolvingtheminCSOrelatedactivitiessuchas:
• InternationalConferenceonSocialEntrepreneurshipinIstanbul,Turkey,February2012.• TACSOAlbanianationalworkshopsonSuccessfullyManagingEUFundedProjects;theEUIPARegionalCall
forProposalsfortheFrameworkPartnershipAgreement(FPA)andAssociatedImplementationGrants;andCSOsustainability.
• SupportofTACSOCroatiaforthePanonaFest2012,whichappeared30timesinthemedia.ItwasthemajorsocialentrepreneurshipeventorganisedbytheAssociationWaterfall(NGOSlap).FundingopportunitiesforCSOswereprovidedbytheDelegationofEuropeanUnion(EUD)andtheSchuelerHelfenLebenFoundation.
• Regionalconference:KeepingUpMomentuminSkopje,Macedonia,September2012.
Inaddition,TACSOAlbaniaorganisedinformalmeetingswithmediarepresentativestofindpracticalwaystodevelopcooperationbetweenmediaandCSOs,andonhowtoincreasethebroadcastingcomponentandvisibilityofCSOprojectsfundedbytheEUorotherdonors.
Provision of technical assistance to CSOs in the area of communication and public relations
TACSOprovidedtechnicalassistanceto51CSOsincommunicationandpublicrelationsfromAugust2011-January2013.
• InSeptember2011,TACSOKosovoconductedashortsurveyonthepresenceofcivilsocietyinthenationalmedia.Resultsshowedthatthemediaisinterestedintheworkandroleofcivilsociety.Furthermore,urbanCSOsappearmorefrequentlyinthemediaincomparisontograssrootsorganisations.Preliminaryfindingsfromthesurveywereincludedintheneedsassessmentreportandincludedintheactionplan.
• TACSOSerbiasupported12CSOsbypromotingtheiractivitiesthroughsocialnetworks,bybuildingactiveandthrivingonlinecommunities,aswellasbyutilisingexistingSerbianwebplatforms,whichareopentopublishingnewsfromthecivilsector.Fiftypercentmanagedtohaveoneormoreappearancesonlocaltelevision,radio,newspaperoronlinenewsportals.
• TACSOTurkeyassistedseveralCSOs/platformsinmediarelationsbymakingcontactswithwell-knownjournalists,throughtheprovisionofguidanceinthecontentanddesignofcampaignmaterials,throughrecommendationsforsocialmediarelations,etc.TACSOprovidedtechnicalassistancesupportto11CSOs/platforms,viaone-on-oneandopencallsupport.FiftypercentofthesehaveappearedinthemediainrelationtoactivitiesassistedbyTACSO.
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Promotion of success stories of CSOs
TACSOpromoted117CSOsuccessstories,whichhaveappeared168timesinthemedia.
• Throughmonthlyinformationletters,TACSOCroatiapromoted:CSOshostingroundtablesduringtheNGOdays,CSOsparticipatingintheOpenDoorDay,WeekofNGOsorganisedbytheCityofZagrebandZagrebGayPride2012.OthermediareportedextensivelyonNGODays2012andonthelocalleveltherehavebeennumerousreportsonNGOsparticipatingintheOpenDoorDay.Finally,TACSOCroatiagavespecial awardstofiveNGOsthatparticipatedintheOpenDoorDay.
• TACSOMacedoniaassistedoneCSOmediaappearanceinthedailynewspaper,Vest,relatedtosuccessstoriesof:
i.AcoalitionofenvironmentalCSOs,Front21/42(HarmonizationoftheSocietywithNature), MacedonianGreenCentre,Eco-sense,MacedonianEcologicalSociety,CentreforLocalDevelopment (CELOR),andEkoskop,thatareworkingonmonitoringtheimplementationofenvironmentallegislationandpoliciesaffectingtheenvironmentinMacedonia,aswellasESSENCE,aregionalnetworkwhich engagesinstimulatingsocialentrepreneurship. ii.TheWomen’sCivicInitiativeAntiko,aTACSOlocaladvisorygroupmember,anditsEUmulti-beneficiary (MB)partnershipprojectforbuildingthecapacitiesofwomen,andasecondstoryaboutSOSChildren,abeneficiaryoftheTACSOcapacitybuildingprogramme,publishedas“Thepulseofthecivilsociety organisations”.
• TACSOSerbiapromoted19newCSOsuccessstoriesusingafullrangeofavailablesocialmediaincludingTwitter,Facebook,YouTube,etc.
• TACSOTurkey,intheperiodOctober-November2012,featured17CSOgoodpracticesinaquarterlynewsletteranddistributedthenewslettertotheTACSOcontactlistof3,960andtomailinglistsreachingover29,000people.Fifty-onenewstoriesaboutCSOactivitieshavebeendisseminatedviaaweeklye-lettertoallcontacts.
Inaddition,the“NotwithoutUS”showbroadcast,tothewiderpublicinTurkey,theroleofTACSOTurkeyinsupportingtheprocessofdraftinganewconstitutionandtheissuesthatshouldbeincludedinconstitutions,thuscontributingtodemocratisation.Issuesdiscussedincluded:
• Sensitisationoftheconstitutiontotheneedsoflesbian,gay,bisexualandtransgendered(LGBT) individualsandtothewiderperspectiveoffreedomsandrightsaswellassocialrights.• ProtectionofcultureandmothertongueoftheCircassiancommunity.• Demilitarisationofsocietyandgettingclosertoapeacefulcommunity.• Implementationoftheconstitutionalclausesonequalityforwomen.• InclusionofLGBTindividualsintheequalityclause.• Bringingtogethercivilsocietyandparliamentarians.• Creationofastatewithoutideologies.• Improvementofeducationalstandardsandquality,andtheproblemofaccesstoeducationinTurkey.• Disarmamentissuesinrelationtosmallarmstopromoteapeacefulsociety.• Asystemofchecksandbalancesinthegovernmentmechanism.• Preventativemeasuresagainsthatecrimesinordertodetertheirrecurrence.• OppressionoftheAlevipeoplebythesystemandtheneedforittochange,aswellashowreligious teachingsshouldbeincorporatedineducation.• Rightsabusesduringmilitaryservice.• Problemsofclimatechange.• Needforprotectionofbiodiversity,organicproductionandendemicseeds.
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• PoorconditionsofprisonsinTurkey,includingconditionsformothers,childrenandLGBTindividualsin prison.• Qualityofthepublishedmonitoringreportontheconstitutionalprocess.
Co-organisation of CS related events
• TACSOBiHco-organisedapartnershipeventledbytheAmericaBosniaFoundation.Itreceivedstrongmediacoverageincludingreportsin15mediaoutlets,suchasRadioSlobodnaEvropaandtheVoiceofAmerica.Inaddition,oneofthemajorcivilsocietyportalsintheWesternBalkans,OneWorldsee.org,coveredtheconferenceandthepanelexclusivelyandpublishedseveralshorterreportsduringtheconferenceaswellasonemajor,longreportfocusingontheoutputoftheconferenceandthepanelafterwards.
• SpecificachievementsofCSOs/CSOnetworksrelatingtostrategicplanning,approachtocommunicationwithinmembershipandplatformsofaction,whichhavebeenpromotedinTACSOnewsletters.
• TACSOCroatiareportedthatCSOsengagedinsocialentrepreneurshipwerepresentedtwiceonaCroatianNationalRadioshowontheInternationalConferenceonSocialEntrepreneurshipinIstanbul.Itwasco-organisedbyTACSOinFebruary.
• Areportoncivilsocietyachievementsin2010and2011waspreparedinNovember2012byTACSOMontenegro.Thepublicationcontainsinformationon144civilsocietyorganisationsthatrespondedtoaquestionnaire,throughthemediaandtheWebsite.Ane-maillistwasmadeavailabletocivilsocietyinMontenegro.Thispublicationisintendedtoinformdecision-makersatthestateandlocallevel,membersofparliament(MPs),representativesoftheGovernment,thepublicadministration,representativesoflocalgovernments,representativesofpoliticalparties,internationalorganisations,themediaandcivilsociety,ontheachievementsofcivilsocietyorganisationsin2010and2011.Thepublicationcontributedtotheobjectiveexaminationoftheworkofcivilsociety.Suchaggregateinformationabouttheworkofcivilsocietyorganisationswillimprovetheirimageinthecommunityandprovideanadditionalincentivetoimprovecommunicationwithallrelevantinstitutionsandcitizensthatcancontributetoabetterunderstandingoftheroleandfunctioningofcivilsocietyorganisations.
• TACSOsupportedactivitiesofCSOs/platformsinTurkeyformediacoverageandasaresulttheyhaveappeared579timesinpublishednewspapers,onInternetnewsandsocialmedia.Asanexample,TACSOTurkeysupportedtheConferenceonDemandsforProtectiveLegislation&NationalTrans-NetworkMeetingsorganisedbyPinkLifeandaimedatpromotingequalrightsfortransgenderpeopleinTurkeyandspecificallytheinclusionoftransgenderrightsinnewlegislation.Theconferenceenabledlesbian,gay,bisexual,transgenderedCSOstodevelopanactionplantowardsthisgoalaswellastonetworkwithEUMPs,women’sandhumanrightsCSOs.Asaresult,theLGBTnetworkbeganone-on-onemeetingswithTurkishMPsfromtwopoliticalpartieswhoattendedthemeetingfortheinclusionoftransgenderrightsintheiragenda.Also,PinkLifereceivedavisitfromtheRepublicanPeople’sParty(CHP)todiscusstheirworkandattendedameetingwitheightCHPMPsattheparliamentwiththeKaosGayandLesbianCulturalResearches–SolidarityAssociation(KAOSGL)ontheinclusionofLGBTrightsinthepoliticalagenda.Themeeting,supportedbyTACSO,enabledPinkLifetobeincludedintheHumanRightsDefendersworkinggrouporganisedbytheHumanRightsJointPlatformandthePlatformforLegislationonHateCrimes.Followingtheevent,PinkLifehasbeencarryingoutadvocacyactivitieswithimportantachievements.Forexample,PinkLifeorganisedapressmeetingwiththreeMPsfromCHPintheParliamentonhomophobicstatementsfromtheMinistryofInteriorinJanuary2012.TheorganisationalsosubmittedtheirpositionpaperforinclusionofLGBTrightsinthenewconstitutiontotheParliamentaryCompromiseCommissionontheConstitution.TheyhavealsosenttheiropinionsofthenewdraftlawoncombatingviolencetowardswomenandfamilymemberstotheMinistryofFamilyAffairs.
www.tacso.org - Overview of TACSO achievement |TACSO Project 15
2.3. Contributed to improvement of public perception on CSOs
TheTACSOteaminKosovohasworkedveryactivelywithvisibilityrelatedissues,generatingknowledgeandunderstandingofthepublicperceptionofcivilsocietyaswellasexpandingtheroleofCSOsinsocietaldevelopment.
TheInstituteforSocialSciences,IvoPilar,contractedbytheTACSOCroatiaOffice,conductedanassessmentofpublicperceptionofNGOsinCroatiainApril-May2012,inordertocapturethemostimportantchangessince2007.CompletedresearchonVisibilityandPublicPerceptionofNGOsinCroatia2012,isavailableinCroatianwith a summary in English.
Preliminaryfindingsindicateseveralpositivetrends:
• Familiaritywiththetermnon-governmentalorganisationincreasedsixpercentandtheunderstandingofthetermbymorethan20percent.
• ThepercentageofrespondentsknowingactivemembersofanNGOincreasedfrom14percentin2007to28.5percentin2012.
• ThepercentageofthosewhofeltsomebenefitsthankstoNGOactivitiesrosefrom17percentin2007to26percentin2012.
Anegativetrendwasnotedregardingthepossibilityofinfluencingnationallevelpolicies.In2007,onlyathirdofrespondentsfeltthattheycannotinfluencedecision-makingonthenationallevelthroughanNGOandin2012almostahalfoftherespondentsfeltthesame.Thesituationissomewhatbetteronthelocallevel.ThepercentageofthosewhofeelthatthroughanNGOtheycaninfluencedecision-makingintheirlocalcommunitiesincreasedfrom33percentto40percent.
Publicopinionresearch,TheAttitudesofCitizensofMontenegrotowardsCivilsocietyOrganisations,wasconductedonarepresentativesampleofcitizensofMontenegroduringSeptember2012.ThemainpurposeofthisresearchwastoprovideinsightintothemostrelevantchangesintermsofvisibilityandattitudesofcitizenstoCSOsinMontenegro.InmostcasesthecitizensofMontenegrohadapositiveassociationwithCSOsandprimarilysawthemasorganisationswhichactintheinterestofsocietyandworkonissuesofproblem-solving,whichareindependentofthegovernmentandpoliticalparties,andwhichassistvulnerablegroupsandfightforhumanrights.Negativeassociations,whicharepresentinaconsiderablysmallernumberthanpositiveones,connectCSOstotheftandmoneylaundering,foreigninfluencesandincompetence.
OnthebasisoftheanalysisofattributesusedtodescribethemitcouldbesaidthatamongthecitizensofMontenegrotheexistingCSOs,observedasawhole,enjoyagoodimage.CSOsareprimarilyperceivedasnecessaryandrelevant,consideringthattheyhavebeendescribedinthatwaybyalmost60percentofcitizens.Also,theyhavebeenperceivedascompetentorganisations,whicharehelpful,successfulandmodern.Aroundhalfofthepopulationchosetheabove-mentionedattributes.
16 TACSO Project | Overview of TACSO achievement - www.tacso.org
www.tacso.org - Information Events and Trainings Country-Based Overview Report |TACSO Project 3
UnderComponent2ofphaseoneofTACSO,theobjectivewastoimproveservicedeliverybyCSOs.FromAugust2009toAugust2011,thefollowingwasachieved:
1.2. For the first time, CSOs needs were assessed with due diligence throughout the WBT.
Theneedsassessmentprovidedacomprehensiveassessmentofcivilsocietyineachcountry/territoryanditsenvironment,itsstrengthsandweaknesses,itsimpactstodateandthechallengesitfacestofurtheritsdevelopment.Theassessmentwascomprisedofdeskresearchembracingallrelevantdocumentationincludinglegalandfinanciallegislationapplicabletocivilsociety,previouscivilsocietymappingsandevaluations,situationanalyses,policydocumentsandcountry-specificacademicliterature.Aconsultativestakeholderanalysiswascarriedoutbymeansofnumeroussitevisits,focusgroups,interviewsandquestionnairesurveyswithCSOs,governmentactors,donororganisationsandotherinstitutionalplayersincluding roughly 450stakeholderrepresentatives.
NationalneedsassessmentreportswerecombinedintoaregionalthematicneedsassessmentoftheneedsoftheWBTregiontoestablishanenablingenvironmentforcivilsocietyincluding:
• LegalframeworkforCSOs,CSOregistrationandpublicbenefitstatus.• Lawsonvolunteeringandfiscalencouragementofphilanthropy.• Facilitationoffundraisingandtaxexemptions.• Agreements,governmentstrategiesandmechanismsforcooperationwiththeCSOsector.• InstitutionalcooperationbetweenCSOsandlocalgovernments.• GovernmentcapacitiesforengagingCSOsinsocialpolicy.• Governmentfundingofcivilsociety.• TheEU,government,civilsocietytriangle.
Inaddition,theneedsassessmentslookedintoCSOcapacitiesatthe:
• Operationalandsustainabilitylevel.• Levelofinfluencingpoliciesintheirrespectivecountries.
All needs assessments are available here.
Variousrequestshavebeenreceivedfromorganisationsconcerningtheutilisationofthereport.Forexample,VitaEuropeaskedforapprovaltousethereportforpostinginformationaboutSerbiainitsnon-profitatlas,available here.
1.3. The TASCO Web site has become a powerful instrument for dissemination of information relevant to civil society organisations in the region.
The regional TACSO Web pagewaslaunchedinFebruary2010andcomplementedbyeightcountry/territoryspecificpagesineachlocallanguagepresentingtheprogrammeofactivitiesandservicesoffered.Theregionalpageinitiallywascompletedasane-learningtool,whichwasintroducedasasupportandfollow-upmechanismforthepilottrainingsandlinkstorelevantnational/territorialdatabases.
COMPONENT 2: RESEARCH, HELP DESK AND GUIDANCEResearch, Help Desk and Guidance - Phase one of TACSO
18 TACSO Project | Overview of TACSO achievement - www.tacso.org
The TACSO Web page contains a CSO database.ThecreationofaCSOdatabasewasthemostchallengingofallthetasksintheproject’sTermsofReference(ToR).AftertheinitialideatohavethedatabasedecentralisedandbasedonalreadyavailableCSOdatabases,TACSOprojectmanagementcametotheconclusionthatsuchanapproachwouldbeunfeasible.Technicalconstraintsaswellasdataqualityconcernscontributedtothedecisiontorecommencetheworkwiththeintentionofbuildingacentrallymanagedandadministereddatabase.Basedonfurtherconsiderationsandexternaladvice,astrategyandactionplanforthedevelopmentofthedatabaseanditscontinuedmaintenancehasbeencreatedand,consequently,adatabasewasdevelopedattheendofphaseone.ItisaccessedthroughtheWebsiteanditisopentoorganisationsintheIPAregionaswellastothosebasedintheEU.BytheendofTACSOPhaseOnetherewerenoregisteredCSOs.
Inordertopromotepartnership,informationsharingandexchangeofideasandexperiences,theTACSOWebpage also contains the partnershipforum.Inanattempttopromotetheforumtheprojecthasintroducedautomaticmembershipintheforumtoallneworganisationswhentheyregisterinthedatabase.
The TACSO ToolkitisanonlinesourceofinformationincludingvariousTACSOdocuments,manuals,guidesandglossariesaswellasdocumentsproducedbytheEU,theEuropeanNGOConfederationforReliefandDevelopment(CONCORD)andotherorganisations.TheTACSORoster was introduced during towards the end ofphaseoneofTACSO.
InordertofurtherincreasetheavailabilityofprojectinformationTACSOdeployedsocialmedia.InmidTACSOPhaseOne,projectinformationbecameavailableonFacebook and LinkedIn.RoughlyfivepercentofthevisitstotheWebpagecomethroughtheFacebooklink.TheTACSOYouTube channel is another tool used to disseminateinformation,whichhasproventobeaninterestingcomplementtotheothercommunicationchannels.Oneoftheveryfirstvideo-clips,whichprovidedinformationonthenewLawofAssociationsandFoundations,had35viewersduringthefirstweekafteritwasposted.
1.4. TACSO responded effectively and efficiently to the on-going, concrete, and on-the-spot needs for development and daily operations of CSOs.
DuringtheestablishmentoftheHDinphaseoneofTACSO,differentsolutionswerechosendependingonthespecificsituationandtheneedsofeachcountry/territory.ThisincludedtheplacewhereaTACSOofficewasestablishedalongwiththerangeofservicesoffered.Inordertorespondtotheneedsoftheeachcountry/territory,prioritieswereestablishedbytheLAGs,theneedsassessmentreports,theprovisionofsupportbyotherprojectsandinstitutions,etc.
TheTACSOhelpdeskshavebeenprovidingservicesondemandinallthebeneficiarycountriesthroughoutphaseone.HelpdeskshavebeensupportingtheCSOcommunityineachcountrybyorganisingspecifictrainings,onlinesupportorthroughindividual,in-housesupport.Additionally,whenresourcesallow,theofficesprovideassistancetootherstakeholders.Ondemandassistanceisrecorded,allowingtheTACSOstafftoidentifyissuesandareasofconcerntomanyorganisations.Inmostcountriesthenumberofrequestshasbeencontinuouslygrowingasaconsequenceofincreasingawarenessoftheavailabilityofsupport.ParticularlyhighnumbersofrequestsandcontactshavebeenrecordedinconjunctionwithcallsforproposalsandPeopletoPeople(P2P)activities.InformationrelatingtofrequentlyaskedquestionsispublishedonthenationalWebpages.TheexamplesbelowillustratetherangeofsupportprovidedbytheTACSOhelpdesks.
Thetotalnumberofphonecallsande-mailsinquiriesduringphaseonewas3300,whiletheapproximatenumberofCSOssupportedduringphaseonewas1500.
ThetypesofinformationprovidedviathehelpdeskduringphaseoneofTACSOwere:
www.tacso.org - Overview of TACSO achievement |TACSO Project 19
3 Socio-economicAssistanceinDevelopingStrategyPartnerships,PartnershipActionbetweenCulturalOrganisations,PartnershipActionstoMinorities/VulnerableGroupsandOrganisations,EDHR,etc.
Helpdesksupport
EU/IPA
Capacitybuildingsupport
Support to the call for proposals (CfPs)
• IPA CrossBorderProgramme(CBC)CfPsinformation• Clarification,informationonwheretofindtheCfPguidelines,application
formsandotherrelevantdocuments,wheretoapplyforEUfunds3
• FillingoutanEUapplicationform• PotentialApplicantDataOnlineRegistration(PADOR),registrationand
re-registration
General
• Informationsharingontrainingopportunities• TACSO e-learning tools
Support in project implementati on
• RulesforimplementationofEUfundedprojects• ValueAddedTax(VAT)exemption• PracticalGuidetoContractProceduresforEUExternalActions(PRAG)• Supporttomulti-beneficiaryprojectsandpartnershiprelations
Partnership and networking
• National,regionalandEUpartnersearch• Network building• Managingaplatform• Organisationofpartnershipandinformationevents
Operati onal
• Financial management• Informationonannualfinancialreports• Accountingservicesfornon-profitorganisations• Legalandpolicyframework
Strategic• CSO management• Organisationaldevelopment• Help in designing sponsorship proposals• Modificationofconstitutionaldocuments
Programming
• DisseminationofgeneralinformationonnationalIPAs• ProjectfichewritingforleadingCSOs• InformationonEUpolicies
Increasing quality of project proposals submitt ed
• Reviewoflogframes(LF)forCfPs• Assistanceinprojectproposalwriting
20 TACSO Project | Overview of TACSO achievement - www.tacso.org
Processes
• Campaign design• Adviceonroundtabledesignsandproposalsofguests• Consultancyonparticipatoryconsultationmethods
Table 4: Types of topics and areas covered by the Help desk services during TACSO Phase One
• ResultsOrientedMonitoring(ROM)methodology
ThefollowingaresomeofthedirectbenefitsfortheCSOsderivingfromhelpdesksupport:
• One hundredandforty-eightCSOsweresupportedforPADORregistrationwithatotalof180participantsfrom21BiHmunicipalities,outofwhich63CSOsregisteredimmediatelyinPADOR.
• Outof21CSOssupportedbyTACSO,threehavesubmittedtheirapplicationsfortheSocio-EconomicPartnershipProgramme(SEP)CfP.Ofsixapplications,50percentofthetotalapplicationssubmittedtoSEPweresupportedbyTACSOSerbia.
TACSOorganised12trainingsinalltheadministrativeunitsofAlbania,regardingtheNationalIPA2009CallforProposals.Sixoutofnineoftheorganisationsthat
• were awardedfundingwereassistedbyTACSO.• AnotherachievementworthmentioningistheCultural
CallofPartnershipBuilding2010,whereoneCSObenefitingfromTACSOAlbaniaserviceswasawardedaregionalgrantinthepositionoftheleadapplicant.
• TACSOKosovosupportedCSOsforEuropeanInstrumentforDemocracy&HumanRights(EIDHR)byprovidingtraining,mentoringandinthefollowup.Mentoringserviceswereprovideduntiltheorganisationssubmittedtheirfinalapplications.ThenumberofapplicationsreceivedbytheEuropean CommissionLiaisonOffice(ECLO)inKosovogrewfrom24applicationsin2007to87applicationsforEIDHR2010,andmorethan90percentoffundsavailablewereabsorbed.
• TACSOMacedoniaintroducedwebstreamingtohavegreateroutreachforaninformationseminartofamiliariseCSOswithfinancialandothersupportavailablein2010.Thetotalnumberofparticipantsphysicallypresentwas90andthetotalnumberofviewerswas162.
• ThereweretencallsforparticipationintheP2PprogrammeinCroatia.TACSOassistedtheEUDelegationinannouncingthecallsandinpre-selectingparticipants.TACSOCroatiapreselectedatotalof44CSOrepresentativesoutof154applications.Byandlarge,thedecisionsmadebytheEUDelegationhavebeeninlinewiththerecommendationsmadebytheTACSOoffice.
“Dear Sirs, A few days ago we managed to successfullycompleteourPADORregistration.In this way we would like to sincerely thank you for your help, because you have enabled me to correcttheerrorIhadmadeintheregistrationprocess which had nearly cost me the possibility of registering in PADOR, and thus the possibility of applyingfortheUnitedNationsChildren’sFund’s(UNICEF’s)latestcallforproposals.Iwouldalsoliketo point out that you have been very kind, and that youhaveshowngreatdedicationandperseveranceinyoureffortstohelpme.”
DeputySecretaryoftheMunicipalityofBatočina,Serbia
“I would like to thank you for giving us the opportunity through the P2P programme to participateinthestudytourontheRoleofCivilSociety in the Development of Organic Agriculture. ThefourrepresentativesfromSerbiareallyworkedasateam,andIbelieveweshowedexpertiseandrepresented the Serbian civil society well. The journey has given us an opportunity to establish a strong network with people from the Balkans and also from Iceland. We have all agreed that this study tour will be the start of establishing an organicagriculturenetworkintheBalkans.”
Olivera Radovanovic, Green Network of Vojvodina
www.tacso.org - Overview of TACSO achievement |TACSO Project 21
• TACSOSerbiamanagedtheapplicationprocessforsixcallsforP2Ptrainings.TheTACSOofficereceived118applicationsofwhich24wereselected.Onaverage,theprogrammehadfivetimesmoreapplicationsthanselectedparticipants.P2PhasraisedhighinterestamongSerbianCSOs,andselectedparticipantswereopentotheideaofdeliveringfollow-upactivities.Inaddition,theTACSOSerbiaofficehasprovidedfollow-uptopoststudytripactivitiesthatinvolvedthepreparationofprojectideasbasedonknowledgegainedduringP2P.InthisstageseveralSerbianparticipantsexpresstheirappreciationofP2Prelatedassistanceofferedaswellastheirsatisfactionwiththestudyvisit.
AfterspendingtimewithagroupofNGOrepresentativesfromtheWesternBalkansandTurkey,AleksandraSelakZivkovicfromtheCentreforSocialPolicyInitiatives,whoattendedtheP2Pstudytour,EuropeanSolidarityagainstPoverty,statedthatshebroughtback“agoodfeeling”resultingfrominteresting,well-balancedseminarswithexcellentlecturers,aninteractiveatmosphereandintensivenetworking.
GoranaLipnjakfromtheCroatianAssociationforaHealthyWorkPlaceandtheCroatianAssociationforOccupationalHealthwhoparticipatedintheP2Pstudytour,AdvocatingforaBetterPolicyofWasteManagement,expressedthatshe plans to transfer the acquired knowledge to other members of her CSO and also to everyone interested in waste policymanagementbyorganisinganeventdedicatedtothistheme.AspecialeventwasorganisedforthisinformationsharingattheendofMarch2011.
1.5. TACSO is an additi onal instrument that contributes to the quality of implementati on of EU funded projects by providing project guidance and monitoring.
ProjectmonitoringandguidanceisoneofthemajorspecificissuesintheTACSOToR.DiscussionswiththeEUDsafterthecommencementofprojectactivitiesinAugust2010havemadeitclearthattheneedsandrequestsdiffergreatlybetweenthecountries/territoriesinthisrespect.WiththeexceptionofSerbia,theemphasiswasonguidanceandprojectmanagementsupportnottraditionalprojectmonitoring.Althoughprojectmonitoringandguidanceispartofoverallhelpdeskservices,inordertohighlightthecontributionsofTACSO,thetablebelowdepictstheexactTACSOinterventionsinthissegment.
TA desk
Albania
Servicesagreedonandactiontaken
Monitoringandcoachingof:
• Ten CommunityAssistanceforReconstruction,DevelopmentandStabilisation(CARDS)2007andEIDHRprojects
• IPA2009CivilSocietyFacility-CivicInitiativesandCapacityBuilding
GuidanceandTAforgrantrecipientsfor:
• IPA 2009• CSF regional EU grants on Socio-Economic Partnerships and a cultural call on
procurementissues,contractualobligations,eligibilityofexpenditures,budgetamendments,financeissues,visibilityissuesandtheorganisationofthekick-offmeeting
Organised training course on:
• ApplicationproceduresforIPAnationalgrantsfortenadministrativeregionsofAlbania
• SuccessfullymanagingEUprojects-thePRAGRegulations
22 TACSO Project | Overview of TACSO achievement - www.tacso.org
TA desk
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Croati a
Kosovo
Servicesagreedonandactiontaken
Monitoring/guidanceofprojectsunder:
• IPA2007/IPA2008-tenprojectsunderEnvironmentandNaturalResourcesandoneprojectundertheRomaActionPlan
• Nineteensmall-scaleprojectsimplementedbyUnitedNationsDevelopmentPro-gramme(UNDP)undertheReinforcementofLocalDemocracy(LOD)project
InformativeworkshopsonIPA2009grantschemesforcivilsociety:
• Monitoringandadvocacyinthefieldsofdemocratisation,humanrights,minorityintegrationandsustainablerefugeereturnintheareasofspecialstateconcern
• Implementationofinnovativesocialservicedeliveryprogrammesintheareasofspecial state concern
Workshops/informationmeetings:
• A meetingwithKosovarCSOsimplementingIPAregionalprojects,26June2010• AworkshopwithCSOsandpartnersimplementingIPAnationalprojects,26July
2010
OrganisationofthetwopartnershipeventsintheframeworkoftheIPACrossBorderCooperationProgramme,AlbaniaandMacedonia;AlbaniaandMontenegrowithNGOsfrombothsidesoftheborder
SixIPA2008projectsinguidanceandcapacitybuildingCapacityassessmentandtwodaycapacitybuildingtrainingwithfollow-upvisitsAnindividualmeetingwiththeIPAfundedproject,AssociationofParaplegicsandParalysedChildrenofKosovo(HandiKOS)
Organisedaconsultativemeetingwithbeneficiariesofthere¬gionalprogramme,En-vironment,EnergyEfficiency,HealthandSafetyatWork,topromotethenetworkingofpresentprojectsandtoprovideanopportunityformutualsupportandlearningFollowingtheIPA2009InfoDays,fiveCSOssubmittedlogicalframeworksforreviewbyTACSOforprospectiveprojects
DiscussedthechallengesofpartnershipinprojectimplementationwithEESHWgrant-ees,GONG,Zelenaakcija,CroatianEmployersAssociation(HUP)andAssociationforBiologicalResearch(BIOM)
SpecificTAneedsdefinedandVATexemptioninstructionsdistributedtotenCSOrecipientsofgrantsunderCSFFrameworkPartnershipAgreement(FPA)IPAcallsonculture,minorities,vulnerablegroupsandsocio-economicpartnerships
DirectcapacitybuildingandguidanceforaHandiKOSprojectfundedbyIPAonprojectimplementationandorganisationofinternationalevents
DirectcapacitybuildingandguidanceforotherIPAfundedprojectswhenimplement-ingactivities.
www.tacso.org - Overview of TACSO achievement |TACSO Project 23
TA desk Servicesagreedonandactiontaken
AsagreedwithECLO,thefollowingtrainingsweredelivered:
• Financial management training • CSO management training
Monitoring and guidance to:
• Ten regionalIPA2008projects• FifteennationalIPA2008guidanceprojects
Monitoring and guidance to:
• EightnationalIPA2007projects• NineregionalIPAprojectswhereorganisationsparticipatedaspartnersinre-
gionalprojects• FiveEIDHRprojects
Macedonia
Montenegro
MeetingwithfourrepresentativesofCSOsimplementingprojectsasleadpartnersundertheregionalIPA2008programmetoidentifyneedsforguidanceandtoclarifyexpectationsonTACSO
MeetingwiththeEUDelegationregardingtheneedforguidanceandtoclarifyexpec-tationsofTACSO
Follow-upsupporttoMetamorphosisandCitizensofMacedonia(CISS)IPAregionalprojects,throughmeetingsrelatedtothepreparationoftheinterimreportandanexternalevaluation
AguidanceworkshopforregionalIPAprojectsprovidingadviceonhowtocarryoutmoreeffectiveprojectmanagement.Supporttoyouthentrepreneurshipcreatingacultureofanti-corruptionintheprivatesector 4
Intotal,therewere44visitsforallmentionedprojectswithguidanceininternalmonitoringincluding,ifnecessary,improvementoftheLFmatrixanddevelopmentofinternal monitoring plans as well as support in problem solving
MediationassistanceamongpartnersinoneoftheEUfundedprojectswhichsolvedaproblemandledtothesigningofacooperationcontractbetweenthepartiescon-cerned
SixteensessionswithCSOstoimprovetheprocessofinternalmonitoringand/ortheestablishmentofaninternalmonitoringplanandtheLogicalFrameworkApproach(LFA)matriximprovements(indicatorsandsourceofverification)resultedintheintroductionofinternalmonitoringplansintheproject’simplementation.
4 YouthEntrepreneurialServiceFoundation/SupporttoPartnershipActionsFightagainstCorruption,OrganisedCrimeandTrafficking.
24 TACSO Project | Overview of TACSO achievement - www.tacso.org
TA desk Servicesagreedonandactiontaken
GuidanceandtechnicalassistanceprovidedtoregionalIPAprogrammeswithTurkishpartners:
• HeinrichBöllStiftungDerneğiTurkeyRepresentation• MOBDER-Turkey• AssociationofPublicHealthResearchofTurkey• TransparencyAssociation
InconjunctionwithanofficialvisitbyaDGELARGofficial,visitedthefollowingorgan-isations:
• HeinrichBollStiftung• MOBDER• TUBIDER• SeffaflikDernegi
TACSOTurkeyassistedtheseorganisationsinmediationwithapartnerorganisation:
• TurkeyEnterpriseandBusinessConfederation(TURKONFED)onEUexternalaidproceduresincludingbudgetingissues
• TransparencyInternationalAssociationinTurkeyontheirpublicrelationsandcommunicationsactivities
Serbia
Turkey
Monitored(approx.40)projectsfundedbyCSF
BasedonarequestfromTACSOMacedonia,TACSOSerbiametwithIgorKostic,arepresentativefromtheInitiativesfromProkuplje,tosortoutdelaysintheimplemen-tationoftheMBproject.
IncooperationwiththeEUDelegationandGOPA,TACSOSerbiahasdevelopedproce-duresformonitoring27projectsfromthecall,CivilSocietyDialogue
ProvidedassistancetotenCSOswhowereleadapplicantsundertheCSFs,Partner-shipActionbetweenCulturalOrganisations
ContinueditsassistanceinwritingaprojectficheonStrengtheningCivilSocietyDevelopmentandCivilSociety-PublicSectorCooperationinTurkeyforthenextpro-grammingstage.TheofficeplayedakeyroleinfacilitatingcommunicationsbetweenthefiveCSOsinvolvedinwritingtheficheaswellasinstreamliningthefinaldocu-ment together with the applicant CSOs led by the Civil Society Development Centre (CSDC).
Table 5: Types of guidelines and monitoring for the EU funded projects covered by the Help desk services during TACSO Phase One
www.tacso.org - Overview of TACSO achievement |TACSO Project 25
DuringthesecondphaseofTACSO,theobjectiveofComponent2changedfromimprovedservicedeliveryofCSOstoimprovedservicedeliveryofCSOsinrelationtodemocraticprocessesattheregional,nationalandlocallevels.Thefollowingwasachieved:
2.4. Updated the needs of CSOs with due diligence throughout the WBT.
Twoyearsaftertheinitialneedsassessmentwasmade,thesameassessmentwasrepeatedatthebeginningofphasetwoofTACSO.Itagainincluded450stakeholdersandlookedintoCSOs’enablingenvironmentsandCSOs’capacities.
2.5. The TASCO Web site has continued the solidification of its position as a powerful instrument for dissemination of information relevant to civil society organisations in the region.
TheregionalTACSOWebpagetogetherwitheightcountry/territoryspecificpageshasbeenupdatedonadailybasis.ItfeaturesthenewestinformationrelevanttoCSOsintheregion.
RelevantdatawasaddedduringTACSOPhaseTwo.Forexample,theCSOdatabase,whichcurrentlyhas514registeredCSOs,ortheTACSOrosterwhere,afterintroducinganewpolicytoallowexpertswithoutanyspecificTACSOexperiencetoregister,thenumberofregisteredexpertshasgrownto53atthetimeofdevelopingtheachievementreport.
TheTACSOWebpageenablesanoverviewofEUawardedprojectsunderdifferentEUgrants.Thecontractnumber,nameandashortsynopsisarepresentforeachEUawardedproject.AlthoughthepartnershipforumwasestablishedinordertocorrespondwiththeneedsofCSOsandtoprovideanon-goingdialoguewitheachother,itisonlymodestlyusedbyCSOs.
TheTACSOToolkit,anonlinesourceofinformation,hasbeenconstantlyenrichedbynewdocumentsduringTACSOPhaseTwo.
ApartfrommakingTACSOavailableonFacebook(1990likes),LinkedIn(247followers)andYouTube,TACSObecameavailableonTwitterinFebruary2012(309followers,and1529tweets).TheTACSOTwitterfeedisparticularlyactiveduringTACSOconferences,sothatthosewhowereunabletoparticipateattheconferencesbuthadaninterestinthesubjectscouldfollowdevelopmentsattheconferences.
AsasampleofthemaximumutilisationoftheTACSOWebsite,duringTACSOPhaseTwo,aliveCSFinformationsessionforpartnershipactioncallwasbroadcastbytheTACSOWebpage.
OverviewoftopicscoveredwithhelpdesksupportinphasetwoofTACSO:
Research, Help Desk and Guidance - Phase two of TACSO
26 TACSO Project | Overview of TACSO achievement - www.tacso.org
Helpdesksupport
EU/IPA
Capacitybuildingsupport
Increasing quality of project proposals submitt ed
• ApplicationproceduresforEUfundingANALINDHNetwork• Projectcyclemanagement(PCM)usingtheLFA• Projectcyclemanagement/EUfunds/EUapplications• Projectproposalwriting• ProjectproposalwritingforaRomaCSO• PreparationofacallforproposalsunderIPA2011civilsocietyprogramme• EmpowermentofsmallandruralbasedCSOsthroughnineeducationcyclesonprojectproposalwriting
Support in project implementati on
• ImplementationofEUfundedprojectsandmulti-beneficiaryprojects• SuccessfullymanagingEUfundedprojectsforEUgrantbeneficiaries• FinancialaspectsofthreeEUfundedprojects’implementation• Financialaspectsofmulti-beneficiaryIPAprojects• FivePADORworkshops• MB IPA grantees• EUprojectimplementation• DevelopmentandmanagementofthesecondmoduleofEUfundedprojects
General
• Refreshmenttrainingforqualityassurancesystemfornon-profitorganisations(SOKNO)mentors• Goodgovernanceandorganisationalstructure• Democracyandgenderequality• TrainingofTrainers(ToT)onnewtrainingandfacilitationmethodology• TA workshop• Monitoringandevaluation• FourworkshopsforCSOs,secondgroup,self-assessmentmethodology• Projectplanning• Developing a volunteer programme• Volunteer management• Threefuturesearchworkshops• Twoprojectdevelopments• Roma:RightsForum;YouthAdvocacy;ForumWorkshop;CampaigningandAdvocacy• Teambuilding/changemanagement
Programming• Threepilotsectorconsultativemechanisms(SEKO)CSOs• SEKO training
Policies• MakingPRAGmoreCSOfriendly
www.tacso.org - Overview of TACSO achievement |TACSO Project 27
Partnership and networking
• TAtoLegalAnti-CorruptionNetwork• Capacity building TA to issue based networks• CSO networks training
Operati onal
• Two administrativeandfinancialworkshops• Twomobilisationoflocalresourcesevents
Media
• Sixpartnershipandcooperationpublicrelationsandcommunicationevents,part1,2,cooperationwiththemedia• Twomediacommunicationworkshops• Communicationandpublicrelations• SocialmediaforCSOs
Regulatory and Policy related
• Eight legalandfiscalframeworkeventsforCSOs-PromotinganEnablingEnvironmentforCSOs• Three social entrepreneurship events• TwoeventsforCSOcontributiontoconstitutionalchange• Violencelawandwomen’ssheltersby-law
Processes
• Processofstrategicdialogue“Togetherwearestronger”
Strategic
• CSOSustainability-ChallengesandOpportunities• Bringing Civil Society In• ApplicationofNewModelsofSupporttoPersonswithDisabilities,ContributiontoReformProcesses• StrategicPositioning/Planning;NetworkforBuildingPeace;OLDERBROTHER,OLDERSISTERNetwork;NGOCouncil• BosnaRiverBasinInvestmentFair• Sixorganisationalmanagementandstrategicplanningevents• Advocacy and strategic planning• Sevenadvocacy,lobbyingandcampaignevents• Threewatchdogtrainingswithsituationaltesting• Sixyoungleaders’trainings• Advocacyand“NoChildBrides”• Two strategic planning events• Leadership training• Foureventsonparticipationinlocaldecision-making
GovernmentandCSOscooperation
Fundraising
• CSO/governmentcooperationmechanisms• TwoToTfortheTheatreoftheOppressedandEUMinistryOfficials
• Fundraising• Identifyingpotentialdonors• Fundraising,donorrelations,projectwriting
28 TACSO Project | Overview of TACSO achievement - www.tacso.org
Cooperationwithbusinesses
• CSO/businesscooperation
Table 6: Types of topics and areas covered by the Help desk services during TACSO Phase Two
ThefollowingaresomeofthedirectbenefitsforCSOsderivingfromhelpdesksupportduringthesecondphaseofTACSO:
• AVATreimbursementmechanismforCSOsinAlbaniaforIPAfundedprojectsisinplaceduetothecombinedeffortsoftheTACSOAlbaniaOfficeandtheEUDinTirana.
• ProjectswerepreparedandsubmittedforthePartnershipProgrammeforCSOs.Followingthetraining,sixrepresentativesofCSOswhotookpartinthetrainingappliedforthefirsttimeforthecallsforproposals,IPACBCAlbania-KosovoandIPACSF2012.
• FiftymembersoftheWomen’sNetworkofBiHarecommittedtoactivelyexchangingexperiencesandtoactingtogethermoreeffectivelywiththepublicinaccordancewiththemissionofthenetwork,TogetherweareStronger.
• Developedaconcretetwo-yearactionplanintheformofalogicalframeworkwithfoursix-monthperiodsandsevenprogressmeasuringindicatorsfromNovember2011toNovember2013fortheOLDERBROTHER,OLDERSISTERNetworkinBiH.
• StrategicplanwasupgradedfortheNGOCouncil.• TheEUDreceived72applicationsforEIDHR2011.AlloftheapplicantsreceivedsupportfromtheTACSO
KosovohelpdeskinthepreparationprocessforthisCfP.• The North Anatolian Development Agency (KUZKA) launched over ten grant programmes for local
stakeholdersontourism.• AssociationforMonitoringGenderQuality(CEID)establishedgendersensitivecivilrightsmonitoring.In
additionCEIDsubmittedaprojectproposaltobuildthegendermainstreamingcapacityofcivilmonitoringinitiativesinTurkeytotheEIDHR2012call.
2.6. By providing project guidance and monitoring, TACSO is an additi onal instrument that contributes to the quality of implementati on of EU funded projects.
TACSOreceivedapproximately50differentrequestsfrom80CSOsinonesix-monthreportingperiod.This ishelpfulinunderstandinghowoftenserviceisrequestedandhowimportanttheprovisionofprojectguidanceandmonitoringistoCSOs.Examplesofsomerequestsareasfollow:
TA desk
Albania
Servicesagreedonandactiontaken
OrganisedtwosessionsonSuccessfullyManagingEUFundedProjects
Conducted a monitoring mission:
• togetherwiththeEuropeanCommission(EC)andRegionalCooperationandPro-grammes(D3)DGELARGrepresentativestoorganisationsthathavebenefittedfromgrantsfromregionalcallsforproposals-PartnershipActionsforWomen’sEmpowermentandCultural,thushelpingorganisationstocomplywithallECregulationswhileimplementingtheirprojects.
• TransparencyInternational
www.tacso.org - Overview of TACSO achievement |TACSO Project 29
TA desk Servicesagreedonandactiontaken
ProvidedassistancetoorganisationsimplementingEUfundedprojects:IPA2009na-tionalcallsforproposals,IPACBC,IPARegionalProgrammes,andEIDHR2010/2011.
Organisedteninformationsessionsfor162CSOsfromtenadministrativeregionsofAlbaniaintheframeworkoftheIPACSF2012CivicInitiativesandCapacityBuildingcallforproposalstoexplorewaystobecomepartnersorassociatesinprojectsinclud-ingPADORregistration;applicationprocedurestoestablishanorganisation;success-fullyimplementingEUfundedprojects;findingpartnersforprojectsattheregionalandcrossborderlevel;regulationsregardingreporting;eligibleinvoices;andtender-ingprocedures.
OrganisedamonitoringmissiontoCSOsthatbenefittedfromgrantsintheframeworkoftheWomen’sEmpowermentandCulturalcallforproposals.
PlannedmonitoringwiththeheadoftheEUD’sSectionforSocialDevelopment,CivilSocietyandCrossBorderCooperationinBiHandTaskManagerforCivilSocietyandEmploymentfromtheEUDelegationforawardedprojectsunderthecomponent,ProjectGuidanceandMonitoringforIPA2009.
OfferedTAtoeightissue-basednetworksgrantedunderthecall,SupporttoIssueBasedNGONetworks,fromMarch2012toJune2013.TheeightCSOsandtheir45partnershavebeencompletingtwoonlinecomprehensiveassessmentquestionnaires.Basedonthefindings,tailoredmadeworkshopswereorganised.ThepurposeoftheTAwasfortheCSOstohaveagreaterimpacttogetherandtobeabletoreachabiggercommunityandgreaterpublic.
ProvidedsupporttotwoCSOsimplementingMBprojects,WorldVisionBiHandSouthEast Europe (SEE) Change Net
Organisedtwoguidance/monitoringworkshops,WorldVisionBiHandPartnerstvozajavnozdravlje.
TenCSOsparticipatedinthetrainingonfinancialaspectsofMBIPAprojects
TworequestsforTAcamefromtheimplementersofIPAMBprojects,oneontheuseofcontingencyreservesandtheotherontheauditingofcompaniesinCroatia
DuringtheperiodSeptember-December,tenprojectsreceivedprojectguidancesupport
IncoordinationwiththeEUD,KosovohasdevelopedacapacitybuildingplanforCSOsimplementingEUfundedprojects.TrainingfocusedonfinancialmanagementandtheEU
OrganisedmentoringandguidancevisitstoallKosovoCSOs(Aureola,CenterfortheProtectionofVictimsandPreventionofTraffickinginHumanBeings(PVPT),NGOQeliza,UnionofIndependentTradeUnionsofKosova(BSPK),PartnersKosova)implementingprojectsfromtheIPAregionalgrantscheme,WomenEmpowerment.Thevisitfocusedonoverallimplementation,relationshipswithpartnersandfinancialmanagement.
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Croati a
Kosovo
30 TACSO Project | Overview of TACSO achievement - www.tacso.org
TA desk Servicesagreedonandactiontaken
AssistancewasalsoprovidedtotheInstituteforSustainabilityandDevelopmentofYouth(ISDY),whichisaregionalFPAforoverallprojectmanagementandrelationswithpartnersandArbeiter-Samariter-BundDeutschlandeV(ASB).
SupportednineCSOsimplementingregionalprojectsonseveralissueswhichincludedregistrationoftheprojectwithinthePublicRevenueOffice,theprocedureforVATexemption,fillingintheA3-PformfortheMinistryofFinance,mediatingbetweentheprojectimplementerandtheoutsourcingagencyfororganisingeventsinthecountry,andrequirementsforissuingautoinsurancecards.
InformedCSOsonthemailinglistofthefollowingcallforproposals,NationalIPA2009,SupporttoEnhancement,SustainabilityandDevelopmentofanActiveCivilSocietyandCompetitionforCSOs,announcingthatinfodaysaboutthecallswereorganised.InformationwasalsodistributedregardingthevariousEUprogrammes,suchasYouthinAction,EuropeforCitizens,PROGRESS,Culture,LifelongLearningProgramme,andNationalIPA2009
Organisedpromotionaleventsfor16nationalCSOsthatareeitherleaderorpartnerorganisationsintheimplementationoftheregionalprojectsawardedwithintheCSFpartnership programme
ProvidedsupporttoCSOsfocusedonPADORregistration,CSOapplicationsforEUfundedprojects,andfinancialreporting
Organisedathree-daytrainingonthesubject,EUProjectImplementation,for34CSOrepresentativesfocusingonthesuccessfulimplementationofEUfundedprojectsinMontenegroincludingEIDHRandIPA
Supportedsmaller,lessdevelopedCSOstoimprovetheircapacityforthepreparationofprojectproposalsforEUfunds.ThespecificobjectivewastoenhancetheknowledgeandskillsofselectedCSOrepresentativesfromMontenegroinmethods,techniques,toolsandapproaches,usingreal-casescenarios.ThisactivityincludedCSOs,mainlyfromruralareasofMontenegro,withanannualbudgetin2011ofupto30,000Euro.Supportwastargetedtowards:
• The mosteffectivedeliverymethodsandapplicableinstrumentstoachievemeasurable outcomes
• DevelopmentofanLFmatrix,preparationoftheapplicationform,preparationoftheprojectbudget
TACSOSerbiahascompletedtheReviewofLessonsLearnedandGoodPracticesinEUSponsoredProjectImplementationanddistributedittoalltheMBIPAgranteesasguidance
SupportedCSOTerrasintheimplementationofaCBCprojectandthepreparationoftenderdocumentation
Organisedaworkshopwith12CSOstodiscusschallengesintheimplementationofEUprojectsaccordingtothePRAGrulesandprocedures.
Macedonia
Montenegro
Serbia
Table 7: Types of guidelines and monitoring for the EU funded projects covered by the Help desk services during TACSO Phase Two
www.tacso.org - Overview of TACSO achievement |TACSO Project 31
UnderComponent3ofphaseoneofTACSO,theobjectivewasthattheprojectwouldenhancecompetenciesofCSOs.
Bytheendofphaseone,thefollowingwasachieved:
1.6. TACSO contributed to strengthening the capacities of CSOs by developing and delivering regional and national training programmes tailored to the needs of CSOs and complemented by traditional and modern Information and Communication Technology (ICT) delivery channels.
Asaresultoftheneedsassessmentprocesstrainingprogrammes,includingcurricula,manualsandguidelineshavebeendevelopedforfivesubjectsofrelevancetoallbeneficiaries:
• EUfundraisingforpilottraining.• DevelopingandmanagingEUprojects.• CSOmanagement.• Civilparticipationinthedecision-makingprocess.• Advocacyandlobbying.
Approximately200nationalcoursesweredeliveredduringphaseoneofTACSOOne.
Inordertomaximisetheretentionofknowledgegainedduringtraining,courseswerecomprisedofface-to-facetrainingandindividualandpracticalworkdeliveredinthreemodules:
Module1:Tworegionalface-to-facethree-daytrainingsessionsdesignedandconductedonthebasisofaparticipativemethodology,“learningbydoing“.
Module2:Comprisedofindividualhome-basedpracticalassignmentswheretrainersassistedparticipantsintheirworkonindividualassignments.AssignmentswereaccessedthroughtheWebpageusingTACSOe-learningtools.Thisenabledinteractionamongthetrainersandothertraineesincludingaccesstoteachers’notes,guidelinesandvariousotherdocumentsofrelevanceforthecoursesubject.
Module3: ANationaltrainingsession,approximatelytwomonthsafterModule1regionaltraining,organisedbynationalTACSOoffices,whichwererequestedtodevelopnationaltrainingplanstoincorporatethesubjectscoveredbytheregionaltrainingandadaptedtolocalconditions.Forthepurposeofknowledgedisseminationresidentadvisersplannedthesetrainingstogetherwiththetraineesfromtheregionaltrainings.Theregionaltraineegroupsbecameresourcepersonsinthenationalprogrammes.
DuringModule3,theparticipantspresentedtheirwork,sharedtheirexperiencesandunderwentatrainingoftrainers’component,whichpreparedtheparticipantsandensuredthesustainabilityofthedisseminationofknowledgethroughsubsequentnationaltrainings.Uponcompletionofthetraining,participantswereexpectedtomakethemselvesavailableandconduct“repeatercourses”intheirowncountry/territory.
TACSO’sRegionalTrainingProgramme(RTP)wasevaluatedinJune2011,bytwoexternalevaluatorsneartheendofphaseone.Thefollowingarethefindingsoftheevaluationreport5 :
COMPONENT 3: CAPACITY DEVELOPMENTCapacity Development - Phase one of TACSO
5 ReportsfromthetrainingprogrammeshavebeenproducedandpublishedonTACSO’sWebpagehere.ThereportsfromthefourregionaltrainingsconductedduringtheperiodMarch-AugustarealsoavailableonTACSO’sWeb page.
www.tacso.org - Overview of TACSO achievement |TACSO Project 33
Relevance:TheprogrammedesignaddressedtheneedsoftheCSOsinthetargetedcountriesasidentifiedthroughtheneedsassessments.Aparticipatoryapproachhasbeenadoptedensuringadequatestakeholderinvolvement.Thethree-moduletrainingdesignintwodifferentcountriesisinnovativefortheregion,whichsubstantiallycontributedtothetrainings’regionaldimension.Themainstrengthsofthetrainingprogrammewererelatedtohaving:apilottrainingthathasenabledmodificationstothetrainingmethodology;aToTelementtosupportnationaltrainings;abalancedparticipationfromruralandurbanCSOsandgenderbalanceoftheparticipants.ThedesignoftheregionalandnationaltrainingswaswellbalancedtoensuretheparticipationofruralandurbanCSOsandgenderbalance(50percent)ofparticipants.AtleastonethirdoftheselectedCSOswerefromruralareas,whichaddssignificantvaluetoruralsocieties.
Effi ciency:TheevaluationfindingsfortheimplementationduringthefourmonthsbetweenFebruaryandMay2010revealthatthefivetrainingprogrammestookplaceinasmooth,timelyfashioninsixlocationswith86participantsfromtheWesternBalkansandTurkey.
Overall,thefiveprogrammeswereefficientlyimplementedwithappropriateinputanddeliveredtheplannedoutputswithsatisfactoryquality.
Allactivitieswereimplementedasscheduled,particularly,selectionsoftopics,trainersandparticipants,announcementsanddeliveryofthetrainingprogrammes,logistics,trainingreportingandevaluation.SufficientnumbersofqualifiedstaffwereallocatedatalloftheTACSOregionalandnationalofficeswithabalancedtaskdistributionensuringthequalityandquantityofallthetrainingprogrammesabovethetargetedindicators.AnothertimelyandappropriateinputwasprovidedbytheprojectWebmasterandtheCommunicationOfficerattheTACSORegionalOfficeinorderto(i)designtheWebpage,e-learningande-coaching,(ii)uploadthenecessaryinputssuchasdescriptions,announcements,opencalls,trainingmaterials,trainingcurriculum,trainingexpertrosterandrelevantreports,and(iii)updatethenecessaryinformationwithintheWebpageanditslinks.
Visibilitywassatisfactorilyachieved.Otherinputs,suchastrainers,trainingmaterialsandon-linefacilitieswereofhighqualityandprovidedontime.Interviewsdemonstratedadequate,efficientuseofbudgets.
Relevance Stronglyagree Agree Somewhatagree Disagree Stronglydisagree
As indicated in the training needs assessmentofCSOs,theTACSORegionalTrainingProgrammehasservedtheneeds,prioritiesandmissionin enhancing capacity to develop and delivernationaltrainingactivities
Thestructureofyourparticipantgroupwasbalancedintermsofcompetences,networkingandcooperation
Thethree-moduledesignoftheRTPwasanappropriatedesignforyourpurpose
22.2%
27.8%
19.4
66.7%
41.7%
61.1
11.1%
27.8%
19.4%
0
2.8%
0
0
0
0
Table8.:OverviewoftheevaluationoftheRTPregardingitsrelevance
34 TACSO Project | Overview of TACSO achievement - www.tacso.org
Effi ciency:Veryhigh/
StronglyagreeSufficient/
SomewhatagreeVerylow/
StronglydisagreeLow/
DisagreeHigh/Agree
Theextentoftimelinesforthedeliveryofthetrainingsessionsandtrainingmodules
ThecontentandusefulnessofthetrainingmodulesforthepurposeofToT
Theextentofe-learningtoolsasatimely,usefulandupdatedsourceofinformationwithsufficientcontentandformat
Thequalityofthefollow-uptrainingcourseanditscoachingintermsofusefulnessforyournationaltrainingactivities
Theappropriatenessandpracticalityoftheapplicationprocedures,includingannouncements,selection,etc.
22.9%
15.6%
8.6%
8.6%
33.3%
34.3%
28.1%
28.6%
31.4%
52.8%
40%
43.8%
40%
40%
8.3%
2.9%
12.5%
20%
20%
2.8
0
0
2.8%
0
2.8
Table9.:OverviewoftheevaluationoftheRTPregardingitsefficiency
Eff ecti veness:Theregionaltrainingprogrammeshavebeenhighlyeffective.Theyhaveachievedthegenerallyexpectedresults.Theyservedtodevelopcapacityforalmostalltheparticipants.Theycreatedaregionalplatformforcooperation,evenresultingindevelopmentandimplementationofjointprojects.
Allofthemaintrainingoutputshaveproventobebeneficialandverywidelyandeffectivelyusedbytheparticipants.
Thedesignsupportedtheeffectivenessofthethree-moduleapproach,includingapilottrainingonEUfundraising,byidentifyingtheleveloftraining(basic/advanced)aswellasbyadaptingthecontentandtrainingfacilitiesaccordingly.TheselectionofdifferentlocationsforeachtrainingprogrammesupportedtheeffectivenessofexposingtheparticipantstodifferentCSOculturesindifferentcountries.
Thethirdmoduleforfollow-uppresentationofhome-basedassignmentsisreportedtohavebeenveryeffective.Learningbydoingandsharingofexperienceswhiledevelopingpresentationskillsthroughopenlycriticisedperformanceshelpedmanyparticipants.However,thelimitedtimeforToTineachofthetrainingprogrammesprovedtobelesseffectiveforthosewithalimitedtrainingbackground.Adequatemonitoringhascontributedsubstantiallytotheeffectiveness.
Mostofthetrainerswereassessedbytheparticipantsasverystrongwithahighlevelofknowledgeandexperience.Thediversityofthetrainersasinternationalandlocalexpertsoffereddifferentaspectsofthetopicsfortheregion.Theevaluationintervieweesconfirmedthattrainersofthethreecourseswereparticularlyeffectiveinmotivatingtheparticipants,transferringinformation,coachingandfollowingupontheirassignments.
Thenationalofficeseffectivelysupported therealisationof thenational trainingcoursecommitmentsof theparticipants.Participants’highsatisfactionwiththeircommunicationwithnationalofficestaff,particularlyfor
www.tacso.org - Overview of TACSO achievement |TACSO Project 35
nationaltrainings,reflectstheircontributiontoeffectiveness.
ItwasstatedduringtheinterviewsthatincreasedskillsandknowledgeofadvocacyhaveencouragedCSOstocooperatewiththemedia.Similarly,thoseinterviewedconfirmthattheRegionalTrainingProgrammeenhancedtheirknowledgevianetworkingandsharingofexperienceswithotherCSOs.
Thetrainingmaterialsandtheirtranslatedversionsensurethequalityofthereplicatednationaltrainingprogrammesinenhancingtheirroles.Videotapesrecordedduringtheregionaltrainingprogrammessupportedeffectivenessandsustainabilitybycontributingtothequalityofthenationaltrainingprogrammes.
Themainoutputsdeliveredfortheachievementofresultscoveredawiderangeoftrainingtools,suchasthetrainingmaterials,e-learningplatforms,Webpagewithwell-developeddocumentationincludingvideoclips,e-coaching,theTACSOCourseCatalogue2010-2011,andanexpertrosteralmostallofwhichprovedtobebeneficialandverywidelyandeffectivelyusedbytheparticipantsbothfortheregionalandnationaltrainingprogrammes.
Effi ciency: Veryhigh Sufficient VerylowLowHigh
TheextentthattheTACSORTPhasincreasedtheinstitutionalcapacitiesofCSOs
Theusefulnessofthetrainingmaterialsand methodologies introduced during the training sessions in the developmentandimplementationofyourpracticalassignmentandnationaltraining programme
TheextenttowhichtheTACSORTPhasservedasasuitabletoolfordevelopingyourtrainingcapacitiesforconductingnationaltrainingactivities
3%
9.1%
9.1%
48.5%
60.6%
57.6%
42.4%
21.2%
24.2%
6.1%
9.1%
6.1%
0
0
3%
Theusefulnessofthetrainingcurriculum and TACSO Course Catalogue 2010/2011fordevelopingthenationaltraining programmes
3.4% 51.7% 37.9% 6.9% 0
TheusefulnessofTACSOexpertrosteron-lineforthenationaltrainingprogrammes
6.9% 51.7% 31% 6.9% 3.4%
Thebenefitsyouwouldexpectfromtranslatingthetrainingmaterialsintoyour local language
25.8% 38.7% 29% 3.2% 3.2%
TheextentthattheTACSORTPhasserved to enhance knowledge via networkingandsharingofexperienceswith other CSOs
18.2% 33.3% 36.4% 9.1% 3
36 TACSO Project | Overview of TACSO achievement - www.tacso.org
Effi ciency: Veryhigh Sufficient VerylowLowHigh
Thelevelofbenefitoftheon-linesupportand/orcoachingreceivedfromthetrainersand/orhelpdeskforyournationaltrainingactivities
9.1% 36.4% 30.3% 24.2% 0
The level that your CSO members or otherstakeholdershavebenefitedfromyournationaltrainingprogrammes
18.8% 50% 29.1% 3.1% 3
Table10.:OverviewoftheevaluationoftheRTPregardingitseffectiveness
Degree of Change/Impact:
TheregionaltrainingprogrammecreatedasignificantimpactontheparticipantsandontheCSOsthemselvesinseveralaspectssuchascapacitybuildingfordevelopingprojects,actions,etc.TheprogrammesdevelopedcooperationandpartnershipswhilecontributingtotheoverallobjectiveoftheTACSOproject,“toincreaseandimprovethecapacityandactionsofCSOsaswellastoimprovethedemocraticroleofCSOs”.
Participantsalreadyequippedwithagoodleveloftraining skills could enhance their capacity through theToTelementoftheregionaltrainingsanddelivernationaltrainingcourses.Ontheotherhand,thosewith very limited training skills could only enhance their competencetoserveasco-trainersforthenationaltrainingprogrammesaswellasfordeliveringin-housetrainings.Theinterviewswiththeparticipantsalsoconfirmedthattheimpactissignificantsincethetrainingcourse topics directly addressed the issues that they are activeinandonwhichtheyneedcapacitydevelopmentgiventhepoliticalandsocialdevelopmentsintheregion.Anotherstrongprospectforimpacthasbeenthecreationofacommunicationplatformfortheparticipants,likelytoleadtofurtherpositivechangesintheirdemocraticroleswithintheregion.Networkingamongtheparticipants’CSOshasalreadybeenbuiltinformallyandalmostalltheparticipantshavebeensufficientlysharinginformationandexperiencestocreatecooperationinthefuturetoprepareIPAfundedprojects.
Complementingtheabovedevelopments,immediatechangesinsomeoftheparticipants’experiencesintheirCSOshavealreadybeenobservedduringthetrainingprogrammes.Thedevelopmentofnewstrategiesorenhancingtheirpresentstrategiesduringtheirhome–basedassignmentsandatthefollow-upsessionshasstrengthenedtheirCSOs’democraticroles.
Turkey •Twenty-sixparticipantsintheAdvocacyandLobbyingtrainingpracticeddevelopingadvocacyplans for their own projects.
•SixteenparticipantsintheStrategicPlanningandFundraisingtrainingdevelopedafundraisingstrategyfortheirassociation.
•Twenty-sixparticipantsintheCSOLeadershipCommunicationandFundraisingcoursepreparedsampleapplicationsfordonorfunding.
Kosovo •One hundred and eighty grassroots organisationsattendedconsultativeworkshopsinfiveregionsofKosovodiscussingtheircapacitiesandhowTACSOcouldmeettheirneeds in the near future.
•Sixteen Serbian and Bosnian minority NGOs benefitedfromthetrainingcourseonPreparationandManagementoftheEUFundedProjectsorganisedinMitrovica.
•Twenty-threegrassrootsorganisationsbenefitedfrom CSO management training.
Macedonia •SixCSOspreparedadvocacyactionplans.•Sevenorganisationsdevelopednewstrategic
plans.•Twenty CSOs from across the country engaged in newpartnershipactionprojects.
www.tacso.org - Overview of TACSO achievement |TACSO Project 37
Serbia •Between70to80percentofalltrainingparticipantsreportedtohavecompletedfollow-upassignments,i.e.deliverablestheparticipantsneededtoproduceintheweeksafterthetrainingperiod to ensure full transfer of knowledge and practiceofgainedskills.
•Seventy-threepercentofallparticipantsofthe CSOs as Social Service Providers training produced an advocacy and service providing plan fortheirorganisations.
•ElevenLFAmatrixfinaldraftswereproducedaftertheProjectProposalWritingandImplementationforEUFundstraining.
•EightypercentofalltheparticipatingCSOrepresentativesdidtheassignmentstheyhadtaken on.
•FiveadvocacycampaignswerecreatedbytheparticipantsafterthenationaltrainingonAdvocacy and Lobbying.
•An EU policy paper was developed for each of the four CSOs as Service Providers trainings in the area of Rural Development, Local Development and Ecology. Seventy representativesfrom70organisationsparticipatedinthesetraining
Someoftheparticipantshavepreparedrealcasestudiessuchasadvocacyandlobbyingstrategies,realprojectproposalsforobtainingEUfunds,strategiesforCSOmanagementorcivilparticipationindecision-makingintheirownlocalareas.
Furthermore,thequestionnairealsoconfirmsthatthetrainingprogrammeshavehadasignificantimpactatthelocallevel.Fromthequestionnaire,84.4percentoftheparticipantshaveadvisedotherCSOstobenefitfromtheTACSO regional training materials available on the Web pageaswellasfromtheTACSOhelpdesks,thusenablingamultipliereffectintheirsocieties.
Theresponsestothequestionnairealsorevealthat71percentoftheparticipantshavedevelopedprojects,activities,movements,etc.intheirCSOstobringpositivechangesintheirsocieties,whichareattributedtotheimpactoftheregionaltrainingcourses.
Impact Veryhigh Sufficient VerylowLowHigh
TheextenttowhichtheTACSORTPhas contributed to the empowerment ofyourCSOintermsofitsdemocraticroletomakesomedifferenceinyoursociety?
12.9% 35.5% 32.3% 12.9% 6.5%
Table11.:OverviewoftheevaluationoftheRTPregardingitsimpact
Sustainability:SustainabilitywasestimatedassomewhatvagueduetothelimitedfinancialandinstitutionalcapacityoftheCSOsinalmostalloftheeight,targetedcountries.
MostoftheparticipantswerewillingtodelivertrainingtootherCSOsonthetopictheyweretrainedastrainerson.AtleasttenpercentoftheparticipantsarewillingtoutilisetheirdevelopedcapacityinthefurtherpracticesoftheirCSOsandtodeliverin-housetraining.Theyhaveagreatneedforregionalnetworking,cooperationandpartnershiptoenhancetheirdemocraticrolesintheirsocietiesandamongthesocietieswithintheregion.
TheTACSORegionalOfficeprovidedseveraltrainingconditionstoensuresustainabilityofthenationaltrainings.TACSOmadeseveraltrainingcomponentsavailablefortheparticipantsandtheCSOs,suchas,atrainerroster,CourseCatalogueandtrainingcurriculum,trainingmaterialsandtrainingmanuals.ThesearealluploadedtotheWebsiteandareeasilyaccessiblebytheCSOsatanytime.Thequestionnaireresultsconfirmthat83.9percentoftheparticipantsexpectthattheirCSOswillbemakinguseoftheseTACSOfacilitiesfortheirfuturenationaltrainingprogrammesorforothersimilaractivities.TheinterviewsshowthattheCSOsarewillingtoestablish
38 TACSO Project | Overview of TACSO achievement - www.tacso.org
cooperationandpartnershipwithotherCSOsattheregionallevel,whichislikelytocontributetosustainability.
Thelocaladvisorygroupsinalloftheeightcountrieshavebeenstronglyinfavouroftheregionaltrainingprogrammes.However,thisdependsontheavailabilityofhumanandfinancialcapacitiesoftheLAGs.Furthermore,ineachofthetargetedcountries,thereisaneedforsupportfromthegovernmentsorhigherdecision-makersatthepolicyleveltoenablesustainabilityoftheregionaltrainingprogrammes.
Sustainability Veryhigh Sufficient VerylowLowHigh
The extent that you expect your CSO willbemakinguseoftheTACSOhelpdesksupportforyourfuturenationaltrainingactivities
YourlevelofexpectationtoaccessandreceiveEUfinancingorotherresourcesinordertofurtherdevelopthedemocraticroleofyourCSO
The extent that you expect your CSOwillbemakinguseofTACSOfacilitiessuchasExpertRoster,CourseCatalogue,e-learningforyourfuturenationaltrainingprogrammeorotheractivities
Yourlevelofexpectationtobuildneworcontinueexistingpartnershipsandcooperationwithotherlocaland/orforeignCSOsinordertofurtherdevelopthedemocraticroleofyourCSO
12.5%
31.3%
12.1%
33.3%
43.8%
40.6%
54.5%
39.4%
37.5%
28.1%
27.3%
24.2%
3.1%
0
6.1%
3.0%
3.1%
0
0
0
Table12.:OverviewoftheevaluationoftheRTPregardingitssustainability
1.7. TACSO built a network of individuals in the region as a future resource of persons/trainers.
TACSOusedatransparent,participatory,inclusiveandqualitydrivenapproachwhenselectingparticipantsforthetrainings.
CSOsfromallbeneficiarycountries/territorieswereinvitedtonominateparticipantsthroughanopencallprocedurepublishedontheWebpage.Thisapproachensuredqualitydrivenselectionaswellasthebuildingofanetworkofindividualsintheregionthatcouldlaterserveasresourcepersons/trainers.
Twohundredandseventy-nineapplicationswerereceivedforthepilottrainingthatstartedinearlyFebruary2010.
Fortheremainingtrainingprogrammesparticipantswereselectedbasedonasetofdefinedcriteria.Atotalof69participantswereselectedtoparticipatewithtwoCSOrepresentativespercountryandfourfromTurkey.Intotal,theprojectreceived641applications,with24percentfromruralareas.
www.tacso.org - Overview of TACSO achievement |TACSO Project 39
Insomecaseswhereatrainingprogrammeisdeliveredforaspecifictargetgroup,forexamplemembersofacertainorganisation,thetaskofnominatingtraineesisgiventothatorganisation.TosimplifytheprocessofidentifyingsuitabletrainerssomeoftheTACSOteamshaveestablishedpoolsofexpertsthatareavailableforshort-termassignments.Inthesecases,themembersofthepoolshavealsorespondedtoopencalls.Similarly,theWebpageincludesafeaturewherebyexpertscanrequesttobeincludedinaTACSOExpertRosteronline.
1.8. TACSO is positioned as a regional CSO capacity building resource point.
DuringTACSOPhaseOneawiderangeoftrainingtoolsweredeveloped,suchas:•Sixtrainingmanualssix;•Tenguidancemanuals;•E-learningplatform;•Expert rosters
almostallofwhichprovedtobebeneficialandverywidelyandeffectivelyusedbytheparticipantsbothfortheregionalandnationaltrainingprogrammes.
1.9. Organisations outside of the big cities in the region benefited from TACSO’s services.
TACSOreachedouttoorganisationsbeyondthebordersofthebigcitieswhendeliveringregionalandnationaltrainings.
For example:InBosniaandHerzegovina,approximately260peoplehavebenefittedfrom14differentcoursesconductedduringonesix-monthreportingperiod.SubjectscoveredbytheinterventionsincludeDevelopingandManagingEUProjects,CSOManagement,Citizen’sParticipationinDecision-MakingProcesses,AdvocacyandLobbying,andFundraising.WithafewexceptionsthetraininghastargetedCSOrepresentatives.Theintentionhasbeentodelivertrainingtosmaller,ruralbasedorganisations.CourseshavebeenconductedinBanjaLuka,Zenica,Livno,Bijeljina,Goražde,Doboj,Srebrenica,SarajevoandTrebinje.Threeexamplesofcoursesconductedillustratethelevelofinterestandtheapproachappliedintermsofattemptingtoreachout:
• A one-daytrainingonDevelopingandManagingEUProjects–IntroductiontoIPAandLFAdeliveredinsixtowns.ThetotalnumberofapplicationsforthiscoursefromCSOswas132ofwhich98CSOsactuallyparticipated.ThetargetgroupwasCSOsfromtheareasnearthetargetedcitiesandorganisationswithoutpriorexperienceinapplyingforEUfunds.
• one-daybasictrainingonCSOManagementinDoboj–Therewere23applicantsand19CSOsparticipated.ThetargetgroupwasinsufficientlydevelopedCSOsandnewlyestablishedorganisations,whichdidnothaveexperienceinmanagementandstrategicplanning.
• Atwo-and-a-half-daytrainingonDevelopingandManagingEUProjectsinSarajevo–Therewere64applicantsofwhich20CSOsparticipated.Targetgroupsweremid-developedCSOsfromdifferentpartsofBosniaandHerzegovinawithsomepracticalexperienceinapplyingforEUfunds,forexample,organisationsthatappliedbutdidnotreceivefinancialsupportfortheirprojects.AfurtherrequirementwasthattheyhadparticipatedinoneoftheTACSOtrainingsonPADORandLFAregistration.
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InTurkey,thenationaltrainingprogrammewasadaptedtoaddresslocalneedsbyprovidingamultiplemoduletrainingthatcoveredmanyofthecomponentsofCSOneeds.Underthistailor-madeCSOleadershipprogramme,participantsattendedthreemoduleswheretheycoveredstrategicplanning,projectdevelopmentandmanagement,fundraisingandcommunication.Also,inthereportingperiodTACSOTurkeyprovidedseventrainingsinCanakkale,Balikesir,AnkaraandIstanbulreaching153participants.Inallofthesetrainings,thetargetgroupwaslocalCSOsfunctioningmainlyoutsideoflargecities.Covering24outof81cities,126outof153participantswerefromthecitiesotherthanAnkaraandIstanbul.Anaverageof80peopleappliedtoeachtraining,whichalsoincreasedTACSOvisibility.TACSOTurkeyalsoprovidedcapacitybuildingassistancetoplatformssuchasthePlatformagainstHateCrimesforcampaigningandthePlatformfortheCreationofaWorldHandicappedUnionforinternalfunctioningandpreparationofaninternationalconference.
Testimonials by participants:
“I have gained serious experience and knowledge and now I have an idea of how to transfer them to my working area.”
“I now feel ready to do many things. I raised my awareness even when we were eating or dancing with new people, sharing in joint happiness and the power of women. I am much more confident now.”
“It is very important to gather women from different areas, ideas and locations. Being together is a chance to open communication channels. We are, in a way, establishing a new communication network.”
DuringthesecondphaseofTACSO,theoverallobjectiveofComponent3remainedsimilartothefirstphase.TheonlydifferencewasthattheCSOcompetencestoaccomplishtheirmissionswereenhancednotonlyonthenationallevelbutattheregionallevelaswell.Thefollowingwasachieved:
2.7. TACSO enabled and facilitated qualitative and quantitative participation of CSOs in EU project cycle management matters.
AsacontinuationoftheTACSOcapacitybuildingprogrammefromphaseone,TACSOenabledqualitativeandquantitativeparticipationofCSOsinEUprojectcyclemanagementmattersthroughoutthesecondphase.
• TACSO Albania provided:
• AssistancetotheEUDintheprogrammingofIPACSF2012/2013ProjectFicheforAlbaniadistributingprojectfichefromitsdatabaseto850CSOsandconsolidatedinputfromCSOsforthedelegationtofollowup.
• SupporttotheEUDinTiranafortheEIDHRCountry-BasedSupportSchemes(CBSS)2010/2011includingconsultationmeetingswithCSOs,trainingsessionsforapplicantswhilethecallforproposalswasopenduringJanuary-March2011andsupportthroughthehelpdeskandcapacitybuildingforthetensuccessfulgranteesofthiscallonHowtoManageEUFundedProjects.
• AssistancetoCSOsbenefittingfromEUgrantsincludingIPAPartnershipActions’callsforproposals.
Capacity Development - Phase two of TACSO
• At least 30 percent of applicants applying for IPA and other EU funded instruments who are trained by TACSO Albania have been awarded grant contracts.
• At least five CSOs assisted by TACSO Albania entered in partnerships for EU Regional Calls for Proposals – CSF Partnership Programme for Civil Society Organisations.
• More than ten CSOs in Albania benefited from TACSO support on concrete development of EU funded projects.
• The number of small and rural CSOs in the TACSO Albania database increased by ten percent from March to May as comparison to TACSO One.
• Albanian CSOs received EU funding for the first time as a result of TACSO support: Help the Life Association and Academy of Political Studies.
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• ContinuedassistancetoprevioustraineesoftheManagingEUFundedProjectstrainingtosuccessfullymanageimplementationofprojects,aswellasonhowtoimprovetheirpartnersearchcapacitytodevelopprojectproposalsforEUfunding.
• SupportinstrengtheningthedialoguebetweentheEUandCSOs,inparticularsmall,ruralandgrassrootsCSOs.InSeptember2012,ameetingwasorganisedwiththerepresentativesoftheEuropeanCommission,D3/DGELARG,MrRobertNelsonandtheProgrammeManagerfromtheDelegationoftheEuropeanUniontoAlbania,MrStefanoCalabretta.ThemeetingaimedtoincreasinginformationforCSOsontheEUSupportMechanismsthatareofferedtoCSOsbothontheregionalandnationallevels.Morethan36organisationsworkinginthefieldofeducation,vulnerablegroups,minorities,women,youth,childrenandtheenvironmentattendedtheevent.ThemeetingrepresentedauniqueopportunityforAlbanianCSOstogetaclearerviewofEUpoliciesinBrusselsandTiranaregardingcivilsociety.ItalsoservedasameansforthemtotransmitthechallengestheyencounteredintheireverydayworkwithEUprojects.ParticipantshighlightedtheirappreciationforthedynamicdialogueestablishedbetweentheEUandthemselvesandexpressedtheirconcernsregardingthepracticalproblemsandchallengestheyarefacinginthecourseofmanagingEUgrantcontracts.
• Modulesfortwo,three-daytrainingsessionsforsuccessfulcontractorsofEUfundedprojectsthathavebeenawardedEUgrantsundervariousCfP(IPACBC,IPARegionalCfP,EIDHRCBSS)basedonhighdemandfromCSOs.
• Three-daytrainingprogrammesinAlbaniafor14networkmembersfromtheAnaLindhFoundationonHowtoSuccessfullyApplyforEUFunding–ApplicationProcedures.TheoverallaimofthetrainingwastoincreasethecapacitiesofthenetworkmembersonhowtopreparesuccessfulprojectproposalsintheframeworkofIPAfunding.Participantsexpressedthatthetraininghelpedtocreateanoverviewofthestepstoundertake,theissuesofconcern,andsuggestionstoovercomedifficulties.Almostallparticipantsevaluatedtheinformationsessionsandtheapproachusedbythetrainersasveryuseful.Inparticular,theyhighlightedtheircommunicationstyleandtheclarificationofmanydetailsofapplicationprocedures.
• AccordingtoasurveyonqualityofservicesconductedbyTACSOCroatiainSeptember2012,of157whoparticipatedintrainingduringthefirstphaseonproposalwritingandmanagementoffundedprojects,93(60percent)respondedtothesurvey.Amongtherespondents79percentconsideredthatthetrainingdidhelptheminapplyingforfunding.Intheperiodofayearormorebeneficiarieshaveappliedonaverageforbetweenonetothreecalls.Almosthalfoftherespondents(47percent)succeededinobtainingfundsfortheirorganisation,mostofthemintheamountof10,001-50,000EUR(15percent),andquiteafewabove100,000EUR(15percent). ParticipantsinoneofthetrainingsonfinancialaspectsofMBIPAprojectsorganisedbyTACSOCroatiarespondedtothequestion:Whatdidyoulearnthatyouwillusemostinthefuture?Theyanswered:
‘Useful tools – cash flow, detailed cost recording and project inter-financing.’‘I will use all in order to improve project and organisational finances.’ ‘Specific tips for successful implementation of project and for successfully overcoming project implementation obstacles.’‘Useful tools.’‘Newly acquired knowledge of Croatian accounting procedures and rules.’‘Instruction for co-financing.’
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Furthermore,intheevaluationsparticipantssuggestedthefollowing:
• Continue with advanced trainings, with same trainers as in this workshop, who have excellent cooperation, successfully transfer knowledge and build good group cohesion;
• Send updates to participants on the changes in project and Croatian law financial procedures;• Organise a project proposal writing training;• Organise project implementation training at the beginning of project implementation;• Organise financial aspects workshop about the impact of Croatian laws and procedures on EU project
implementation.
ECevaluatorswithconcreteexamplestopracticallyexplainandteachtheapplicationprocess.
• TACSO Kosovo organised:
• AconsultativemeetingwithCSOsforIPAprogrammingin2013withtheMinistryofEuropeanIntegration.
• Threetrainingsonthetopic“HowtogetfundsfromtheEU-PreparationoftheConceptNote”inIstog/Peje,Prishtine,ShterpceinMay-June2012withatotalof56participantsofwhom55percentwerefromruralareas.Participantswereselectedfromapplicantstothecallforproposals‘CivilSocietyFacilityforKosovo”.Theobjectiveofthetrainingwastoaddressweaknessesintheapplicationprocess.TrainingcurriculaweredesignedinclosecollaborationwithECtaskmanagers.Trainingsessionsfeaturedpracticalexamplesandsimulationofanevaluationprocess.Aseparatetrainingsession,Do’sandDon’ts,wasdirectly delivered by
The number of received applications under the EIDHR 2011 in Kosovo call was 71. Based on the feedback from the EUD in Kosovo, the number of quality proposals has increased in comparison to previous CfPs. A good number of applications lack focus and innovative approach. This weakness was directly addressed in trainings delivered after receiving this information from EUD.
As a result of the trainings and TACSO information and training assistance to CSOs in Kosovo the number of applications for EIDHR 2009-2010 has increased to approximately 80, while in the EIDHR calls of 2007 the corresponding number was 31 and in 2008 it was 32.
• October2012,twotrainingswereheldonFinancialManagementofEUFundedProjectsandEUVisibilityRules.ProjectmanagersandfinancialmanagersoftheprojectsfundedunderthenationalEIDHRgrantschemeandtheregionalCSFgrantscheme,EmpowermentofWomen,attendedthistraining.Twenty-eightparticipantsfrom16CSOsand13enterpriseswerepresent.Partnerorganisationsalsobenefitedfromthistraining.TACSOorganisedadditionaltrainingtoassistnewentrepreneursinmanagingtheirprojectsgrantedundertheruralgrantsscheme.TrainingcurriculumwasfocusedonprinciplesofoverallmanagementandspecificallyfinancialmanagementandvisibilityrulesofEUfundedprojects.Theparticipantsjointlystudiedthegeneralconditionsofthegrantcontact,PRAGrulesandcompliancewithapplicableKosovolegislation.TheEUcommunicationandvisibilitymanual,communicationstrategy,visibilityplan,publicrelationsstrategyandpromotionalmaterialswerepartofthetrainingprogramme.
• LaunchedfivewiningprojectsoftheCSFKosovonationalgrantscheme.NinetypercentofthegrantbeneficiariesattendedtheTACSOtraining,HowtoprepareanEUfundedproject,organisedatthetimewhenthecallwaslaunchedtohelpCSOsintheirapplicationprocess.TACSOengagementwithLAGandcivil society in introducing partnership as a MUST in the eligibility criteria enabled six grassroots partner organisationstowingrantsforthefirsttimeandimplementtheirprojectsinpartnershipwiththeirapplicants/partnersunderthiscall.
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• FromMarchtoAugust2012theEUDelegationorganisedtwoconsultativemeetingswithCSOsregardingEIDHRprioritiesandEUcountryprogressreports.ParticipationofCSOsatthesemeetingswasmobilisedthroughtheTACSOMacedoniaWebpageandinvitationsweresentthroughtheTACSOmailinglist.ThemajorityofparticipantsattheseeventswereCSOsthatparticipatedinTACSOMacedoniaeventsandtrainings.
• DevelopmentandManagementofEUfundedprojects(twomodules)forsmallandruralwithatotalof25participants;
• Twosessionswithatotalof46participantsonDemocracyandGenderEqualityforCSOsthatdoesnotfocusongenderequalityissues.
• TACSO Montenegro organised two trainings: EUD in Montenegro was awarded a re-granting project for less developed CSOs. Among 51 CSOs that applied, 11 projects were awarded and nine of them were organisations that had participated in trainings organised by TACSO Montenegro.
! A good example of TACSO achievements and cooperation with EUD that adjusted financing schemes for less developed CSOs.
2.8. TACSO continuously has responded to the needs and demands for capacity building of CSOs in the region, which further contributed to the improvement of the organisational and fundraising capacities of CSOs.
TACSOAlbaniaorganisedathree-daynationalworkshopinNovember2012onCivilSocietyOrganisations’Sustainability-ChallengesandOpportunities.TheWorkshopgatheredover30CSOrepresentativesfromtheregionsofTirana,Durrës,Elbasan,Fier,VloraandGjirokastraworkinginthefieldsofeducation,supporttovulnerablegroups,environment,mediaandhumanrightsprotection.Theaimwastostrengthentheoverallcapacitiesofcivilsocietybyprovidinginsightsintodifferentaspectsofsustainability,tosharepositiveexperiencesandbestpracticesthatexistinthisfieldinAlbaniaandintheregion.ParticipantswereintroducedtovariousaspectsofCSOsustainability,goingbeyondfinancialsustainability,highlightingandanalysingexamplesofbestpractices.Inaddition,theparticipantshadtheopportunitytoincreaseknowledgeandassesstheaddedvalueofworkinginpartnershipwithlocalandpublicsectorinstitutionsandtheprivatesector.Followingthisnationalevent,theManualonCSOSustainabilitywaspreparedtoexploreandpresentvariousaspectsofCSOsustainabilitythatgobeyondfinancialsustainability.Italsoanalysedpossiblewaystoestablishanddeveloppartnershipsbetweencivilsocietyorganisationsandpublic/localinstitutions,includingbusinessorganisations.
TACSOBiHorganisedthefirsteducationalcycleforapproximately150participantrepresenting77CSOswithtwoparticipantsperorganisationfromruralareaswhoseprojectproposalshadbeenrejectedbytheEU.Participantswereselectedthroughanopencall.TheeducationprogrammewastailoredtotheneedsoftheparticipantsbasedonthefindingsoftheTACSONeedsAssessmentandthefindingsoftheLODproject.Itconsistedofthreeparts:1)mentorship,2)atwo-dayworkshopfortworepresentativesperorganisation,3)afinaljointworkshopwithallCSOs.Uponcompletionoftheeducationcycleparticipantswereableto:
• Diagnoseproblemswiththeirproposals.• Redesignprojectproposalsfor77CSOsbyre-examiningaccompanyingproblemstatementsandlogframes.• Developaninternalmonitoringsystemforredesignedprojectproposals.• Thistrainingcyclewasfollowedbyasecondeducationcyclefocusingonprojectcyclemanagement/project
proposalwritingandtowardsdomesticsourcesoffundinginvolvingCSOsfromthefirsteducationalcycle.
TACSO BiHhassupportedcapacitydevelopmentthroughinnovativecollaborationarrangements. InFebruary2013,theprojectprovidedsupporttosixnetworkssupportedundertheIPA2009call,SupporttoIssue-basedNGONetworks.Priortothetraining,participantscompletedanonline,comprehensiveassessmentquestionnaire,onedesignedforapplicantorganisationsandanotherdesignedforpartnerorganisations.Basedonthefindings,
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tailored-made workshops were designed and organised for25participants.Theworkshopenabledparticipantstoexplorethedifferencesinperceptionsaboutmanagerialpractices,structuresandpoliciesaimedtoenhancetheefficiencyofnetworksandadvocacyprojects.Theworkshopsstartedwithanintroductionfollowedbyaself-evaluativesection.Participantswereguidedtofurtherexploreinternalpracticesandpolicieswithintheirnetworks.Theworkshopswereinteractiveandenabledthenetworks’memberstopresenttheirkeyconclusionsandconcernstotheconsultant.Participantswere introduced by the consultant to numerous concepts andnotionsrelevanttotheadvocacyconceptand/ornetworkingcapabilitiesandfeatures.
The TACSO KosovoteamhasofferedcapacitybuildingsupporttotheCiviKosPlatforminenhancingCiviKos’internalcapacitiesandstrengtheningtheorganisation’spositioninthesector,i.e.theircommunicationwithstakeholders,anddevelopmentofefficientservicesfortheirmembers.TheeffortsincludethepreparationoftheinternalRulesofProcedure,theestablishmentofthemechanismforpositionbuilding,thepreparationofthemechanismsforrepresentationandinformationsharing,andthereviewofthestatuteoftheCiviKosPlatformtoensureconsistencywithotherrulesandprocedures.TheassistancehasalsoincludedinterventionsaimedatdevelopingCiviKos’financialmanagementcapacity.
• The tested model of having two participants per CSO at the training proved to be successful because: a) Project proposals were improved at the workshop through a dialogue of the participants. b) Capacity of the human resource nucleus of CSOs’ staff was improved.
• All participants stated that they will apply either for domestic or EU CfP with redesigned project proposals.
• One rural based CSO reported that their revised project proposal was accepted to be financed by a local foundation and the World Bank.
STE observations and recommendations: • The group dynamic was good. Most
participants had a similar level of prior experience.
• Participants could easily follow the training agenda and felt free to ask questions.
• The only topics that were referred more often than planned were financial aspects of project partner agreements and relations and communication between project partners.
• Financial training for multi-beneficiary funds was not as complex as financial training for decentralised funds.
TACSO MacedoniahasdevelopedtheMethodologyforCapacityBuildingProgrammethroughaparticipatoryprocesswiththeLAGgroupandbasedonthelessonslearnedduringthefirstphaseofTACSOsummarisedintheEvaluationoftheTrainingProgramme.Themethodologyfocusedonstrengtheningthecapacitiesofwholeorganisations.Theprogrammewastailoredforindividualorganisationsbasedontheirneedsandrepresentslong-term,continuousandcombinedsupport.Theprogrammecoveredmoresegmentsoftheworkoforganisationsandorganisationaldevelopmentandwasrealisedbymentorship,coaching,consultativesupport,workshopsandtrainings.Inaddition,theprogrammeprovidedfornetworkingandpartnershipbuildingbyengagementofmentorsfromCSOs.
Intotal,84CSOsparticipatedintheprogramme.CSOswereselectedonopencallandweregroupedaccordingtotheirprofileinthreegroups:1)grassrootsorganisations,2)organisationsactingonanationalorlocallevelbutabletoinfluencecommunities,and3)young,newlyestablishedorganisations.
Twenty-twolocalandgrassrootsorganisations,21well-developedCSOs,27newandyoungCSOsconductedtheself-assessmentprocessandpreparedcapacitybuildingplansinaccordancewiththeguidelinesforself-assessmentdevelopedbyTACSOMacedonia,ofwhich:
• SixlocalandgrassrootsCSOsimprovedorganisationalmanagementandstrategicplanning.• EightlocalandgrassrootsCSOsimprovedprojectcyclemanagement.• NinelocalandgrassrootsCSOsimprovedadvocacyandlobbying.
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• Three local and grassroots CSOs improved public relations.
• EightlocalandgrassrootsCSOsimprovedmobilisationofresourcesandfundraising.
• Two local and grassroots CSOs developed their volunteerbase.
• Sevenwell-developedCSOsstartedaprocessofdevelopingneworrevisingexistingorganisationalstrategies.
• Tenwell-developedCSOsstartedtheprocessof restructuring and developing policies and procedures forinternalorganisationandmanagement.
• SevennewandyoungCSOsdraftedand/orfinalisedtheirstrategicplans.
• TennewandyoungCSOsdevelopedprojectproposalsorprojectideas.
• FournewandyoungCSOsdevelopedpublicrelationsstrategiesandpublicrelationsmessagesfortheirorganisations.
• ElevennewandyoungCSOsimprovedtheirknowledgeofadvocacyandlobbying.• ElevennewandyoungCSOsraisedtheirawarenessandunderstandingabouttheadministrativeand
financialobligationsoftheirorganisations.• ThirteennewandyoungCSOsimprovedtheirknowledgeandskillsinorganisationalmanagement.• TwelvenewandyoungCSOsimprovedtheirknowledgeandskillsinprojectmanagement.• ThirteennewandyoungCSOsgainedknowledgeandskillsinthemobilisationofresourcesfortheirCSOs.
Testimonials from the participants:• I think that this technical assistance came at
the right time because we jointly recognise the importance of teamwork. Identifying our weaknesses in planning and managing an advocacy campaign, we have defined several steps that are significant and where we need assistance.
• This TA is excellent and assisted us in the reflection of what we have done and what our next steps are. It should be organised at the beginning of the project and in the middle of the implementation course.
• I received a useful tool/guide for self-evaluation of networks and campaigns. This is a good basis for conducting a dialogue with the partners about the activities, further planning and necessary changes, which can be utilised in all phases.
TACSO Turkey organised:
• A training/workshopincampaigndesignandadvocacycarriedoutbytheYouthNetworkagainstCommercialSexualExploitationofChildren(CTCS)platformfor24youthmembersoftheCTCSnetworkwhohavesubsequentlycarriedoutacampaignagainstchildbrides.Theactionplanfortheadvocacycampaignwascreatedduringthetraining.
• BudgetplanningandactivityandagendaplanningfortheSoldiers’RightsPlatform,aswellassupportforproducingadvocacydocumentswhichhelpedthemstreamlinetheirwork.
• Asocialmediaworkshopforone-on-oneassistancetoover20CSOs.AllCSOsassistedhaveeitherconcretely expanded their media outreach or consider that their capacity has indeed increased in this regard.
Atotalof40CSOleadershaveattendedspeciallydesignedtwo-moduletrainingprogrammespresentedbyTACSO Serbiacoveringstrategicplanning,organisationaldevelopmental,CSOmanagement,fundraisingandprojectdevelopment.Evaluationsshowedthattheaveragescoregivenbyparticipantswas4.54outoffive.Onehundredandtwenty-sevenparticipantsfrom32townsinCacakandBorattendedtrainingonCapacityBuildingforLeadersinNewlyEstablishedCSOs.
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• VolunteerManagementTrainingfortheBursaWomenCSOswith20participantsfromdifferentWomenCSOsinBursa.ParticipatingCSOsrepresenteddifferentworkingmethodologiesandbackgroundssuchaswomen’sshelters,women’scouncilsofmunicipalities,womenlabourintheworkingmarket,womenandchildren’sorganisations,internationalwomen’sorganisationsandcharityorganisations.Thespecificobjectiveofthe training was to enhance the understanding and knowledgeofselectedCSOrepresentativesaboutvolunteering,volunteermanagementandhumanresources,andtoequipthemwiththemethods,techniquesandtoolsforrecruitment,trainingandmanagementofvolunteers.Thetrainingteamusednon-formaltrainingmethodssuchasgamesandgroupwork.Accordingtotheevaluationforms,theaveragescoregivenwas8.95outoften,whichindicates that the training was perceived as highly successful.
Recipients of TACSO Turkey services testified that, due to support, they were able to:
• Reach constituencies in cities that they otherwise would not have been able to reach
• Carry out an emergency campaign. • Get together face-to-face members of a
platform who then became more effective in planning.
• Organise a planning meeting.• Include youth and expand their network.• Develop content and design campaign
materials.• Communicate with constituencies at the local
level and strengthen advocacy campaigns. • Increase media outreach and contacts with
well-known journalists.• Enhance actions on promoting the initiative
by developing a strategic approach and deploying new means of communicating with a wider audience through a monthly newsletter.
• Increase communication capacity and start to develop a network.
2.9. TACSO facilitated the processes of linking individual interests of CSOs into the wider frameworks of their operations, such as national and regional networks, thus creating a stronger driving force for national and regional breakthrough.
TACSO BiH supported:
• The Women’sNetworkinBiHtoorganiseandimplementaconferenceontheprocessofstrategicdialogue,TogetherweareStronger,inJune2012inSarajevo.Thispartnershipevent/conferencewasattendedby56participantsfrom43women’sorganisationscomingfrom20differentmunicipalitiesinBosniaandHerzegovina.TheWomen’sNetworkisaninformalnetworkof112CSOs,women’sgroupsandindividualswhodeclarethemselvesaspartofcivilsocietyorganisationsinthefieldofpromotingandprotectingwomen’shumanrights.TheWomen’sNetworksupportsandassistsallwomenregardlessoftheirpoliticalaffiliation,religion,age,educationlevel,sexualorientationorabilitiesand,throughpartnershipaction,dialogueandcooperation,informs,educatesandrepresentsallcitizensofBiH.TheconferenceservedasanopportunitytofindwaystoimprovetheprocessofexchangingexperiencesandresponsibilitiesamongallmembersoftheBiHWomen’sNetwork.Additionally,theobjectivewastoenhancethemotivationofmembershiporganisationsinactiveparticipationintheworkofthenetwork.Participantsattheconferencediscussed:anti-nationalismandconfrontationwiththepast;homophobia;violenceagainstwomenandgirlsandnon-gender-basedviolence;secularismineducationinpublicschools;therighttochoose:abortion,adoption,artificialinsemination;aconsensusaboutconstitutionalchange;talkingaboutviolenceagainstwomenandnon-gender-basedviolence.
• TheNetworkforPeaceBuildingfacilitatedathree-daystrategicplanwhereapproximately40participantsrepresentingdifferentCSOsdevelopedanoperationalplanservingasbothacommunicationandpositioningpaperforthenetwork.
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• ThedesignoftheCivilSocietyManifesto-Platformforfutureactionduringthepartnershipevent,BringingCivilSocietytotheWesternBalkanCivilSociety,whichrepresentedafirststepinthelong-termexchangeofimportantcivilsocietyrelatedtopicsintheregion.The whole process was conceptualised as a living debateandplatformforcontinuousexchangeamongcivilsocietyorganisationsandrepresentativesintheregion.Themanifestoaddressed:
• Theneedforasectoralapproachinordertoprovidequality,efficientandeffectivecontributionstoEUintegration.
• FivelocalCSOsgatheredinacoalitionofCSOswithpersonswithdisabilitiestoa)initiateadvocacyactivitieswithintheirmission,b)improvetheircommunicationandc)developpolicypapersatthelocallevel,suchaslocalcoalitionsofCSOswithpersonswithdisabilitiesfromSarajevo,Tuzla,Doboj,MostarandBijeljina.
• TheneedforopeningadirectdialoguewithauthoritiestoidentifyprioritiesforworkandtosupporttheprocessofEUreformsinspecificfieldslikeagriculture,ruraldevelopment,energyandenvironmentalissues.
• TheroleofcivilsocietyintheEUintegrationprocessinworkingtowardsbetterandmoreefficientstrategiesforinformingthepublicandcitizensabouttheEUandeducatingyouthabouttheEUintheformalandinformaleducationsector.
• TheneedforapplyingthebestpossiblemonitoringandevaluationcriteriainordertoincreasethetransparencyandefficiencyofCSOs.FinancialtransparencyofCSOsshouldbedevelopedaccordingtobestpracticesmodeswithintheEU.
Creation of a regional network around this Manifesto gives momentum for further inclusion of other organisations, initiatives and groups. The partnership event gathered a strong critical mass of leaders to advocate for and bring about necessary social changes. It is necessary to further extend this network and include other groups and leaders that promote and work towards the values of inclusive and environmentally aware development and full EU integration of the region.
TACSO Serbia provided:
• TrainingforatotalofsevenCSOs/networksonstrategicplanning,afterwhichfiveoftheminitiatedastrategicplanningprocesswithTACSOSerbia’sassistance.
• Supporttothenationalthenetwork,SectorCivilSocietyOrganisations(SEKO),forruleoflaw.Thenetworkhadpreviouslyfinisheditsactivitiesonstrategicplanning.
• Twotwo-daytrainingsincooperationwiththeOfficeoftheCommissionerforEqualityProtectiononsituationaltestingfor34participants.Thisgroupoforganisations,fromKragujevacandNisarewellconnectedwitheachotherandclosetoestablishinganetworkoforganisationsthatwillbemorefocusedonequalityprotection.
TACSO Turkey:
• SupportedEdirneRomaAssociation(EDROM)-ARomaorganisationtoparticipateatameetinginBelgradewhere,togetherwithothercounterpartsfromHungary,Turkey,MacedoniaandSerbia,theycreatedanetworktorepresenttherightsofRomaintheirrespectivecountries.AnumberoftheparticipantshadalreadyestablishedtheTurkeyRomaYouthNetwork(TRY).Theydidnotestablishajointnetworkasaresultofattendingtheeventbutagreedtocommunicate/collaboratewherenecessaryevenifworkingseparately.
• ProvidedTAtotheTurkishKAOSGLmemberoftheRegionalNetworkAgainstHomophobiafortheLGBTattheKAOSGLZagrebmeeting.
TACSO Turkey supported the establishment, and the first two meetings of, the Regional Network against Homophobia in 2011.
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• Assisted in the establishment of a partnership/network by Youth for Positive Change, the Edirne RomaAssociation,andTheEuropeanRomaRightsCentre(EDROM-ERRC),whichappliedfortheregionalpartnershipcallissuedbytheECinthescopeofCSF.Itsupportedthenetworkingevent,RomaYouthStrategyNetwork,with45participants,organisedbytheRomanAnkaraAssociationandRomaYouthProgramme(FYRP)whodevelopedtheagendaoftheeventandsupportedtheparticipationofkeyRomayouthorganisationssuchasDomAssociationfromHatayandTRYRomaYouthNetworkfromEdirne.
2.10. TACSO contributed to the sustainability of CSOs by motivating and encouraging them to introduce quality assurance standards.
TACSO AlbaniasupportedpreparationoftheplatformfortargetingqualityassuranceissuestogetherwiththeCSOsthatparticipatedinthequalityassuranceregionalconferenceduringthefirstphaseofTACSO.TheTACSOAlbaniaOfficeorganisedathree-daynationalworkshoponCivilSocietyOrganisationsSustainability-ChallengesandOpportunitiesfrom30October-1November2012.Thisactivitywasheldasafollow-uptoaregionalconferenceduringthefirstphaseofTACSO.Theworkshopgatheredover30CSOrepresentativesfromtheregionsofTirana,Durrës,Elbasan,Fier,VloraandGjirokastraworkinginthefieldsofeducation,supporttovulnerablegroups,environment,mediaandhumanrightsprotection.ItsaimwastostrengthentheoverallcapacitiesofsustainabilityofCSOsforthefuture,provideinsightintodifferentaspectsofsustainability,andsharepositiveexperiencesandbestpracticesthatexistinthisfieldinAlbaniaandintheregion.Inaddition,theparticipantshadtheopportunitytoincreaseknowledgeandassesstheaddedvalueofworkinginpartnershipwithlocalandpublicsectorinstitutionsandtheprivatesector.
The TACSO Kosovoofficeorganisedthenationalconference,QualityAssuranceStandards-Whatarethey?andWhydoweneedthem?InMay2012inPristina.Theobjectiveofthisconferencewastodiscussdifferentmodelsofqualityassurancestandards(QAS)forcivilsocietyorganisationsandtheimpactontheirsustainability.Theconferencebroughttogether33representativesofKosovocivilsocietyorganisations,regionalandnationalexperts.ItservedasadiscussionplatformtolearnaboutcontemporarytrendsforqualityassurancestandardsofCSOsintheWesternBalkanregion,theirimpactonsustainabilityandpossibleapplicationinKosovocivilsociety.AdvantagesandchallengesofdifferentQASmodelsforCSOsandQASsfromKosovo’sperspectivewerepresented.Inaddition,TACSOKosovopreparedaguidethatwillsupportKosovoCSOstostarttheprocessofadoptingspecificQASstandards.
AsafollowuptotheregionalconferenceheldinthefirstphaseofTACSO,TACSOMontenegro organised theconference,CSOResultsandQualityAssuranceSystemsforCSOs,inOctober2011.TheobjectivewastointroduceCSOsandpublicauthoritiestousefultoolsandmechanismsforfurtherdevelopmentofCSOsintheregion.Asanoutcomeoftheconference,45CSOsaskedTACSOtocontinuewithresearchonqualityassurancesystemsinMontenegro.Theyexpressedtheirwillingnesstointroducesuchsystemsintheirownorganisations.
TACSO TurkeycommencedthedevelopmentofareportthatintroducedqualityassurancesystemstocivilsocietyinTurkeytoenhancegoodgovernance,transparencyandaccountabilityofthecivilsocietysector.ThiswasafollowupofaQASregionalconferenceorganisedin2011.ThereportrecommendedthedevelopmentandadoptionofsuchsystemstopromotecivilsocietyandstatefundingtoCSOsintheBalkansandEUmembercountries.Inaddition,thereportpresentedvarioussystemsadoptedbygroupswithindifferentregionsaswellasdetailedinformationaboutSOKNO,PracticalQualityAssuranceSystemforSmallOrganisations(PQASSO)andInternationalOrganisationforStandardization(ISO)9000(Slovenia)indetailasannexes.ThereportalsosuggestsexamplesfromU.S.andCanada,EUcountries,theWesternBalkansandsomesignificantexamplesfromotherregionsofworld.AsurveythatrevealedtheawarenesslevelamongCSOsofqualityassuranceissueswasanadditionalvalueaddedtothereport.Thesurveywasdisseminatedviae-lettertoanetworkof5,000CSOsatthelocalandnationallevels.
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ADDITIONAL OBSERAVTIONSDuringthisreportingperiod,itwaspossibletoobservethegrowingpathofthoseCSOsthathavebenefitedfromTACSO’ssupportonacontinuousbasis.
The Albanian Blind Associati on (ABA)wasoneofthefirstorganisationsinAlbania,foundedin1991.Sinceitsfoundation,itsfocushasbeenontheinclusionofblindpersonsinallspheresoflife.ABAstandsamongthefirstbeneficiariesofTACSOAlbaniaandoneoftheprimecontactandreferencepointsregardingEUfundingopportunities.QualityoflifeandtheinclusionofblindpeopleinAlbaniahasbeenelevatedatthelevelofEUstandards.ABAhasobtaineddirectsupportsincethebeginningoftheTACSOprojectwithcapacitybuildingactions.IthasparticipatedinnationaltrainingsonhowtopreparesuccessfulprojectproposalsintheframeworkofIPAfundingandinnationalandregionalconferencesandexchangeevents.IthasassistedinpartnersearchesandsuccessfulthemanagementofEUfundedprojects.ABAmanagedtoutiliseitsnetworksandpartnershipsthroughTACSOsupportforEUfundingandtostrengthenandinstitutionaliseitslinksattheEuropeanlevel.CooperationbetweenTACSOAlbaniaandABAendedwithanEUgrantawardedtotheABAfortheregionalproject,BlindPeopleNetworkforRepresentationintheWesternBalkans2010-2012,financedwithintheframeworkofIPA/CSFpartnershipactions.
The Gjirokastra Conservati on and Development Organisati on (GCDO),establishedin2001,managedwiththesupportofTACSO,todeterminetheGjirokastraregion,southofAlbania,asanimportantdestinationofEUfundingthroughECfundedprojects.ItsrepresentativesparticipatedinthefirstregionaltrainingorganisedbytheTACSOprojectonEUfundraisinginIstanbulwithafollow-upinBelgradeon2-3February2010.TheGCDOwasassisted by TACSO Albania to enter into partnership agreementsandapplyforIPA2009under,SupporttoPartnershipActionsbetweenCulturalOrganisations.TheGCDOparticipatedintrainingsonhowtoapplyforIPAfunding,managingEUfundedprojectsandvariousregionalevents,suchasP2PorganisedbyTACSO.TACSOAlbaniaassisteditinfindingpartnersfordifferentEUCfP.GCDOstrengthenedsomuchthatitgoesasaleadpartnerwhenapplyingforregionalfundsincludingthePartnershipFrameworkAgreements.
TACSO TRANSFORMATION IN ENHANCING COMPETENCIES OF THE CSOs
TACSO Phase One
Trained providers and positioned itself as a CSOcapacity building resource centre To
ContinuedwiththeprovisionoftrainingforCSOcapacitybuildingFacilitatedEUprojectmanagementcyclemattersBrokered,facilitatedandsupportedCSOnetworkingLeaderandsupporterofQAS
A small Albanian associati on, First Step, working with vulnerable groups of society in rural and remote areas of Albania stated:“Even if we shall not be successful in this applicati on, we are profoundly grateful to TACSO for support that has granted the opportunity to open the horizon towards EU funding.”
TACSO Phase Two
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UnderComponent4ofphaseoneofTACSO,theobjectivewastostrengthencooperationamongCSOs,thegovernment,theprivatesectorandthepublic.
Activitiesunderthiscomponentincludedprojectlaunchings/kick-offevents,informationandpartnershipeventsstrengtheningthedialoguebetweendifferentstakeholders,aswellasinterventionsaimedatstrengtheningthecapacityofgovernmentsandgovernmentofficestocooperatewithNGOs.Thefollowingwas achieved:
1.10. TACSO entered into the civil society sector on participatory and demand-motivated grounds.
Kick-offeventsgeneratedavastamountofinformationregardingthefunctioningofcivilsocietyaswellastheexpectationsofTACSO.
Intotal,26kick-offeventswithapproximately1,800participatingCSOrepresentativeswereorganisedandimplemented.
Theaimofthekick-offeventswastolaunchtheprojectaswellastodisseminateinformationaboutplannedactivities.Organisationofthekick-offeventsvariedfromonemajoreventwithnation-widecoveragetoaseriesofactivitiesorganisedinordertoreachurbanaswellasruralbasedorganisations.Duringtheeventseffortsweremadetocollectinformationandgeneratefeedbackfromtheorganisationsconcerningtheirneedforfurtherpolicyreformatthesectorlevelaswellastheirperceivedchallengesandtheshort-comingstheyexperiencedattheorganisationallevel.Thematicfocuseshavebeenusedasameasuretogetadditionalattentionandunderlinetheproject’sambitiontoengageinandsupportpolicydevelopmentprocessesofrelevanceforCSOs.Ingeneral,thekick-offshavebeenhighlyappreciatedbytheparticipants.Incaseswhereformaleventevaluationshavebeenconductedthescoresgivenhavebeenhigh.Forexample,inSerbia190participants,60percentofthoseattending,returnedevaluationsheets,and85percentstatedthattheinformationreceivedwasveryusefulforthemandtheremaining15percentsaidthattheinformationwasuseful.Insomecases,theevaluationswerealsousedasatooltoobtaininformationaboutperceivedneeds,suchastheprioritisationoftrainingsubjects.InlinewiththeapproachappliedandtheneedsandexpectationsfromtheCSOs,arangeofactivitiesincludinginformationandpartnershipeventsfollowedthekick-offs.TACSOorganisedover100informationeventswithapproximately4,500participantsduringTACSOOne,PhaseOne.
Theinterventionshave,inmanycases,beenplannedinconsultationswiththeEUdelegationsandLAGsandwithotherdevelopmentpartners.Ingeneral,theaimwastodisseminateinformation,exchangeexperiencesandpromotecollaborationbetweeninstitutionsandorganisations.
ThefollowingareexamplesoftherangeofinformationeventsorganisedbyTACSOduringthefirstphase:
COMPONENT 4: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CSOS AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERSCSOs and External Stakeholders - Phase one of TACSO
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Informationevents
EU/IPA• InformationsessiononIA2008call,SupporttoParticipationoftheCSinDecision-makingandProvisionof
SocialServices.• InformationdaysforIPA2009.• EU-NGOdialoguemeetingwiththeEUJointParliamentCommitteewhereEuropeanacquisewasdiscussed.• ElementsoftheEUPCM.• ConsultationswithCSOstodiscusstheEIDHRCountry-BasedSupportScheme.• IPAInformationdaysforIPA2008CfP,SupporttoParticipationofCivilSocietyinDecision-MakingandProvi-
sionofSocialServices,rulesandproceduresforapplying.• ConsultationsforIPAmulti-beneficiaryprogramme2011.• IPA2IPACSOstudyvisitscall.• AnnouncementofP2Psandpre-selectionofparticipants6.• WorkshoponHowtoAccessEUFunds.
• PartnershipeventforsustainableCSOs.• Explanationoftheimplementationofthenewlawforassociation.• Monitoringoftheimplementationofstrategicplansinlocalcommunities.• IstraCSOopendaysinPula2010.• StrongpartnershipforsustainableCSOs.• Organisedregionalconference,QualityAssuranceSystem,asafollowuponnationalQAS.• Croatiatowards2011-EuropeanYearofVolunteering:theRoleandImportanceofVolunteerCoordinators.
Capacitybuildingsupport
Funding• InformationseminaronthepossibilityforfinancingandsupportforCSOs.• Possibilitiesforprojectsubmission.• Workshopforthelocalself-governmentcommitteeforfinancingofNGOprojects.• Presentationofthepublication,PublicfundingforCSOs-goodpracticeintheEUandtheWesternBalkans.
Cooperationwithgovernment• RegionalconferenceoncooperationbetweenCSOsandlocalself-governance.• WorkshopwiththeSectorforCSontheconsultationprocessregardingtheMB.• SupportedanalysisandparticipatedingovernmentworkinggroupforthenewlawonNGOs.• ConferencerelatedtocreationoftheGovernmentCouncilforCooperationwithNGOs.• ValuationofvolunteerworkinthehighereducationsysteminCroatia.• ConsultativemeetingonthetransparentallocationofpublicbudgetfundstoCSOsinordertogathersugges-
tionsandopinionsrelatedtothedevelopmentoftheregulationfortransparentfundingtobeadoptedbytheMinistryofPublicAdministrationandLocalSelf-Government.
• OrganisedthefirstworkshopbringingtogethertheDepartmentofAssociationsProvincialDirectorsandCSrepresentativeswhojointlyrecommendedmechanismsforimprovingcommunication.
• OrganisedaconferencerelatedtothecreationoftheGovernmentCouncilforCooperationwithNGOs.
PromotionofTACSO
CSOsandthebusinesssector
TACSOinformationsharing.
FacilitateddevelopmentofmodelsandprinciplesforCSO/privatesectorcollaboration.
Table13.:RangeofinformationeventsorganisedbyTACSOduringthefirstphase
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6 TopicareascoveredbyP2Pwere:Respectofhumanrights,healthanddignityinprison.HowcantheCScontribute?,BuildingNatura2000inWBandTurkey:theroleofCS.
Duringthelistedevents,TACSO:
1.11. Strengthened the role of CSOs in the democratisation process in the WBT.
TACSOsteeredtheinvolvementofCSOsandtheirroleindemocratisationprocessesintheWBTbycreatingopportunitiesforCSOsto:
• ParticipateinadebateamongCSOs,donorandotherpossibleinterestedactorsthusempoweringtheknowledgeandstrengtheningthevoiceofCSOs.
• Participateinroundtablesonthesubject,MediaandCSOs-ChallengesandOpportunities,withhigh-levelrepresentativesfromstrong,relevantlocalandnationalmedia.CSOsparticipatingdevelopedacompilationofconcreteproposalsandrecommendationsfromparticipants.
• FormthenetworkoflocalNGOsworkingintheareaoflocalcommunitydevelopment,whichstartedwithpreparationofjointprojects.
• ParticipateinaconferenceonInternationalWomen’sDay,theseminarpresentationofprojectsfundedwithinthePhare2006SchemeforYouth,andNGODays2010.
• ContributetothedevelopmentoftheAlmanacofCSOAchievementtitled,CSOs-ThePowerofBiHCitizensintheEUIntegrationProcess,byparticipatinginaninformationeventofCSOachievementsaswellasaninformationeventbasedontherecommendationsfromthekick-offevents.
• CreatethePlatformonPartnershipActionwhichconsistedof26CSOsand16governmentalinstitutionsincludingstateandentitylevelgenderagenciesthusstrengtheningtheCSOvoiceandrepresentationinthedialogueonjuveniledelinquencyandmoreefficientassistancetovictimsofviolence.
• SerbianurbanandgrassrootscivilsocietyorganisationsactiveinNorthernKosovowereincludedintheprocessofcapacitybuildinginapplicationprocesses.
• LearnmoreandexchangeexperiencesonvoluntaryprogrammeimplementationinpublicinstitutionsandCSOsthroughtheworkofvolunteercoordinatorsbyparticipatingintheconference,CroatiaTowards2011-EuropeanYearofVolunteering:TheRoleandImportanceofVolunteerCoordinators,andintheroundtable,EvaluationofVolunteerWorkintheHigherEducationSysteminCroatia.
• LearnaboutthephilanthropichistoryofIstriabyparticipatingin,IstriaCSOOpenDays:Pula2010.• ParticipateintheinformationandpartnershipeventsplannedbytheCSOsworkingonwomen,peoplewith
disabilities,children,marginalisedanddisadvantagedgroups,suchas,PinkLife,intheirorganisationofaweek-longeventagainsthatecrimesagainstLGBTindividualsandtheEuropeanMovementInternational(EMI)conference.
• ParticipatedinthePlacesintheHeartawardswherehigh-profilecompaniessupportingcorporatephilanthropyinSerbiaawardedcashprizestotalling11,500EuroaswellasanumberofcommodityawardsforBestLocalInitiativeandBestLocalPartnership.
• Commentonastudyontheavailabilityoftechnicalassistance.
1.12. Facilitated donor coordination/better donor coordination.
TherehasbeenconsiderabledemandinAlbaniaforTACSOtocontributetothecreationofsynergies,avoidingoverlappingandmakingtheprocessastransparentandopenaspossibleforallstakeholdersanddonors.TheEUDelegationtoAlbaniaconsideredthepossibilitythatTACSOAlbaniaactastheSecretariatofDonorWorkingGroupsmanagingadatabaseoftheactivitiesfundedbyvariousdonorssupportingtheCSOs.
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1.13. Improved structures for dialogue in EU Integration, IPA programming and consultation matters.
TACSOfacilitatedtheprocessofEUintegration,IPAprogrammingandconsultationsbyproviding:
• SupporttotheEuropeanCommissionorganisingthefirstStabilisationandAssociationProcess(SAP)CivilSocietyDialogueinPristina.TheconsultationswerechairedbyPierreMirel,DirectorfortheWesternBalkansintheDGEnlargementoftheEuropeanCommissionandMetkaRoksandic,HeadoftheEuropeanEconomicandSocialCommittee’s(ECOSOC)WorkingGroupontheWesternBalkans.TACSOprovidedsupportindevelopingtheagendaandidentifyingbestrepresentativesandpresentationscomingfromthecivilsocietyofKosovo.Themeetingwascomposedofsevensessionsdiscussingthematicissuessuchas:thereviewofthelawonFreedomofAssociationofNGOs,freedomofspeech,women’sempowermentandprotection,centralisedanddecentralisedinstitutionsmanagingweakresources,thefightagainstcorruption,challengesfortheprivatesectorandenvironmentalchallenges.
• FourteenKosovoNGOsoperatinginnorthernMitrovicaparticipatedinastudytour,NGOsinEuropeanPoliticalArena,heldinBrusselsandStrasbourg.TheyandmetwithEUMPsDorisPack,JelkoKacinandCommissionerFulewhohighlightedtheimportanceofcivilsocietydialogueandtheroleofcivilsocietyinthere-integrationprocess.MeetingswiththeKosovodeskduringthisvisitenableddirectcommunicationaboutcontributionsofcivilsocietyinthepreparationoftheKosovoprogressreport.ThisactivitywasfollowedbyanothermeetingheldinMitrovicainFebruary2011withtheEUKosovodeskand15NGOs.
• FacilitationforthematicconsultationsbetweencivilsocietyandtheEuropeanCommissionLiaisonOfficeconcerningthestabilisationandassociationprocessinareassuchas:StabilisationAssociationProcessDialogue(SAPD)Infrastructure–Transport,Environment,EnergyandRegionalDevelopment;andSAPDInternalMarket–FreeMovementofGoods,PropertyRights,MovementofCapitalandCompanyLaw.
• Support,togetherwiththeSerbianOfficeforEUIntegrations(SEIO),fortheestablishmentofaconsultativemechanismforinvolvingCSOsintheprocessofprogrammingIPAfunds.
• PromotionandinformationdisseminationaboutP2P,aswellassupportintheselectionofparticipantsforP2Peventsandfollow-upactivities.
• OpportunityforCSOstoreflectonEUFinancialRegulations.• Supportforpartnermatchingincross-bordercooperationbetweenCSOsandanincreasethecapacities
neededtoapplyforthesefunds.• DevelopmentoftheGuidetoEUCSONetworks.
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1.14. Promoted change and improvement of the legal framework for CSOs.
TACSOpromotedthechangeandimprovementoftheinstitutionalframeworkbysupportingorganisationsand/orenablingCSOstoparticipateineventsthat:
• ContributedtomakingpublicfinancingofCSOsmoreeffectiveandefficienttakingintoconsideration:planning,institutionsresponsibleforfinancing,transparencyoftheprocess,scopeofbeneficiaries,decision-makingcriteria,decision-makingprocess,reporting,monitoringandevaluation.
• Influencedthecreationofconcretegovernmentbodiessuchas,forexample,theAgencyforSupportofCivilSocietyinAlbania,theNationalOfficeforCooperationwithCSOsinSerbiaandanincreaseintheliaisonroleoftheOfficeforCooperationwithNGOsinKosovo.
• FacilitatedtheprocessresultinginamendmentsofthelegalframeworkandtaxationlegislationforCSOs.• Promotedthepublication,PublicFundingforCivilSocietyOrganisations-GoodPracticesintheEuropean
UnionandWesternBalkans,thusincreasingawarenessandknowledgeaboutCSOfundingopportunitiesincludingdevelopingcapacitiesofthelocalself-governmentcommitteesforfinancingNGOprojects.
• SteereddiscussionontheutilisationoftheCivikosPlatform.ThestrategywasdraftedincoordinationwiththeLAGandotherdonors.TACSOfocusedonprovisionofsupporttocivilparticipationinlegislationandthedecision-makingprocess.
• GatheredCSOopinionsandsuggestionsinrelationtothedevelopmentoftheRegulationsforTransparentfundingtobeadoptedbytheMinistryofPublicAdministrationandLocalSelf-Government.TACSOSerbia’smeetingonTransparentAllocationofPublicBudgetFundstoCivilSocietyOrganisationsresultedinproposalsforuniquemechanismsandclearcriteriaandproceduresforallocatingstatesubsidiestonon-governmentalorganisationswithinthedraftregulation.
1.15. Initiated policy-oriented change processes.
TACSOprovidedopportunitiesforanexchangeoflessonslearntandkick-startedchangeprocessesbybringingkeystakeholderstogetherforafewdaysofdiscussionandreflectionatregionalconferences.Subsequently,thestakeholdersshouldcontinuetodevelopactionplansandimplementthematthenationallevelwithsupportfromTACSO.DuringthefirstphaseofTACSOOne,threemajorpolicy-orientedprocesseswereinitiatedbytheregionalofficeincollaborationwiththeTACSOnationalteams:
• CSOQualityAssuranceSystems.• CSO-LocalGovernmentCooperation.supporttonetworking,platforms,initiatives• CSOSustainability.
Agoodexampleoffollow-uponthenationallevelisanactiontakeninBosniaandHerzegovina.Aftertheregionalconference,anationalconferenceonQASwasorganisedincooperationwiththeMinistryofJusticeSectorforCivilSocietyandwiththreeBosnianCSOsparticipatingintheregionalevent.Inadditiontothequalityassurancesystemsreviewedattheregionalconference(PQASSO,SOKNO,andISO),afourthqualitytool,QualityAssuranceofYouthWorkintheCommunity(OKORUZ),aself-assessmenttoolforCSOyouthworkers,wasintroducedatthenationalconference.Asanexampleofthepracticalapplicationsthatareexpectedtocomeoutoftheinitiative,TACSOBosniaandHerzegovinawasapproachedbyayouthorganisationrequestingassistancetointroducetheOKORUZself-assessmenttoolforcommunityyouthworkers.ApartfromBiH,QASnationaleventswereorganisedinotherTACSOcountriesaswellduringTACSOPhaseTwo.
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1.16. Contributed to strengthening the capacity of governments to cooperate with CSOs.
1.16.1. SupportedestablishmentandcapacitybuildingfortheGovernmentAgencyforSupportingCivil Society.
TACSOAlbaniacollaboratedwithaGermanAgencyforTechnicalCooperation(GTZ)fundedprojectthatsupportedtheestablishmentoftheGovernmentAgencyforSupportingCivilSociety(CSSA)inAlbaniaandwiththeDepartmentforDonorCoordinationattheCouncilofMinisterstoestablishadialogueandmechanismsofcooperationbetweenthegovernmentandcivilsocietyinAlbania.IncollaborationwiththeEUDelegationandtheOrganizationforSecurityandCo-operationinEurope(OSCE)PresenceinAlbania,TACSOAlbaniaorganisedanationalconference,QuoVadisCivilSociety.Partofthisconferenceagendawastheintroductionoftherolesandresponsibilitiesoftheagency.Onthisoccasion,TACSOalsoprovidedcommentsandsuggestionsregardingtheefficientdisbursementofthegovernmentgrantschemetoAlbanianCSOs.TwoconsultativemeetingswerealsoheldbetweenTACSOandtheagencyonthenecessityofundertakingopenforumswithNGOstodiscusstheVATexemptionandissuesofconcernregardingthelawonNGOs.Inordertostrengthentheadministrativecapacitiesofthegovernmenttocooperatewithcivilsociety,inOctober2010TACSOAlbaniaorganisedastudytourtoRomaniafortheexecutivestaffofCSSA.FruitfulmeetingswereorganisedwithrepresentativesoftheRomaniangovernmentandcivilsocietybenefitingfromthebestpracticesofthirdsectordevelopmentsinthatcountry.ThesharingofexperiencesincludedmeetingswithrepresentativesoftheRomanianGovernmentOfficeforCooperationPolicieswiththeAssociativeStructures,forPublicCommunicationandforInstitutionalTransparency.IngeneralrepresentativesoftheagencyareregularlyinvitedtoTACSOregionalandnationalevents.
1.16.2. HelpedinpreparationofanannualplanofactivitiesfortheGovernmentalOfficefor CooperationwithNGOs.
InCroatia,theTACSOteamprovidedassistancetotheGovernmentalOfficeforCooperationwithNGOs(GOfCNGOs)throughfacilitationofanannualoperationalplanningevent/process.Themainpurposeoftheone-dayeventwastoprepareaplanofactivitiesfortheGOfCNGOsin2010andharmoniseitwithTACSOnationalandregionalworkplans.Asaresultofthisinitiative:GOfCNGOsOperativePlanfor2010,GOfCNGOsCalendarofActivitiesfor2010andabriefoverviewofcooperationbetweentheGOfCNGOsandTACSOweredeveloped.TACSOCroatiasupportedastrategicplanningprocessconductedbytheCouncilforCivilSocietyDevelopment(CCSD)thatisacknowledgedbyCSOsasthelegitimateforumforCSOsandgovernmentcooperationsinceitisinvolvedinmakingalldecisionsrelevantforcivilsocietydevelopment.SeveralmembersofCCSDparticipatedintheTACSOCroatiaLAGplanningworkshopheldinOctober2010andthepresidentoftheCCSDparticipatedonbehalfofTACSOCroatiaLAGintheDonorCoordinationmeetinginBrusselsduringthesecondhalfofOctober2010.
1.16.3. EnsuredgreatercivicparticipationinthereviewoftheLawonFreedomofAssociationofNGOsandincreasedtheliaisonroleoftheCooperationwithNGOs.
TheTACSOKosovoresidentadvisorparticipatedintheworkinggroupforLawonFreedomofAssociationofNGOsasanobserver.Theintentionsweretoassistintheprocessofreviewingthelaw,toensurecivilparticipationandanincreaseintheliaisonroleoftheOfficeforCooperationwithNGOs.InthiscontextTACSOorganisedandsponsoredastudyvisittoCroatiaforagroupoffiveparticipants,threegovernmentrepresentativesandtwocivilsocietyrepresentatives,andsupportedtheconsultationprocesswithcivilsocietytoensuregreatercivicparticipationintheprocess.Also,TACSOhasprovideditsresourcestostrengthentheprocessbysupportingthedevelopmentof:1)StudyontheCivilSocietyInvolvementintheLegislationDraftingProcess,whichexploredthelegislativecycleinKosovoandcivilsocietyinvolvementinit;and2)Study on InstitutionalArrangementsforCooperationwithCivilSocietywhichidentifiedtheunitsresponsibleforcivildialoguewithinKosovoinstitutionswithaparticularemphasisontheKosovogovernment.
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ThemandateandfunctionalityoftheOfficeforGoodGovernancewithintheOfficeofthePrimeMinisterwasthefocalpointofthestudybutotherofficeswillbeincludedaswell.
1.16.4. SharedexperiencesbetweentheGovernmentUnitforCooperationwithNGOsfromMacedonia anditsCroatiancounterpartaboutDecentralisedSystemofImplementation(DIS)andtheroles andresponsibilitiesofdifferentinstitutionsinthiscontext.
TheTACSOMacedoniateamorganisedastudyvisitfortheGovernmentUnitforCooperationwithNGOsoftheRepublicofMacedoniawithitscounterpartinCroatia,theOfficeforCooperationwithNGOsoftheGovernmentofRepublicofCroatia.Thepurposeofthevisitwastostudycivilsocietygrantschemesmanagement.ThestudyvisithelpedtheparticipantstounderstandthedecentralisedsystemofimplementationofEUfundedprojectsforCSOs,andcontributedtocloseracquaintancewiththeactivitiesandroleoftheinstitutionsinvolvedintheprocessoftheimplementationoftheseprojects.Theparticipantsprepared reports based on the visit that were circulated within the government and they presented their findingstothemembersoftheLAG.
1.16.5. SupportedthereviewofthelegalframeworkforCSOs.
InMontenegro,aTACSOrepresentativeparticipatedinagovernmentworkinggroupsetuptoreviewthelegalframeworkforCSOs.
1.16.6. SupportedNationalOfficeforCooperationwithCSOs
TACSOSerbiadevelopedplanstosupportthefunctioningoftheNationalOfficeforCooperationwithCSOsassoonasitstarteditsoperations.
1.16.7. ImprovedcommunicationbetweentheDepartmentofAssociationsProvincialDirectorsand CivilSocietyRepresentatives.
InTurkey,attheendofNovember2010TACSO,incollaborationwiththeCSDCandtheDoA,heldthefirstworkshopbringingtogethertheDepartmentofAssociationsProvincialDirectorsandcivilsocietyrepresentatives.Participantsworkedtogethertorecommendmechanismsforimprovingcommunications.Afollow-upseminarwith81provincialdirectorstosharetheoutputoftheworkshopfollowedaswellassimilarworkshopsonthelocallevel.
1.16.8. EnhancedcollaborationbetweenthecentraladministrationandlocalgovernmentsaswellasmutualcontributionsregardingEUrelatedoperationsandinterventions.
TACSOTurkeyprovidedtechnicalassistancetotheSecretariatGeneralforEUAffairs(EUSG)fortheimplementationofaprovincialcommunicationstrategy.Theprovincialcommunicationstrategysetupathree-pillarstructureattheprovinciallevelcoveringEUPermanentContactPoints.TheEUanticipatedresultsthatensureasolidcollaborationbetweencentraladministrationandlocalgovernmentsaswellasmutualcontributionregardingEUrelatedoperationsandinterventionsbetweenthem.TechnicalanalysisfromTACSOTurkeyfocusedontheimprovementoftheskillsofnewlyrecruitedexpertsinEUSGthroughatrainingoftrainersthusenablingthemtodelivertrainingstotheCSOsonprojectdevelopmentandmanagement.
At the regional level,opportunitiestoexchangeexperiencesbetweencountriesonthemethodsandapproachesforcooperationbetweengovernmentsandcivilsocietywasprovidedattheConference on Cooperation between CSOs and Local Self-governmentwhichwasheldinMontenegroinFebruary2011.Bestpracticeexamplesfromtheparticipatingcountrieswerereviewedanddiscussedduringtwodays.Thesehave
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TheresultsoftheinteractiveevaluationfromthefirstworkshopbroughtthegovernmentandCSOrepresen-tativesinTurkeytogether:
-Manyprejudicesandstereotypestowardseachotherwerebrokendown.-ManyparticipantsstressedthattheydidnothavemuchhopethattherewouldbedialoguebetweenCSOsandthegovernment.However,theyfelthopefulattheendoftheworkshopandtheybelievedthatdialoguecouldbeestablished.
-GovernmentrepresentativesmentionedthattheyhadseenthegovernmentmakedecisionsinthenameofCSOswithoutconsultingthem.TheyhavebecomeawareofitnowandtheywillworktoinvolveCSOsinthedecision-makingprocess.
-Theyallhadthefeelingthattheywerenot“others”;theywereactuallyallworkingforthesamegoal:abettersociety.-ManygovernmentrepresentativesalsomentionedthattheywillorganisesimilarworkshopsintheircitiesandthattheyarealwaysopentoreceivetheproposalsandideasofCSOs.Somecommentsoftheparticipantsoftheworkshop:
“IrealisedthepossibilityofgettingdirectinformationfromCSOrepresentativesabouttheirneedsandex-pectations,andIunderstoodtheirexpectationsfromthegovernment.”“IunderstoodthatCSOshavepositivelydevelopedfurtherinthelastfiveyears.”“Iunderstoodthatthegovernmentshouldalsorenewitself.”“MybeliefaboutrealisingcommonprojectswithCSOshasbeenstrengthened.”“Iamleavingwithtwoprojectsinmind:1)toreshapetheservicepoliciesoftheDepartmentofAssociations(DoA)togetherwithCSOs;2)variousprojectstoshapeacommonfuturetogetherwithCSOs.”“IhaveseenthecapacityofCSOsandthattheyshouldinternalisetherights-basedapproach.”“IhavehadthechancetocomparethecivilsocietystructureinTurkeyandGermany.”
1.17. TACSO ensured its adaptability to the needs of the CSOs and to a participative approach.
TheestablishmentofLAGswasanimportantinstrumenttoensureneutrallinksbetweengovernmentinstitutions/unitsinchargeofcooperationwithCSOsandgovernments.LAGshaveprovidedadvisoryinputtoprojectsconcerningthedesignofeventsandactivitiesoftargetgroups,methodologiesandmaterials,monitoringofperformanceandensuringthatprojectservicesareinlinewiththeneedsofthebeneficiaryCSOs.LAGshavealsotailoredcapacitybuildingservicessinceeachLAGmemberisanexperiencedtrainer/facilitatorofrelevantprocesses(policy-making,strategicplanning,advocacyandneedsassessment)whoestablishestwo-waycommunicationchannelbetweenprojectsandCSOs.
TheLAGsconsistofrepresentativesoftheCSOcommunity,governments,donorsandotherkeystakeholders.Intotal,approximately100stakeholderrepresentativesareengagedintheworkofLAGs.LAGmeetingsareorganisedonaregularbasis,onaverageonceineverysixweeks.
RangeofdiscussionsduringtheLAGmeetingsareasfollows:
alsobeendocumentedaspartoftheproceedingsfromtheevent.Aspartoftheconferenceprogrammeallcountrydelegationswererequestedtopreparenationalactionsplansforintensifiedcooperation.ThesearesupposedtobefolloweduponatthenationallevelinordertopromoteactionandtodiscussnationalissuessuchastherefinementofthepublicbenefitstatusofCSOs,financialreportingfromtheseorganisationsandrelatedquestions.
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TACSO approach and operati ons:
• TACSOreportingonprogress.• SpecificationofTACSOprioritiesfortheperiod2011-2013.• ApprovaloftheAnnualWorkPlan.• ApprovaloftheNationalTrainingPlan.• ApprovalofTACSOsupporttotheEIDHRcall.• ApprovalofdonorcoordinationbetweentheU.S.AgencyforInternationalDevelopment(USAID),theInstitutefor
SustainableCommunities(ISC)andTACSO.• ProjectplansandTACSOPhaseTwo,whichtookintoconsiderationtheneedsofgrassrootsorganisations,reviewed
lessonslearntanddiscussedrecommendationsforimprovementsinpriorityfieldsofTACSOoperations.• SpecificationoftheroleoftheAdvisoryGroupandnextsteps.
Cooperati on with government
• RecommendationsregardingthestrategicframeworkforestablishmentofrelationsbetweentheGovernmentandCSOsinBosniaandHerzegovina.
• ConferenceandTACSOrelatedquestionsontheroleofLAGintheprocessofestablishingagovernmentofficeforcooperationwiththecivilsector.
• DiscussionsaboutandpreparationfortheCivilSociety-GovernmentDialogueWorkshopandcreatingawarenessoftheCivilConstitution.
• PlanningsupporttotheGovernmentOfficeforCooperationwithCivilSociety.
EU/CSF related matt ers
• RecommendationsfortheEUCivilFacilityProgrammewithspecialfocusontheneedsofsmallorganisationsfromruralcommunitiestostrengthentheuseofEUfunds.
• PreparationofLAGrepresentativesforparticipationattheconference,NextStepsofTACSOandtheCivilSocietyFacility.
Capacity building
• EstablishmentoftheLAGtrainingcommittee.• DiscussionsabouttheNationalTrainingProgrammeandcapacitybuildingforCSOsproposedbyTACSO.• Possibilitiesforpublicandprivatepartnership.• Media,civilsocietyandregionalconferenceworkshoptopics.
Table14.:RangeoftopicsofbyTACSOduringLAGmeetingsduringthefirstphase
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DuringthesecondphaseofTACSO,theoverallobjectiveofComponent4remainedsimilartothefirstphase.TheonlydifferenceswerethatcooperationanddialoguebetweenCSOs,governmentandtheprivatesectorwasstrengthenednotonlyonthenationalandlocallevelsbutalsoattheregionallevel.
Duringthesecondphase,TACSOcontinuedcontributingtotheimprovedqualityofdialogueandcooperationamongdifferentstakeholdersrelevanttothesectorofcivilsociety,andfollowinghasbeenachieved:
2.11. TACSO continued assisting in strengthening the democratic role of civil society.
Thiswasachievedthroughacombinationofmeasuresandinitiativesatdifferentlevelstoraiseawarenessandfacilitatedevelopmentprocessesthatresultedinnewformalandinformalpatternsofcommunicationanddecision-making.ManyTACSOinterventionsareimplementedascontributionstowardsthedeepeningofrelationshipsandstrengtheningoftiesbetweenmembersofcivilsociety.Thisappliesbothtosectorsandnationalcontextcooperationaswellasfacilitationofcross-bordercooperation.
2.11.1. CSOs,activeinareaofgenderequalityandhumanrightsprotection,visitedCroatianCSOsto learnaboutCroatia’sexperiencesconcerningCSOparticipationintheprocessofthepreparationand adoptionoflegalregulationsandinthecreationofpublicpolicies.
TACSOCroatiaorganisedastudyvisittoCroatiabyTurkishCSOsactiveintheareaofgenderequalityandhumanrightsprotection,especiallytherightsofchildrenanddisabledpersons.TheyvisitedZagrebinApril2011.OneoftheobjectivesoftheirvisitwastolearnaboutCroatianexperiencesconcerningCSOparticipationinprocessesofthepreparationandadoptionoflegalregulationsandthecreationofpublicpolicies.AnotherobjectivewastoassesstowhatextentCroatianpracticesmaybeapplicabletoparticipationofCSOsintheprocessesofadoptionofthenewTurkishconstitution.Furthermore,TACSOCroatiaco-organisedtheNGODays2012inJuneinpartnershipwiththeGovernmentOfficeforCooperationwithNGOsandtheNationalFoundationforCivilSocietyDevelopment.DuringtheNGODays,discussionwasstructuredaround:strategicprioritiesforcivilsocietydevelopmentsupportintheRepublicofCroatiainthecontextofadoptingthenewNationalStrategyforCreatinganEnablingEnvironmentforCivilSocietyDevelopment;youthparticipationinshapingpublicpolicyonthelocallevel,modelsofeffectivelyadvocatingpositivesocialchange;newfinancialopportunitiesforCSOsintheRepublicofCroatia;networkingforchanges;socialcohesionofcitizensandyouthintheareaofpovertyandyouthdelinquencysuppression;theroleofCSOsinsocialentrepreneurshipdevelopmentinCroatia;andthecriteriaforprovidingNGOswiththerightofuseofstateandcityownedproperty.ThefinaldayoftheconferencewasdedicatedtoanNGOOpenDoorDayinwhichNGOsfromalloverCroatiatookpart.Theaimofthiseventwastogivemoreinformationtocitizensandthewiderpublicabouttheprogrammesandprojects,whichareforthecommongoodandareimplementedbyNGOsinCroatia.Morethan120NGOsparticipatedintheOpenDoorDayfromalloverCroatia.ReportsfromNGODaysareavailablein English on the TACSO Web site and here.
2.11.2. OrganisationsfromAlbania,Croatia,Bulgaria,Kosovo,SerbiaandSloveniaestablishedthe BalkanRegionalEarlySupportNetwork(BRESN).
TACSOKosovoimplementedaneventincollaborationwithDownSyndromeKosovaaimedatconsolidatingtheBRESNregionalnetwork,whichwasestablishedinOctober2010inPristine.BRESNisanetworkof11activeorganisationsfromAlbania,Croatia,Bulgaria,Kosovo,SerbiaandSlovenia.TACSOsupportedtheconsolidationoftheBRESNnetworkthroughaworkshopthattookplaceinPristineinNovember2011.Activitiesincluded:definitionofthemissionandgoalsoftheBRESNnetwork,coordination,mandate,decision-makingsystemofthenetwork,aswellasthepreparationoftheBRESNnetworkactionplan.
CSOs and External Stakeholders - Phase two of TACSO
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2.11.3. CapacitybuildingmeasuresfortheCivikosPlatformweredeveloped.
DuringthereportingperiodTACSOKosovo,inclosecooperationwithEUDKosovoandtheCivikosPlatform,developedcapacitybuildingmeasurestostrengthenCivikoscapacitieswithitsinternaldecision-makingmechanism,theCodeofConductforCivikosmembersandselectionmechanismsforCSOstoparticipateindifferentdecision-makingprocesses.ThesemeasureshavebeenfinalisedandstartbeingimplementedinJanuary-March2013.
2.11.4. CSOsparticipatedinaworkshopdiscussingissuesrelatedtotransitionaljusticeandtheimpact ofthepoliticsonyouthanddividedcommunities.
TACSOKosovohostedandorganisedapartnershipeventwithNGOCommunityBuildingMitrovica(CBM)for40studentsoftheRegionalHumanRightsSchoolcomingfromtheWesternBalkancountries.Theworkshopwasfocusedontransitionaljustice,theimpactofpoliticsonyouthanddividedcommunities.TACSOResidentAdvisorsgaveapresentationontheroleofcivilsocietyintransitionaljustice.CSOsfromKosovoalsogavepresentationsduringthisworkshopforthesestudents.
2.11.5. CooperationbetweentradeunionsandCSOsbecameanewthemeontheagendaofTACSO.
TACSOMontenegroorganisedaroundtableoncooperationbetweentradeunionsandCSOstherebybringinganewthemetotheagendaforTACSO.Theevent,CooperationbetweentradeunionsandCSOsinMontenegro,aimedtosupportcooperationbetweencivilsocietyorganisationsandtradeunionsandtodefineareasandmodelsofcooperationbetweentradeunionsandcivilsociety.Basedontheconclusionsoftheconference,theestablishmentofacoordinatingbody,WorkingGroupforCoordinationbetweenTradeUnionsandNGOswasproposed.TheworkinggroupwillberesponsibleforimprovingcoordinationbetweenunionsandCSOsaswellasformonitoringprogressinthisrespect.TheTACSOteamwillprovidelogisticsupporttotheworkinggroup.
2.11.6. RegionalInitiativeforIndependentLivingofPersonswithDisabilitieswasestablished.
TACSOSerbiafacilitatedtheprocessofestablishingaregionaldialoguebetweenorganisationsinMacedonia,BosniaandHerzegovina,SerbiaandBulgariawithintheframeworkoftheRegionalInitiativeforIndependentLivingofPersonswithDisabilities.
2.11.7. TurkishCSOscontributedtotheprocessofdevelopinganewconstitution.
TACSOTurkeyfacilitatedcivilsocietycontributionstotheprocessofdevelopinganewconstitution.TheNewConstitutionalPlatformwasinvitedtoahearingwiththeParliamentaryCompromiseCommissionontheConstitution.Theywereinvitedtosharetheirfindingsfrommeetingswithcitizens,anumberofwhichhavebeensupportedbyTACSOinphaseoneandtwo.Theypresentedtheirreportandtheirviewsontheprocessofconstitutionmaking.Similarly,theCommunityVolunteersFoundationmetwiththecommissiontopresenttheirpaperonyouthissueswithregardtotheconstitution,whichwaspartiallyformulatedbasedonthefindingsoftheRegionalYouthVolunteeringConferencesupportedbyTACSO.ManyotherTACSOpartnersinTurkeyhavealsomadetheircontributions,forexample,thePinkLifeAssociationwhichmetwithMPsonseveraloccasionstocommunicatetheneedsoftransgenderindividualswithregardtotheconstitution.Theyhavesubmittedpolicypaperstothecommissiontoincludetransgenderrightsinthenewconstitutionandtheyhavesubmittedfourpolicypapersontransgenderrightstorelevantministries.KaosGLhasalsotakensimilaractions.
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2.11.8. Supportedexaminationofbroadtrendsinthereformprocess,whicharenecessaryfora participatorydemocracyandasustainablecivilsociety.
TACSOwasapartnerwithEuropeanCitizenActionService(ECAS)andotherkeypartnerstoorganiseaRegionalCivilSocietyConferenceheldinZadarinSeptember2012.Theconferencegatheredapproximately120participantsfromtheWesternBalkansandTurkey,representativesfromthecivilsociety,governmentandEU,toexaminebroadtrendsinthereformprocess.Thesetrendsarenecessaryforaparticipatorydemocracyandasustainablecivilsociety.Thebackgroundtothiseventwastheten-pointLjubljanadeclaration.Theobjectivesoftheconferencestemmedfromaprocess,launchedbyECASandotherorganisationsintheregionin2008,whichcreatedsustainablepartnershiprelationsbetweencivilsocietyactors,theEUandnationalauthorities.Thereportfromtheconference,thedraftofthenewdeclarationandtheevaluationresultscanbefoundonthe ECAS Web site.
2.12. TACSO became an integral part of the CSF.
TACSOcontinuedimprovingstructuresfordialogueinEUIntegration,IPAprogrammingandconsultationrelatedmattersandbecameandanintegralpartoftheCSF.
CooperationwiththeEUDshasgraduallyincreased.TACSOfacilitatedthedialoguebetweentheEUandcivilsociety,forexample,inconjunctionwiththedonorcoordinationmeetinginDecemberinBrusselswhereLAGmembersparticipated.ManyinformationandtrainingeventsareundertakeninsupportofcallslaunchedbyDGEnlargementandthedelegations.TheexamplesbelowillustratethewiderangeofservicesprovidedbyTACSO to the CFS:
2.12.1. CSOsfromAlbaniaandKosovowereinpositiontolookforpossibilitiesformutualpartnering andnetworkingandbecamefamiliarwithEUfinancialinstrumentssupportingthecivilsocietyinIPA countries and territories.
Based on the growing demand by CSOs to have the opportunity to enter into partnerships and networks with counterpartsfromKosovoCSOs,theTACSOAlbaniaOffice,incoordinationwiththeTACSOKosovoOffice,organisedaPartnershipDayonIncreasingParticipationinPlanningandImplementationofIPAfundedProjectsinAugust2012intheKukesregion.ThepurposeofthisactivitywastofacilitatepartnershipandnetworkingbetweenCSOsofbothcountriesasameanforbuildingpotentialcoalitionsforapplyingforIPAregionalandcrossbordercooperationprogrammes.ParticipantsgotacquaintedwithEUfinancialinstrumentssupportingcivilsocietyinIPAcountriesandterritoriesandthebenefitsforenteringintoandoperatingpartnershipagreementswithotherorganisations.Onehundredandthreeparticipantsinthiseventwereactiveinthefieldsofeconomicdevelopment,environmentprotection,genderequality,culture,supporttovulnerablegroups,etc.
2.12.2. SupportinpreparationoftheCSFpartnershipactionsopeningconferences.
TACSOCroatiaprovidedlogisticsandvisibilitysupportinthepreparationoftheCSFPartnershipActions-WomenEmpowerment-OpeningConferenceinFebruary2012inZagreb.
2.12.3. ProvidedassistanceinCfPpromotion.
TheTACSOROassistedinpromotingtheonlinestreamingoftheinformationsessionregardingtheCallforProposalsEuropeAid/132438/C/ACT/MultiheldinFebruary2012.Morethan50percentoftheonlineparticipantsoriginatedfromtheTACSOWebsite.SixhundredandtwelveparticipantsviewedviatheEC’sDirectorateGeneralforInterpretation(SCIC)streaming,654viaTACSOand60wereintheroom.
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2.12.4. Organisedpartnership-matchingeventsforCBCprogrammes.
ApartnershipdaywasjointlyorganisedbytheAlbanianandtheMacedonianTACSOofficesinFebruary2012topromoteEUfundingopportunitiesinparticularthecallforcross-bordercooperationbetweenMacedoniaandAlbania.
2.12.5. ActastheextensionserviceforP2P.
TACSOsupportedtheP2Pprogrammethroughdisseminationofinformation,selectionandbriefingofparticipantsandthroughvariousfollow-upactivitiesoncedelegationsreturnedtotheirhomecountries.TACSOMacedoniawaschosenasanexampleoftheservicesofferedinrelationtofollow-upactivities.Theinformationevent,SharingExperiencefromthePeopletoPeopleprogramme,wasorganisedinSkopjeinNovember2011byTACSOandtheEUD.Participantsinpreviousprogrammeshadtheopportunitytosharetheirexperienceswithrepresentativesofcivilsociety.Participantsdiscussedgoodpracticesandcameupwithrecommendationsfortheprogramme.TACSOMacedoniaalsoofferedsupportfortheorganisationofasinglebeneficiaryP2Peventonthetopic,FunctionalSystem(s)forInvolvingCivilSocietyinthePolicyDevelopmentandDecision-makingProcess,whereparticipantshadtheopportunitytotalkaboutthepotentialcontributionofcivilsocietyduringthedecision-makingprocess.ExperiencesfromSloveniaandtheSlovakRepublicwerepresentedattheevent.TACSOsupportconsistedofapre-selectionofparticipantsfortheevent,theissuingofinvitationstoparticipantsandlocalspeakersandfacilitatorsoftheconference,registrationofapplications,andmoderationofthepaneldebateonHowtoTargetSuccessfullytheIssueofCivicParticipation.Subsequently,intheframeworkoftheP2Pprogramme,TACSOAlbaniaandtheEUDconductedaconclusiveseminaronEnsuringanEnablingEnvironmentforCivilSocietyOrganisations.ThepurposewastogiveparticipantstheopportunitytoreviewthesituationinAlbaniaandtolookatexperiencesfromothercountries.High-rankingrepresentativesofAlbanianpublicadministration,localauthoritiesandinternationalorganisationshaveattendedthisevent.
2.12.6. TakefollowupactionsbasedonthefindingsfromtheP2Pevents.
TACSOAlbania,followingtheP2Psinglebeneficiaryevent,EnsuringanEnablingEnvironmentforCSOs,hascontinuedtolobbyatthecentrallevelwiththerepresentativesoftheMinistryofFinanceofAlbaniatoprovideinformationregardingthefiscalandlegalframeworkforCSOsandpotentialsolutionsbasedonsuccessstoriesofothercountriesintheregion.TACSOAlbania’sResidentAdvisormetthreetimeswithMrsArjanaDyrmishi,theFiscalandMacroeconomicDirectoroftheMinistryofFinance.TheydiscussedfindingasolutionforVATreimbursementofEUgrants.TherepresentativefromtheMinistryofFinancepreparedamemorandumtobeapprovedbytheMinisterofFinanceofAlbaniaforfurthernegotiationswiththeAlbanianGovernment.ThesolutionproposedisbasedonCroatianexperiences.ThisprocesshasbeencoordinatedwiththeEUDinTirana.TACSOAlbaniaprovidedassistancetotheEUDelegationandCSOsfortheprogrammingofIPACSF2012/2013ProjectFicheforAlbania.TheTACSOteamenabledthedelegationtodistributetheprojectficheto850CSOsandgetconsolidatedinputsfromtheCSOsforthedelegationtofollowupon.TACSOAlbaniaprovidedsupporttothedelegationfortheEIDHRCBSS2010/2011includingconsultationmeetingswithCSOsandtrainingsessionsforapplicantswhilethecallforproposalswasopen.Finally,theteamprovidedhelpdeskandcapacitybuildingsupporttosuccessfulgranteesofthiscallonHowtoManageEUFundedProjects.
2.12.7. LookingforsolutionsformoresystematicinvolvementofCSOsintheprogrammingprocess
TACSOBiHcontinuedtofacilitatetheprocessofinvolvementofCSOsinIPAprogramming.TheTACSOBiH/LAGorganisedatwo-dayworkshopasaforumforrepresentativesofthesixbiggestnetworks,JusticeNetwork,NetworkAgreementPlus,Iamvolunteering,PeaceBuildingNetwork,BiHNGOCouncilandWomen’sNetworkBiH,tomeetanddiscussoptionsforCSOinvolvementinIPAprogrammingwithbothTACSOLAGmembersandrepresentativesoftheDirectorateforEUIntegration(DEI).
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PriortothismeetingtheLAGmemberswerefamiliarisedwiththeDepartmentforplanning,programming,monitoringandreportingonEUfundsanddevelopmentassistanceoftheOfficefortheEUintegrationofSerbia(DACU)andSEKOmechanismsforprogrammingconsultationsthatwereestablishedinSerbiathroughastudyvisitorganisedbyTACSO.Basedontheobservationsmadeduringthestudytrip,theTACSOteamdevelopedaroadmapforIPAprogrammingwherethestartingpointwastheLAGmeeting/workshopwithmembersandresponsibleSeniorProjectOfficers(SPO)tobuildcommongroundforapermanentandfunctionalconsultationprocessbasedontheproposalofCSOs,CSOnetworksandtheDepartmentforEuropeanIntegration.Inaddition,theLAGmembersgaveclearrecommendationsconcerningthefurtherdevelopmentofmechanismsformoreefficientinvolvementofCSOsintheIPAprogrammingprocess.
TACSOKosovo’sorganisationofinformationsessionsinsupportofCSOsapplyingfortheEIDHR2011callforproposalswasusedtodemonstratehowsubstantialresourcesareallocatedforthistask.ActivitiestookplaceduringtheperiodOctober-November2011.TheTACSOKosovoofficesupportedtheMinistryofEuropeanIntegrationwhenholdingitsfirstconsultativemeetingwithcivilsocietyorganisationsontheannualprogrammeforIPA2013.ThepurposeofthismeetingwastogettheinputandexpertisefromCSOsondifferentprojectideasandprojectfichesbeforetheyweresubmittedtotheEuropeanCommission.ThepackagesofprojectficheswerebasedontheprioritiesoftheKosovoinstitutionsandthoseidentifiedintheMulti-AnnualIndicativePlanningDocument.Thisinitiativewaswelcomedbycivilsociety.Itwasconcludedthatsectorial-basedmeetingsshouldbeorganisedinthefuturetoensuremorefocuseddiscussions.Duringthismeeting,officialsfromtheconcernedministriesandagenciespresented27projectideaswithatotalamountof92.68millionEuros.Furthermore,TACSO,incooperationwithEUDKosovo,involvedLAGsandCSOsintheprogrammingprocessoftheEIDHR2012andKosovoCSF2012and2013.TACSOMacedoniaorganisedtwoconsultativemeetingswithCSOsregardingEIDHRprioritiesandtheEUcountryprogressreport.ParticipationofCSOsatthesemeetingswasmobilisedthroughtheTACSOMacedoniaWebpageandinvitationssentthroughtheTACSOmailinglist.ThemajorityofparticipantsattheseeventsareCSOsthatparticipatedinTACSOMacedoniaeventsandtrainings.
2.13. TACSO assisted in improving the legal framework for civil society.
NumerousactivitieswereundertakenbyTACSOinanefforttoimproveconditionsforcivilsocietyactivitiesintheregion.
Inadditiontothestudytour,previouslymentionedfortheMacedoniandelegationinDecember2011,TACSOCroatia alsohostedstudytoursfromBosniaandHerzegovinainFebruary2012andinTurkeyinMay2012.
2.13.1. TurkishgovernmentrepresentativeslearntabouttheCroatianmodelofmethodsforthe promotionofcivilsocietydevelopmentthatcouldpossiblybeappliedintheTurkishmodelfor thecreationofanenablingenvironmentforcivilsocietydevelopment.
ThedelegationoftheTurkishDepartmentofAssociationsoftheMinistryofInteriorandrepresentativesoftheCentreforCivilSocietyDevelopment(STGM)andtheThirdSectorFoundation(TÜSEV)ofTurkeyvisitedZagrebinMay2012.TheirvisitwasorganisedwithinthecontextofcollectinginformationonmethodsforthepromotionofcivilsocietydevelopmentinsevenEuropeancountriestobeusedbytheTurkishadministrationindevelopingtheirownmodelforthecreationofanenablingenvironmentforcivilsocietydevelopment.TheCroatianmodelwasrecognisedasparticularlyinterestingforTurkey.ThedelegationwasalsoreceivedbytheTurkishAmbassadortoCroatia,MrBurakÖzügergin,whoiteratedtheTurkishEmbassy’sreadinesstosupportfutureexchangesofexperiencesconcerningcivilsocietyorganisedbyTACSO.UponreturnfromthestudyvisitTACSOTurkeypreparedareportthatwaspresentedtotheDoAaswellastorepresentativesfromtheMinistryofEUAffairs.TheDoAiscurrentlyworkingonanewlegislationforCSOsandhasincorporatedpositiveaspectsoftheirobservationsfromCroatiainthelegislationdraftsuchas,theabilitytoformanassociationwiththreepeople.
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TheDoAhasalsopresentedtheresultsofthestudyvisittotheMinisterofInteriorwithaplantocreateastructuresimilartotheCooperationOffice.
InJuly2012,theGovernmentadoptedtheNationalStrategyforCreatinganEnablingEnvironmentforCivilSocietyDevelopment2012-2016.TACSOassistedtheGovernmentOfficeforCooperationwithNGOsinconductingtheconsultativeprocessthatwascrucialfordraftingthestrategy.
2.13.2. CSOsparticipatedinanonlinepublicconsultationconcerningthelegalandtaxationframework inMacedonia.
Updatinglegislationrequiredinformationdisseminationasthebasisfordiscussionsandconsultations.Forexample,TACSOMacedoniamadefiveannouncementsconcerningthelegalandtaxationframeworkforCSOs,whichweresenttotheorganisationsonthemailinglist.
Theannouncements,andconsequentcollectionofcommentsandquestions,wererelatedtothefollowingtopics:callforexpressinginterestinparticipatingwiththeCommitteeforOrganisationswithStatusofPublicInterest(PBO);invitationsfortheSectorialForumforLawonDonationsandSponsorshiporganisedbyKonekt;draftStrategyforCooperationoftheGovernmentwithCSOs;informationaboutconsultativemeetingsfortheStrategyforCooperationbetweenCSOsandtheGovernment;andclarificationfromtheDataVerificationCommissionregardingtheCSOs’obligationstosubmitanotarised,signedstatement.
2.13.3. TheCouncilforCooperationbetweentheGovernmentandCivilSocietyOrganisationstogether withrelevantstakeholdersdiscussedtheimprovementofregulationsrelatedtofinancingof CSOsandsettingprioritiesforfundingCSOs.
TACSOMontenegroorganisedtheconference,PublicFinancingofCivilSocietyOrganisations,inMontenegroincooperationwiththeCouncilforCooperationbetweentheGovernmentandCivilSocietyOrganisationsinMontenegro,inBečići(Budva)inMay2012.Theaimoftheconferencewastosupporttheprocessofimprovementandimplementationofregulationsconcerningthefinancingofcivilsocietyorganisationsfrompublicfunds.TheconferencepresentedcurrentlegislationthatprovidedfundingofCSOprojectsandusefulrecommendationsforthedevelopmentofnewregulationsintheareaoffinancingCSOs.TheconferenceaimedtoprovideassistancetotheCouncilforCooperationbetweentheGovernmentandcivilsocietyorganisationsinMontenegroinsettingprioritiesforfundingin2012.Participantsexpressedtheirpositions,ideasandconcernsaroundthreemaintopics:prioritiesinfinancingprojectsofNGOs,theprocessofallocatingfundsforNGOprojects,andtheCommissionfortheAllocationofFundstoNGOs”.
2.13.4. CouncilforCooperationbetweentheGovernmentofMontenegroandCSOsadoptedthedraft agreementforcooperationbetweentheTACSOcountries,whichrepresentedthestartingpoint intheprocessoffurtherharmonisationintheregion.
TheCouncilforCooperationbetweentheGovernmentofMontenegroandCSOsacceptedtheinitiativeoftheTACSOofficesentinJune2012suggestingthatthecounciladdresstheGovernmentofMontenegrowiththerecommendationtolaunchregionalinitiativesrelatedtosigningtheagreementofcooperationbetweenthegovernmentsofMontenegro,Serbia,BosniaandHerzegovina,Macedonia,Albania,Croatia,KosovoandTurkeyinthefieldofpromotionofcooperationwithcivilsociety.Thisinitiativeaimstoestablishdirectcommunicationamonggovernmentsoftheregioninordertoexchangebestpracticesinaqualitymanner.Signingtheagreementwoulddemonstratethewillingnessofgovernmentsintheregiontobeheldresponsibleforqualitymanagement.Theagreementwouldpromotecooperationbetweengovernmentandcivilsocietyorganisations,whichwouldbetreatedinasystematicandsustainablemanner.
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TheneedforclosercooperationinthefieldofgovernmentcooperationwithNGOshasbeenrecognisedintheconclusionsoftheregionalconferenceonLocalGovernmentandCivilSocietyorganisedbyTACSOinBudvain2011.AdraftagreementpreparedbytheTACSOofficewasadoptedbytheCouncilforCooperationanditrepresentsthestartingpointintheprocessoffurtherharmonisationintheregion.
2.13.5. Enhancedtransparenciesindistributionofpublicfunds.
Inordertoenhancetransparencyinthedistributionofpublicfunds,TACSOSerbiasupportedtheOfficeforCooperationwithCivilSocietyoftheGovernmentoftheRepublicofSerbia.TheydevelopedanonlinequestionnaireforthecreationoftheAnnualSummaryReportonbudgetaryexpenditures.Thereportwasprovidedtoassociationsandothercivilsocietyorganisationstosupportprogrammeactivities.UponcompletionofthesummaryreportlocalactionswereinitiatedbyTACSOwherethefollowingwerepresented:1)existingmodelsforfinancingCSOsfromlocalbudgets,2)TACSOresearchonspendingonCSOsfromlocalbudgetand3)anationalreportonspendingforCSOsfromnationalinstitutionsandministries.
2.14. Initiated policy-oriented change processes.
2.14.1. CSOsadvocatedanddevelopedapolicydocument.
TACSOSerbiaselectedthreeCSOnetworks/platformsfromSerbiathatwillbeassistedbyTACSOtogoforwardwithadvocacyactivitiesandtodefinepolicydocumentsandnewlegislationproposalsinthefieldsofmigrationsandasylum;citizens’forcedreplacementandintroducingmediationinthelegalsystem.
TheSEKOconsultativemechanismhascontinuedtobeoperationalcoveringsevenareasandincluding318CSOs.TheSerbiaEuropeanIntegrationofficeandtheGovernmentalOfficeforCooperationwithCivilSociety,supportedbyTACSOandthedomesticfoundationBalkanCommunityInitiativesFund(BCIF),heldseveralconsultativemeetingsduringthespring2012todefinefurtherdevelopmentofSEKOmechanisms.SEKOcouldgobeyonditsbasicfunction,whichisconsultationonIPAassistanceandotherdevelopmentaid,andbecomeanactorinthefieldofCSOsinfluencingnationalpolicies.ThisapproachisbeingundertakenbySEKOforruleoflaw.TACSOhasbeenprovidingTAforthestrategicplansoSEKOcanbecomemoreefficientininfluencingpolicy.TACSOSerbiapartneredwiththeCommissionerforProtectionofEquality(CPE)oftheRepublicofSerbiatostrengthenthecapacitiesofCSOsandtodiscoverandprovediscriminationthusbecomingamoreimportantfactorinfightingdiscrimination. 2.14.2. QualityAssuranceStandardsfurtherpromotedatthenationallevel.
AsafollowuptotheregionalconferenceheldinthefirstphaseofTACSO,TACSOAlbania,Kosovo,MontenegroandTurkeyhaveorganisednationaleventsrelatedtotheQASasdescribedpreviouslyinparagraph2.10ofComponent3.
2.14.3. NationalYouthStrategyandNationalYouthLawontheagendaoftheAlbanianGovernment.
TheTACSOAlbaniaOfficeconductedregularmeetingswiththenewlyestablishedForumofSocialEnterpriseandtheAlbanianYouthNetwork.ThemeetingswereheldtoincreasethecapacitiesofthenetworkandputforwardeffortstoadoptalawonsocialenterprisesandtoadoptthenewYouthNationalStrategy2013-2020andtostartthepreparationoftheAlbanianYouthLaw.InlinewiththisTACSOAlbania,incollaborationwithMinistryofTourism,CultureYouthandSports(MTCYS);MinistryofEducationandScienceandtheMinistryofLabour,SocialAffairsandEqualRights,supportedtheinitiativeoftheAlbanianYouthCouncilandtheNationalStudentCouncil.TheyorganisedtheNationalConference,EvaluationoftheNeedsandtheRoleofYouthOrganisationsinLocalYouthPolicy-MappingLocalYouthActors.Thisconferencewasorganisedtosupportthe
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draftingprocessoftheNationalYouthActionPlan2013-2020withinsightsfromyouthCSOsandtoendorsetheoutputstopublicinstitutions.
Thepurposeoftheactionplanwastocreatenewbridgesforjointinitiativesandcollaborationbetweencivilsocietyactors,tofinaliselocalstrategiesandtocreateanationalstrategyasaresponsetotheneedsfordevelopingyouthpoliciesinAlbania.Theconferenceproceedings,togetherwithitsfindings,willbefurtherreflectedintherevisedYouthStrategyfor2013-2020andwillbeincorporatedinthepoliciesoftheMinistryofTourism,CultureYouthandSportsaswellasincross-sectorinitiativesandstrategiesoftheMinistryofEducationandScienceandtheMinistryofLabour,SocialAffairsandEqualOpportunities.
TheresultsoftheyouthconferencearealreadyincorporatedastheactionplanresultingfromtheregionalconferenceinSkopje,KeepinguptheMomentum.TheywereprovidedtotheRegionalConferenceinSkopjeandtoTACSOAlbaniaasamongthefourcommitmentsregardingyouthpolicies.Thereisalreadysupportforonestrategy,enablingthedialoguebetweenyouthCSOsandtheMTCYStoreviewtheactualNationalYouthStrategyanddraftthenewonefortheyears2013-2020andpreparingthegroundsforthepreparationoftheNationalYouthLaw.
2.14.4. Follow-uponSocialEntrepreneurship.
TheSocialEntrepreneurshipForuminAlbaniasupportedtheAssessmentReportofSocialEntrepreneurshipinBiHandaconferenceinMontenegrothatincludedAlbania,BiHandMontenegrowasorganisedtodiscussandraiseawarenessoftheneedforsocialentrepreneurship.
TACSO Albaniaprovidedpolicysupportthroughacombinationofmeasuresincludingtheorganisationofregionalconferences,thecommissioningofcasestudiesandreports,andtheorganisationofstudytours.Oneactionwastosupportthedevelopmentofsocialenterprises(SE)inAlbaniaasanalternativeandindependentinstrumenttoboostthefinancialautonomyofCSOs.Since2000,inanattempttostrengthentheirfinancialsituations,effortstooperatesocialenterpriseshavebeenmadebyvariousAlbanianCSOs.During2012morethan100CSOsmetandlaidthefoundationsfortheAlbanianSocialEnterprises(ASE)Forumtoenforcetheunderlyingparticipationandthedemocratisationprocesses.TheASEForumisaimedatdevelopingsocialservicesandwelfarebypromotingtheactivitiesofoperatingsocialenterprisesandgivingbirthtonewones.Inlate2012,morethan140differentcivilandinstitutionalactorshadformallyjoinedtheforum.
InordertofollowupwiththeprocessofinstitutionalisationoftheSEForumasamechanismforinformation,counsellingontheestablishmentofsocialenterprisesandservicedeliveryinAlbania,TACSOAlbaniaorganisedafollow-upmeetingoftheASEForumtoelectthesteeringstructuresanddiscussfurtherstepstobeundertakeninthenextfewmonths.Duringthemeetingtheparticipating86civilsocietyorganisationscommittedtocontinuedsocialentrepreneurshipdevelopmentinAlbania.Issuesdiscussedincludedthemodalitiesofthecommittee,suggestionsforfurtherinstitutionalisingtheforumcommittee,andtheworkoftheforumonadailybasis.AreportontheAlbaniansocialeconomyhasbeencommissionedbyTACSO.
TheAssessmentReportonSocialEntrepreneurshipwascompletedbytheCentreforCivilSocietyPromotion.TACSO Bosnia and Herzegovinaorganisedthreeworkshops/roundtablesinBanjaLuka,SarajevoandTuzlawithparticipantsfromallthreesectors(CSO,governmentandbusiness)topresenttheAssessmentReportonSEtointerestedCSOs,governmentbodiesandprivatebusinessrepresentatives.Thepurposeoftheassessmentreportistoserveasabaselinedocumentfordiscussion.TACSOBiH’sintentionwastocreateanenablingandcreativeenvironmentforallinterestedCSOstosharetheiropinionsandexperiencesonsocialentrepreneurshipinBosniaandHerzegovina.Theresultsoftheworkshopsweresystematisedinaccordancetothelegislativeframework,institutionalframework,educationandpromotion.
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TACSOMontenegroandtheBritishCouncilincooperationwiththeCentreforDevelopmentofNon-GovernmentalOrganisationsandtheNetworkofKnowledgeorganisedaconferenceforSocialEntrepreneurship-BusinesswithSocialResponsibility,inPodgoricainMarch2012withtheobjectivesto:
• ImprovetheunderstandingofparticipatingCSOsandpublicsectororganisationsforsocialentrepreneurshipasamechanismofsustainablecommunitydevelopment.
• Createbasicpre-conditionsforfurthersystemicdevelopmentofsocialenterprisesinMontenegro.• Encouragedevelopmentofpartnershipsintheareaofsocialentrepreneurship.
Conference conclusions:
• It is necessary to examine whether the Law on Social Cooperati ves or the Law on Social Enterprises is the best soluti on - Government.
• It is necessary to initi ate the establishment of social enterprises - NGOs and social partners
• It is necessary to initi ate the establishment of a fund to fi nance social enterprises.
ParticipantswereintroducedtothemodelsandwaysoffunctioningofsocialenterprisesintheregionandEurope.ExamplesoflegalframeworksinEuropeancountriesandtheregionandexamplesofmarketcompetitivenesswerepresentedattheconference.
2.14.5. CSOsandKosovoinstitutionsdevelopedmechanismsforcooperationanddialoguebetweenthe two sectors.
WiththeearliersupportofTACSO,theKosovoParliamentapprovedtheamendmentstotheLawonFreedomofAssociationinNGOsandtheKosovogovernmentamendedinternalrulesofprocedureregulatingcivilsocietyinvolvementindecision-makingandthedraftingprocess.Later,TACSOsupportedboththegovernmentandtheCiviKosPlatformintheimplementationofthisprovisionbyprovidinginformationaboutCSOsinvolvedintheseprocesses.TheKosovogovernmenthadlistedasoneofitsprioritiesfor2012thestrategyforcooperationwithcivilsociety.TACSOhaspreparedacomprehensiveplanandprovideddirectsupporttotheCivikosPlatformandGovernmentInstitutions(OfficeofthePrimeMinister(OPM)/OfficeofGoodGovernance(OGG))indraftingthisstrategyandensuringimplementingmechanisms.Thesupportincludedorganisingandfacilitatingmulti-stakeholders’workshops,consultationswithcivilsocietyandtheorganisationofathree-daysstudyvisittoPoland.TheCivikosPlatformismandatedtohavealeadingroleinthedraftingofthisstrategyandensuressubstantialparticipationofcivilsociety.TheTACSOKosovoofficehasfocuseditsdeliverablesonsupportingtheCivikosPlatformandKosovoinstitutionsinordertodevelopnecessarymechanismsforcooperationanddialoguebetweenbothsectorsandtopreparethisstrategyandtostrengthentheircapacities.
2.14.6. GovernmentdepartmentsandCSOsfromBiHandMontenegrosharedexperiencesrelatedto theirdifferentandinnovativeapproachestodialoguebetweenthegovernmentandCSOs.
TACSOBiHorganisedameetingtosupportexperienceandbestpracticesharingtopromoteinnovativeapproachestodialoguebetweenthegovernmentandcivilsociety.AtthemeetingwererepresentativesfromtheGovernmentofMontenegro;TACSOMontenegroLAGRepresentative,MsDankaLatkovic,theHeadoftheOfficeforCooperationwithNGOs;andTACSOMontenegroteammember,MrStavoMuk.TheysharedMontenegrinexperienceandlessonslearntontheprocessofestablishingaCouncilforCivilSocietytoBiH.TheideawasoriginatedbyTACSOBiHLAGmemberswhoparticipatedattheBelgradeConference,PartnershipforChange,heldinMarchthisyear.ThemeetingwasextremelyusefulandtimelysincetheSectorforCivilSocietyattheMinistryofJusticeBiHhasbeenintheprocessofpreparingtheStrategyforCSOs.Montenegro’sexperienceandlessonslearntwerefoundtoberelevantsinceMontenegroisastepaheadofBiHintheCSOenvironment.
Duringtheaforementionedpartnershipevent,BringingCivilSocietytotheWesternBalkans,heldinSarajevoandsupportedbyTACSOBiH,somecentralelementsweretheinclusionofcivilsocietyandcitizensofthe
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WesternBalkancountriesindecision-makingprocessesandthepromotionofprogressivesocialforcesincomparisontoideasandapproachesintheUSandtheEU.Conferenceparticipantsdiscussedthepos¬sibilityofstartingaseriesofcivilsocietyactivismprojects.ThepartnershipeventproducedtheCivilSocietyManifesto.Theaimsofthemanifestowastoincreaseknowledgeandawarenessofdemocracyandpoliticalandeconomicproblemsintheregion,increasethecapacitiesofcivilsocietyorganisationstobecomeactiveagentsforchange,andtopromotetheregioninWashingtonDC,Brussels,NewYork,Berlin,andVienna.
2.14.7. Offeredevidencebasedresourcesoncorporatesocialresponsibility(CSR)totheCSOand business sectors.
TACSOMontenegroconductedresearchoncorporatesocialresponsibilityinMontenegroinOctober2012.ThespecificobjectivesoftheassignmentweretoenhancetheknowledgeofCSOsandtheprofitsectorregardingtheCSRconceptandtocontributetothedevelopmentofafavourableenvironmentforCSRimprovement.TheresearchoffereddifferentperspectivesabouttheCSRbusinesssector,theobstaclesfordevelopmentoftheCSR,andthepotentialrolesofgovernment,mediaandCSOsinpromotionanddevelopmentoftheCSR,available here.
2.14.8. Followed-upontheimpactandresultsofthenationalactivityplansagreeduponduringthe conference,CooperationbetweenLocalSelf-GovernmentandCSOsintheWesternBalkansand Turkey.
Asafollow-uptotheregionalconferenceaboutcooperationbetweentheCSOsandlocalself-governments,theTACSORegionalOfficecoordinateddevelopmentoftheBečićiProgressReport.TheBečićiProgressReportevaluatedtheimpactandresultsofnationalactivityplansagreeduponduringtheBečićiConferenceonCooperationbetweenLocalSelf-GovernmentandCSOsintheWesternBalkansandTurkeyin2011.Thereportprovidedanupdateontheprogresssincetheinitialconferenceanddiscussesthemainconstraintsandopportunitiestopromotegoodpractices.Itprovidedrecommendationsforallstakeholdersinrelationtofurtherinstitutionaldevelopment,communicationinruralandremoteareas,availablehere.
2.15. Enhanced capacities of government to cooperate with CSOs.
Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina showed that:
• MostoftheorganisationsbelievethatTACSOishelpfulinimprovingcooperationwithgovernmentinstitutions.
• Morethan64percentareawarethatTACSOisactingtostrengthencooperationbetweenthegovernmentandCSOs.
• WhenaskediftheyknowthatTACSO’ssupportstrengthenscollaborationbetweencivilsocietyorganisationsandgovernmentinstitutions,70percentofCSOrepresentativessaid,“yes”,asdid86percentofsurveyedstateorganisations.
7 ThestudyvisittoPolandwasforamixeddelegationcomprisedofrepresentativesoftheKosovoParliament,Governmentandcivilsocietyanditprovidedanexchangeofexperiencesandlessonslearntoncooperationbetweengovernmentandcivilsocietyorganisations.TheoverallobjectiveofthestudytourwastocontributetothestrategyofcooperationbetweenthegovernmentandCSOscurrentlybeingdevelopedandplannedtobeapprovedbythegovernmentofKosovoinJune2012.
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2.15.1. TACSOLAGmemberswereintroducedtoCroatianexperiencesinincorporatingCSO/ government dialogue into the Strategy for the Development of the Enabling Environment for Civil Society.
TACSOBosniaandHerzegovinaLAGmembersvisitedCroatia.TACSOCroatiaofferedlogisticalsupport,organisedameetingwiththeGovernmentalOfficeforCooperationwithNGOsandapresentationontheCouncilforCivilSocietyDevelopment.ThisstudyvisittookplaceaspartoftheprocessfordraftingtheStrategyfortheDevelopmentofanEnablingEnvironmentforCivilSocietyleadbytheMinistryofJusticeinBosniaandHerzegovina.ThisprocesswillfurtherstrengthentheroleofcivilsocietyintheEuropeanintegrationprocess.TheworkinggroupfordraftingthestrategycommencedpreparationsthatincludeananalysisoftheexistinglegalframeworkinfluencingtheworkofCSOsinthecountryandtheregion.TACSOsupportedthegroupbyprovidingconsultancyservicesaimedatproducingaframeworkdocumentforthestrategy.Asthenextstepintheprocess,thestudyvisittoCroatiawascarriedout.SubjectscoveredweretheconceptofNGOdayswithactiveinvolvementoftheOfficeforCooperationwithNGOs,andcooperationbetweenCSOsandthegovernmentthroughtheCouncilforCivilSocietyDevelopment.
2.15.2. CSOsinMontenegrocommendedachievements,obstaclesandlessonslearntfromtheStrategy forCooperationoftheGovernmentandNGOs2009-2011,andprovidedinputsforafuture strategyandanaccompanyingactionplan.
TheTACSOMontenegroOffice,incooperationwiththeMinistryoftheInteriorandOfficeforCooperationwithNGOs,organisedameetingwithnon-governmentalorganisations.ThesubjectofthemeetingwasthestructureandcontentofthefutureStrategyofCooperationoftheGovernmentofMontenegroandNon-governmentalOrganisationsfortheperiodof2013-2015.ThemeetingwasheldinPodgoricainNovember2012.Theaimofthemeetingwastoenablenon-governmentalorganisationsfromallpartsofMontenegrotocommentabouttheachievements,obstaclesandlessonslearntintheimplementationoftheStrategyforCooperationoftheGovernmentandNGOs2009-2011.Anotheraimofthemeetingwastoidentifyelementsoftheproposedstructureforthefuturestrategyofcooperationandactionplan.AthirdaimwastoidentifykeyproblemsinthefunctioningofNGOsandsuggestmeasurestoaddressthem.
2.15.3. Providedaregionalplatformfortheimprovementofcooperationandcreatedaforumforthe presentationofthecurrentregionalinitiativesbetweencivilsocietyandpublicinstitutions.
TheTACSORegionalOfficeorganisedtheregional conference,KeepinguptheMomentum:ImprovingCooperationbetweenPublicInstitutionsandCivilSocietyintheWesternBalkansandTurkey,inNovemberinSkopje.Withover100representativesofpublicinstitutions,civilsociety,themediaandthedonorcommunity,thisconferencewasthefirstofitskindtoprovideaplatformfortheimprovementofcooperationandtocreateaforumforthepresentationofthecurrentregionalinitiativesbetweencivilsocietyandpublicinstitutions.
Thedraftreport,KeepinguptheMomentum:ImprovingCooperationbetweenPublicInstitutionsandCivilSocietyintheWesternBalkanandTurkey,waspresentedduringtheconferenceinordertosummarisewherewestandtodayandtostimulateallconferenceparticipantstogivemoreinput,commentsandsuggestionsinordertoimprovethequalityofthefinalreport.
TheconferencealsogavetheparticipantstheopportunitytoidentifytheSpecific,Measurable,Achievable,Realistic,Timeframed(SMART)commitmentsandactionplans.Italsogaveparticipantstheopportunitytorecogniseandcommittothenextstepstheywilltaketoimprovecooperationbetweenpublicinstitutionsduringthenextyearonthenationalandregionallevelsandtoimproveandcommittofuture,goodcross-bordercooperation.Thosecommitmentsandtheannexesfromtheconferencereportarepresentedasapartofthereport.Participantswerepleasedtohaveanopportunityforexchangingandnetworking.
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TACSO’sKeepinguptheMomentumregionalconferencemotivatedtheDepartmentofAssociationsinTurkeytohostameetingbringingtogetherrepresentativesofvariousgovernmentbodiestodiscussfundingforCSOs,todialoguewithcivilsocietyandtocontributetotheconferencereport.Asafollowuptotheconference,Turkishparticipantsdrewupanactionplanthatincludedholdingpublicconsultationswithcivilsocietyonthefollowingtopics:thecreationofaCSOofficeintheParliament,thenewlegislationconcerningCSOs-includingtheissueofacivilsocietycouncilandcivilsocietyboard,andcivilsociety/governmentcooperationmechanismsingeneral.
2.16. LAG proved to be a useful and powerful tool in ensuring that TACSO responded to the needs of the CSOs.
SomeoftheexamplesofLAGsinfluenceonthecourseoftheoperationofTACSOare:
• TACSOTurkeyLAGmeetingorganisedinMarchwiththeparticipationofnineLAGmembersinİstanbul,whichbroughttogetherCSOsandgovernmentrepresentatives.ThestrategyandconceptofcivilsocietyandgovernmentcooperationforTurkeywasdiscussedindepth.
• ThefinalpartoftheTACSOBiHLAGworkshopwasheldonMay31-June1andfocusedonmodelsforefficientparticipationofCSOsinEUfundedprogramming(IPAprogramming)andonrecommendationsforTACSOBiH’sroleinfacilitatingsuchprocesses.
• LAGmemberswereconsultedbyTACSOandtheEUofficeinKosovoduringtheprocessofthepreparationofguidelinesforthenationalIPAcall,CivilSocietyFacilityforKosovo,whichwaslaunchedinApril2012.LAGmembersagreedthatobjectivesofanationalCSFcallshouldinclude:supporttodialoguebetweengovernmentandcivilsociety,incentivesforcooperationbetweenurbanandgrassrootsorganisationsandsupporttoyouthorganisations.MostoftheLAGrecommendationswereincludedintheobjectivesofthiscall.IttookalmosttwoyearstoacknowledgethecontributionsofLAG,andspecificallyCSOmembers,inthisprocessthatmarksahugestepforward.Currently,thecallisopen.
• TACSOKosovoestablishedaminiLAGworkinggroupthatwasengagedinpreparingthenationalreport,CooperationbetweenCivilSocietyandLocalGovernanceinKosovo.TheminiworkinggroupinvolvedtheDirectoroftheLegalOffice,theLAGmemberMinistryoftheLocalGovernance,theDirectoroftheCivikosPlatformandtheDirectorandLAGmembersoftheNGO,SyriIVisionit.Thereportwillserveasatooltoimpactadvancing/changingpoliciesandtostrengthenthecooperationbetweenbothsectors.
TACSOtransformation:
TACSO’s position has changed from one where it facilitated the processes related to EU integration and IPA programming to one where it is an integral part of the CSF. TACSO is now a partner to the government institutions working with CSOs rather than an agency developing relationship with government representatives.
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Unliketheotherprojectcomponentsdescribedinthisreport,whereinformationwaspresentedseparatelyforphaseoneandphasetwoofTACSO,thiscomponentwilloffersummativeinformationontheregionalachievementsofTACSO.ReasonsforthisarethatactivitiesattheregionallevelareplannednotonlytosupporttheCSOsandenablingenvironmentfortheCSOs,butalsotomanageandstandardiseservicesofTACSOacrosstheregion.TheTACSORegionalOfficeplannedregionaleventsforallcountriesoftheregion.TherewerealsoseveraladditionalCSOseventsthatoccurred.Therewerebilateralandtrilateralevents,whichhavebeenmadepossiblebecauseoftheregionaldimensionofTACSObuttheywerenotplannedbytheregionaloffice.
TheWesternBalkansandTurkeyhaveacomplexregionalhistorysotheguidingprinciplesofTACSO’sprojectsintheregionalweretoencouragesocialandeconomicdevelopmentandtoinitiatethedemocratisationprocess.ThiscouldonlybedoneifCSwasdevelopinginafluidenvironmentthatenabledittoflowbeyondnationalborders.Inordertorespondtothisguidingprinciple,TACSOmanagedtomaintainaflexibleregionalperspectivetakingintoaccountthenationalcontexts,andtosupportandmatchtheneedsofregionalcivilsociety.
Thefollowingwasachievedunderthiscomponent:
5.1 Strengthened regional cooperation among CSOs, government representatives of units responsible for cooperating with CSOs and other stakeholders relevant to the civil society sector.
Outofatotalof61eventsorganisedbytheregionalofficeinphasetwoofTACSO,17ofthemofferedbothinformationandtrainingtoCSOsandrelevantstakeholderswithatotalof500TACSOsupportedparticipants.Compositionofparticipantswasasfollows:
• A totalof16.2percentwerelocalLAGrepresentatives.• Atotalof4.6percentweregovernmentrepresentatives.• Atotalof3.2percentweremediarepresentatives.• Atotalof33.2percentwereCSOrepresentativesfromtheWBT.• AtotalofthreepercentwereCSOrepresentativesfromtheEU.• Atotalof1.4percentwereEUrepresentatives.• Atotalofthreepercentweredonorrepresentatives.
Inadditionduringthesecondphase,TACSOalsoparticipatedineightregionalCSOeventsorganisedbyotherorganisationsandfiveregionaleventsorganisedbytheEUorincooperationwiththeEU.
WiththeseeventsTACSOcontributedtotheintroductionofnewpoliciesandbestpractices.Theeventssupportedexperiencesharing,partnerships,networking,theplanningofCSFsupport,thetransferofnewtrendsintheregion,etc.
Forexample,74.4percentofthosepolledintheSurveyonQualityofServicesAssessmentconductedinCroatiainOctober2012statedthatparticipationinregionalinitiativesorganisedbyTACSOdidcontributetostrengtheningthecooperationoftheirorganisationwithorganisationsfromothercountries.
OnehundredpercentofthemembersoftheCivilSocietyManifesto-PlatformforFutureActions,whichencompasses45leaders/representativesofCSOsfromtheWesternBalkans,haverecognisedthecrucialroleTACSOplayedincommunicating,coordinating,promotingandadvisingthenetworksassembledaroundtheCSManifesto.
COMPONENT 5: REGIONAL DIMENSION
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5.2 Specifically promoted and contributed to the establishment of partnerships and networks at the regional level, enabling CSOs to become a stronger driving force for societies in policy-making, democratisation processes and development of governments in the WBT.
InalleventsorganisedbyTACSOanimportantaspectwascreatingopportunitiesforpartnershipandnetworking.SomeeventsattheregionallevelwerespecificallydesignedtosupportpartnershipsandnetworkingofCSOsactiveintheregionoramongIPAandEUCSOs.
TheTACSORegionalOfficedevelopedtheReportonRegionalCSONetworks(RCSONs)intheIPARegion,whereregionalnetworksandtheircapacitiesweremappedforthefirsttimeintheWBT.Thereportofferedrecommendationsonhowfurtherregionalnetworkingcouldbesupportedandstrengthened.
FollowingtheRCSONs,theTACSOROorganisedtheconferenceforidentifiedregionalCSOnetworksfromtheWesternBalkansandTurkeytoexaminepossibilitiesfortheirsupport,mainlyfromtheEU,anddiscusstheirneedsinawider,face-to-faceforum8.
Aftersummarisingtheissues,recommendationsandopenquestionsidentifiedbytheparticipantsattheconference,TACSOconcludedthattherewasanevidentneedforfurthersupporttotheRCSONs.Inordertofurthersteerregionalnetworks,TACSOpublishedanopencallforsupportofregionalCSOsinundertakingspecificactionstargetedatregionalCSOnetworkdevelopment.
Expectedresultsofsuchsupportwere• IncreasedcapacitiesoftheRCSONs.• IncreasednumberofqualityregionalCSOnetworksintheIPAregion.• PromotionofpartnershipsandnetworkingamongCSOsintheIPAregion.
Supportincludedprovisionoftechnicalassistancetoregionalnetworksin:• Organisingmeetingsofnetworkmembersto:• Developconcreteactionplans,strategicplans.• PlantheCivilSocietyFacility’sCallforProposal-IPA/CSFPartnershipProgrammesforCSOs,available
here.• FacilitationofcontactwithEUorganisations.• Provisionoftraining/coachingservicesinstrategicplanning,communicationplanning,andothertopicsof
interesttoCSOs.• MeetingsofCSOsplanningtodevelopanetwork.
Inordertocreateopportunityforasmanyregionalnetworksaspossible,supportwasplannedforbothinformalandformallyregisterednetworksandbilateralorganisations,whichcomefromatleasttwocountriesintheWBT.
AsaresultofthisinitiativetheTACSOROhasreceivedanumberofgoodqualityproposalswithatotalamountof550,800Euros.Duetolimitedresources,TACSOwasabletosupportonlysevenproposals,asfollows:
1.Disabledandmarginalisedgroups
a. NetworkofLowHIVPrevalenceCountries(NeLP).b. RegionalLGBTNetwork.c. BalkanDis/AbilityNetwork.
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2.Policyresearchandpolicydevelopment
a. SoutheastEuropeanPolicyResearchAssociation(SEEPRA).b. MonitoringChapter23.
3.Environment,energyefficiencyandwastemanagement
a. Balkane-WasteManagementNetwork(BeWMAN).
4.GeneralCSOcapacitybuilding
a. BalkanCivilSocietyDevelopmentNetwork(BCSDN).
Outputofthesupporttothenetworks:
• Networksimprovedtheirlong-termplanningbydevelopingstrategicandactionplanstoensureeffectiveadvocacyintheregion(on-goinghumanimmunodeficiencyvirus(HIV)).
• DevelopedcapacitiesandknowledgeformonitoringnegotiationsandtheEUaccessionprocess,particularlyinthefieldofreformofjudiciary,fundamentalrights,socialpoliciesandmedia.
• ImprovedcollaborationbetweenCroatianandMontenegrinNGOsinmonitoringnegotiationsandimplementingEUstandards.
• DevelopedthefirstshadowreportonthestateofreformsrelatedtoChapters23,19and10forMontenegro.
• LGBTactivistsfromtheWBThadanopportunitytomeetwithLGBTactivistsfromtheMediterraneanregion.TheyhadtimeforefficientandcreativeplanningandprojectdevelopmentandtimetocomparetheachievementsanddifferencesinLGBTmovementsintheBalkans,theArabworldandtheCaucasus.
• LGBTnetworkmembershadanopportunitytoseeindepthhowtheQueerZagrebFestivalfunctionedandwhatthefestivalimpacthasbeenontheimprovementofLGBTrightsinCroatiaandtheBalkanregioninthelast10years.
• LGBTnetworkmembershadanopportunitytodefinethescopeofcollaborationamongthemselvesandfocustheirworktofindsimilarLGBTorganisations/initiativesintheMediterraneanregionwithaspecialfocusonEgypt,Tunisia,Libya,AlgeriaandSyria.
• StrengthenthecapacitiesoftheBEWMANnetworkforefficientusageofnewmediainlobbyingandadvocacyeffortsintheareaofenvironmentalprotectionbyprovidingthenetworkmemberswithtoolsandskillsforadvocacy,anopportunitytosharecomplementarycompetenciesandtoenablethemtoinitiatechangesandimprovementsoftheexistinglegalandinstitutionalframeworkrelatedtoenvironmentalprotectionwithintheircountries,particularlyinthefieldofelectronicandelectricwastemanagement.
• TACSOprovidedassistancetotheBCSDNinputtingitsmid-termstrategyintolong-termperspectiveandtodiscuss,withitsmembersandotherexternalstakeholdersandnon-memberCSOs,thestateofcivilsocietydevelopment(CSDev)beyondaccession.Thefocuswasonthedevelopmentofanenablingenvironmentforlong-termsustainabilityandeffectivenessofcivilsocietyintheBalkancountriesinlinewiththeBCSDNvision,missionandmid-termgoalsandtheincorporationoftheseaspectsintoasound,realisticandeffectiveBCSDNmid-termstrategy.
• ProvidedassistancetotheBalkanDis/AbilityNetworkwiththeobjectiveofinfluencingregionalandnationalpoliciesandlegislationbyworkingtogetherandnetworkingwiththeEUandregionalcounterpartstowardsadvancinghumanrightsofpeoplewithdisabilities.
• Exploredtheoptionofintroducingstandardsforresearchworkintheregion.
It can be concluded that not only did the initi al needs assessment, represented in the Report on Regional CSO Networks developed in August 2011, demonstrate the need to support regional CSO networks, but also more importantly, once TACSO commenced with its support to the regional network, the need and possibiliti es for supporti ng regional CSO networks only grows.
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Throughitsnationaloffices,TACSOalsosupported:
The EdirneRomaAssociation,includingtheEuropeanRomaRightsCentreHungary,EDROMTurkey,YouthforPositiveChangeKosovo,RegionalRomaAssociationMacedoniaandtheMinorityRightsCentreSerbiainBelgrade,andmarginalisedgroups.TheTACSOnationalofficeinTurkeyprovidedsupportforprojectproposalsfortheCSFCfPtoestablisharegionalnetworktofocusoneducationforRomaintheirrespectivecountries.
TheBalkanOrganicNetwork(BON),withparticipationfromtheorganicfarmers’associationfromAlbania,BiH,Kosovo,Montenegro,Macedonia,SerbiaandCroatia.TACSOofficescreatedopportunitiesfororganisationsthathaveinitiatedtheirP2Pnetworkeventstofollowuponinitiativesandtofurtherdeveloptheircooperation.Forexample,IPACBCMacedoniaandAlbaniasubmittedanapplicationinFebruary2012toorganisetheInternationalAgriculturalFairinNoviSad,SerbiainMay2012throughtheBONnetworkand.
Thiseventcreatedthespaceforexchangesandjointwork,forbuildingstrongertiesbetweenorganisations,forfuturejointinitiativesandprojects,andthusbroughtaboutregionalcooperationandsocialcohesion.
TACSOorganisedtwostudytripstoPolandandRomaniatocreateopportunitiesforCSOsfromIPAcountriestoconnectandnetworkwithEUCSOs.Thetwostudytripswereorganisedwithatotalof31representativesfromtheWBT.FifteenWBTparticipantsonastudytriptoPolandmetwith16PolishCSOs.SixteenparticipantsfromtheWBTwenttoRomaniatomeet11RomanianCSOs.ThetripscontributedtocapacitydevelopmentandnetworkingofCSOsintheWBTandtoanexchangeofexperiencesandlessonslearntwithPolishandRomanianCSOs.Thepolicyissuesaddressedincluded:
• DevelopingacommonunderstandingofthecurrentroleofCSOsinPolandandRomaniabyaddressingpolicyandcapacitydevelopmentissues.
• Gaininganin-depthunderstandingofthemainchallengesfacedbyPolish/RomanianCSOsintheprocessoftransitionandoftheexistingmechanismsforengagementbetweencivilsocietyandthegovernment.
• IdentifyinghowtheapproachesandexperiencesofPolish/RomaniaCSOsinselectedareascanbeusedinothercountries.
Asaresult,CSOsestablishedcontactsandcooperationagreements.Themulti-dimensionalInternationalFairhosted270,000people.Approximately20,000peoplecametothefairinorganisedgroups.ThissupportcontributedtotheincreaseofcapacitiesandthestrengtheningofcooperationamongCSOswhoworkedtogetherandtoabsorbEUfunding.TheInternationalFairofferedauniqueopportunityfortheAlbanianCSOstogettoknowhowtheircounterpartsworked,sharedexperiencesandexpertise.TACSOBiHcontributedtothedevelopmentoftheCivilSocietyManifesto-PlatformforFutureAction.Forty-fiveleaders/representativesofCSOsfromtheWesternBalkanssupportedapartnershipevent.
The TACSO project, with its regional dimension, was perceived as an excellent opportunity for the manifesto to be communicated as a platf orm for future acti on with civil society in the region. Subsequent debates around the Civil Society Manifesto should be conti nued throughout the next year within the EU, in Brussels and major EU capitals as well as in the Western Balkans and should result in the further development of the manifesto’s content and objecti ves as well as in extending the number of CSOs assembled around the manifesto.
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5.3 The regional dimension of TACSO enabled benchmarking in the region because of the regional dimension of the project.
TheregionaldimensionofTACSOisaninvaluableassetthatenablesbenchmarkingintheregion.Forexample:• BiHisintheprocessofdesigningandestablishingamechanismsimilartoSEKOinSerbiaforthe
engagementofCSOsinIPAprogramming.• BiHLAGrepresentativesexploredtheCroatianconceptofNGOdayswithactiveinvolvementoftheOffice
forCooperationwithCSOsandcooperationbetweenCSOsandtheGovernmentthroughtheCouncilforCivilSocietyDevelopmentinthecontextofdraftingtheframeworkfortheStrategyforDevelopmentoftheEnablingEnvironmentfortheCivilSocietyinBiH.
• ExchangeofexperiencesrelatedtothedifferentandinnovativeapproachestodialoguebetweengovernmentandCSOsinBiHandMontenegro.
• ProcessofimprovementusingtheTurkishmodelforthecreationofanenablingenvironmentforcivilsocietydevelopmentencompassingthelessonslearntfromtheCroatianmodel.
• GovernmentUnitforCooperationwithNGOSoftheRepublicofMacedonia9,basedonCroatianexperiences,exploredtheinstitutionalinvolvementoftheCivilSocietyGrantSchemeManagementundertheDISofEUfunds.
• TurkishCSOsinthefieldofgenderequality,humanrightsprotectionandprotectionoftherightsofchildrenanddisabledpersonslearntaboutCroatianexperiencesconcerningCSOparticipationintheprocessofthepreparationandadoptionoflegalregulationsandthecreationofpublicpolicies.TheyassessedtheextenttowhichCroatianpracticesmightbeapplicabletoparticipationofCSOsintheprocessofadoptionofthenewTurkishconstitution.
• TheGovernmentofMontenegroinitiatedtheAgreementofCooperationamongGovernmentsintheTACSOCountriesinthefieldofpromotionofcooperationwithgovernmentstoexchangebestpracticesinaqualitativemanner.
• MontenegrinCSOsbroadenedtheircapacitiesandknowledgeformonitoringnegotiationsandtheEUaccessionprocess,particularlyinthefieldofthereformofthejudiciary,fundamentalrights,socialpoliciesandmedia,asaresultofanexchangeofexperienceswithanon-formalnetworkof15CroatianCSOs-MonitoringChapter23.
• MembersfromtheRegionalLGBTNetworkhadanopportunitytoseehowtheQueerZagrebfestivalfunctionedandtheimpactofthefestivalontheimprovementofLGBTrightsinCroatiaandtheBalkanregion in the last ten years
5.4. When operating throughout the region, TACSO standardised its approach to operations, to capacity development of CSOs and to enabling the CSO environment.
BecauseofTACSOstandardisation:1.TheAdministrationandFinancialAssistants(AFA)andCommunicationContactPoints(COM)meetings
havebeenstandardisedandreviewedforoperationalissuesrelatedtoadministrativeandfinancialprocedures,communicationstrategyandvisibility.TheAFAandCOMmeetingsareoftenorganisedseparately,onceperyear.
2.Thereison-goingreviewandreflectiononthestrategicapproachtoconsultativemeetingsforallTACSOresidentadvisorsandmanagementstaffandforplanningmeetingsforspecificTACSOregionalevents.Duringthefourteenconsultativemeetings,sixmeetingsforTACSOPhaseOneandeightforTACSOPhaseTwo,strategiesforservicedeliverywerereviewedandplanned.Thebestoptionsforintroducingnewpolicies,enhancingdialoguebetweengovernmentandCSOsandsupportingcapacitybuildingofCSOswereexplored.AminimumofoneplanningmeetingprecededeachTACSOregionalevent.Meetingswerecarriedoutbytheworkinggroup.Thismeansthatforeachregionaleventaworkinggroupwas
9 FormerYugoslavRepublicofMacedonia,hereinafterreferredtoasMacedonia.
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5.5. Introduced policy changes at regional events to foster the adoption of the same changes at national events.
WiththeorganisationofTACSOregionalevents,TACSOintroducedpoliciesorraisedawarenessintheregionoverthefollowingconcepts:• CSOQualityAssuranceSystem-TheRegionalConferenceonQualityAssuranceSystemsforCSOswasheld
Zagreb,CroatiainOctober2010andgathered74peoplefromtheWesternBalkansandTurkeyincludingspeakers,presenters,organisersandguests.Participantsrepresentedleadingnationalresource/capacitydevelopmentCSOs.TheconferenceonQASwasaresultoflocallyformulatedneeds.DuringtheregionalconferenceactionplansweredevelopedthatservedasroadmapsfortheimplementationofsimilareventsineachofthepresentCSOrepresentatives’homecountries.ThisensuredfurtherdisseminationofknowledgewithineachoftheTACSOcountries,availablehere.
• CSO-LocalGovernmentCooperationinBecići,MontenegroinFebruary2011-ThepurposeofthisregionalconferenceoncooperationbetweenCSOsandlocalgovernmentalinstitutionsprovidedaforumtosharetopicrelatedknowledge,informationandexperienceamongstakeholdersfromIPAcountries.ItwasorganisedbytheTACSOofficesinMontenegro,BosniaandHerzegovinaandtheTACSORegionalOffice.Thefocusoftheconferencewasonthetransparencyandaccountabilityoflocalself-governmentsandtherolethatCSOscanplayinthisregard.Theconferencealsocoveredparticipationmechanismsfordecision-makingprocessesatthelocallevel,cooperationoflocalself-governmentswithCSOsandfinancingofCSOprogrammes/projectsatthelocallevel.Duringtheconferenceparticipantswereabletoshareexperiences,challenges,goodpracticesintheregionandexamples,experiencesandgoodpracticesfromtheEUcountries.TheconferenceofferedacomparativeoverviewofmechanismsthatexistwithinCSO/localself-governmentrelationsandexperienceintheregion;explorationofhowcooperationcanbeimproved,orhowgoodpracticescanbesharedanddeveloped;greaterunderstandingofthenatureofCSOsindifferentcountries;networkinganddialogueopportunitiesforCSOandgovernmentmembersthroughworkshopsessionsdedicatedtospecificcapacitybuildingtopics;discussionoflawsgoverningCSO/governmentrelationsanddevelopingideasonhowthesecanbeimproved/transformed,availablehere.
• Theconferencewasfollowedbyanupdatedreport,CooperationbetweenLocalSelf-GovernmentsandCSOsintheWesternBalkansandTurkey,availablehereandaninternationalconferenceinPrishtina,KosovoinMay2013wherethereportwasofficiallylaunched.Theobjectiveofthisconferencewastoprovideaforumtodiscussthereport’sconclusionsandrecommendations.Eachcountrywasrepresentedwithparticipantscomingfromtheirrespectivegovernmentstructuresandcivilsociety.ThisconferencealsogatheredrelevantkeyactorsworkinginthisareasuchastheAssociationsofMunicipalities,EUrepresentatives,theCouncilofEuropeandotherstakeholders.TheconferencewasorganisedbytheTACSOKosovoofficeincooperationwithotherTACSOoffices.ThestrategicpartnersoftheconferenceweretheKosovoMinistryofLocalGovernmentAdministrationandtheCouncilofEuropeofficeinPrishtina,availablehere.
• CSOSustainabilityinBelgrade,SerbiainMarch2011-TheoverallobjectiveofthisregionalconferencewastoaddressrelevantissueswhichimpactanddeterminethesustainabilityofCSOs,andtosharetheexperiencesofCSOsustainabilityamongtheIPAcountries.Workingsessionsoftheconferenceweredirectedtowardsanexchangeofperspectivesandidentifyingrecommendationsforcountryspecific
establishedoftencomposedoftwotothreeresidentadvisors,additionalexpertsandsupportstaffprovidedbytheTACSORO.Therewere18planningmeetingsduringthesecondphaseofTACSO.
3.Standardisationofservicedeliverybydevelopinginternalguidanceforprovisionofservicesrelatedto:•GuidanceandmonitoringofEUfundedprojects.•Partnershipandnetworking.•CooperationbetweendevelopedandlessdevelopedCSOs.•PADOR.
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actionstobeundertakentosupportthesustainabilityofCSOsintheWBT.• Thepurposeofthisconferencewastoreviewthecommonissuesandconcernsaffectingoverall
functioningandsustainabilityoftheCSOsinIPAcountries.Conclusionsandrecommendationsdrawnprovidedthebasisforfollow-upactionstobeundertakenintheindividualcountriesand,ifapplicable,regionally.Theconferencefocusedon:• ExploringandunderstandingdifferentaspectsotherthanfinancialsustainabilityofCSOs.Itfeaturedbest
practiceexamplestoprovideinsightintothedifferentaspectsofsustainability.• FeaturingthebestpracticeexamplestoprovideinsightintotheexperiencesofCSOsustainabilityinthe
IPAcountriesandinthenewEUmemberstates.• DevelopingnationalCSOSustainabilityActionPointsasabasisforacountryspecificfollow-up,and
activitiestofurtherdiscussionsandcontributionstowardssustainabilityofCSOs.• ExploringdifferentwaysforCSOstofurtherpartnershipswiththegovernmentandcreatepartnerships
withtheprivatesector,availablehere.• SocialEntrepreneurshipinIstanbul,TurkeyinMarch2012–Thisconferencewaspromotedasanew
long-termsolutiontohelpovercomethecrisisandcreatebetterandfairersocietiesinwhichtolive.Inordertodiscussthisfurther,IstanbulhostedtheInternationalSocialEntrepreneurshipConference.Theconference,initiatedbytheBritishCouncil’sglobalprojectonsocialentrepreneurship,wasorganisedbytheBritishCouncil,TACSOandTÜSEVattheKadirHasUniversitywiththestrategicpartnershipoftheVodafoneTurkeyFoundation.Theconferencewasthefirstofitskind.Itoccurredbecauseofitscontentandthestrongpartnershipsthatwereinplace.TheconferencewasattendedbyexperiencedsocialentrepreneursandsupportersofitsconceptfromtheWesternBalkans,Ukraine,Georgia,Germany,theUnitedKingdom,TurkeyandEastAsia.Approximately150peoplefrom18countrieswhowereeagertolearnfromtheircollectiveexperiences,starttheirownsocialenterprises,orpavethewayfortheirintroductionordevelopmentintheirowncountriespopulatedthevividcorridorsandroomsoftheuniversityfortwodays.Thedefinitionofsocialentrepreneurshipwasalsothesubjectofmuchdiscussionduringtheconference.Thecreatorsoftheconferencedescribedsocialentrepreneursaswomenandmenwhopossessthevision,creativityandextraordinarydeterminationofthetypicalbusinessentrepreneur,butwhodevotethesequalitiestofindinginnovativesolutionstosystemicsocialproblems.Theyoftenworkattheintersectionbetweenthepublic,privateandsocialsectorsusingwhateverorganisationalstructuresaremostappropriateforsolvingthesocialproblemstheyarefocusingon.Themainquestionsfrommanyparticipantsfromcountrieswheresocialentrepreneurshipisinitsinfancywere:“Howcanitallgetstarted?”“Howcanthegovernmentbepersuadedtogivesupport?”“Howcantheysurvivealongsidebigcorporatebusinesses,whichoftencreatemonopolies?”Thegeneralagreementwasthatchangeinthisregardisnotgoingtohappenovernight,butwillprobablytakegenerations.However,itwillnothappenunlesspeopletakethefirststeptowardsit,availablehere.
• CSOs–PublicInstitutionsCooperationinSkopje,MacedoniainNovember2012-Over100representativesofpublicinstitutions,civilsociety,themediaandthedonorcommunityfromtheWesternBalkansandTurkeygatheredinSkopjetoparticipateinthetwo-dayregionalconference,KeepinguptheMomentum:ImprovingCooperationBetweenPublicInstitutionsandCivilSocietyintheWesternBalkansandTurkey,available here.ThefocusoftheconferencewasonthecurrentregionalandEuropeaninitiativestoimprovecivilsocietycooperationwithpublicinstitutionsinthecontextofEuropeanaccession.
• Theconferencewasorganisedasaplatformforexperienceexchangeandopendiscussion,toprovideaforumforpresentingcurrentregionalandEuropeaninitiativesandtoimprovecivilsocietycooperationwithpublicinstitutions.Atthesametime,participantsfromeachcountrywereabletoidentifythenextstepstheywilltaketoimprovecivilsocietycooperationwithpublicinstitutionsduringthenextyear.Theconferencealsoprovidedanexcellentopportunityforparticipantsfromdifferentcountriestoexchangetheirknowledgeandexperiences,availablehere.
• CivilSocietyTransformationsontheWaytotheEuropeanUnioninZagreb,CroatiainApril2013-ThepurposeoftheconferencewastopresenttheexperiencesandchallengeswhichtheCSOsfaceinthecountriesoftheWesternBalkansandTurkeyduringtheEUaccessionprocess.Theconferencegatheredinterestingspeakerswithexperienceinthecivilsectorwhoguaranteedtobroachdiscussionsontopicsthat
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hadnotbeenbroachedbefore.Someoftheissuespresentedanddiscussedrelatedto:
• TheinfluenceofdonorsonCSOs’developmentandtheheritagethatdonorsleaveinthecountriestheyoperate.
• InsightintoparticularexperiencesofCroatianCSOsintheEUaccessionprocess,answeringquestionssuchas:“HowdidCroatianCSOsparticipateintheaccessionprocess?”“Inwhatwayshastheirparticipationintheaccessionprocessinfluencedtheircapacities?”“HowdidtheyusetheopportunitiescreatedbytheaccessionprocesstoinfluencepublicpoliciesinCroatia?”“Howdidtheaccessionprocessinfluencenetworkingorpartnershipcapacities?”and“Howdidtheaccessionprocessinfluencetherelationshipbetweenstateandnon-stateactors?”
• TheEU’sroleinthepromotionofminorityrightsandcultureinTurkey.• DevelopmentofCroatianactivisminthelast20years.• TheroleofCSOsintheEUpre-accessionprocess,andtheinteractionofcivilsocietyandEUactorsin
Brussels.• Therolesofenvironmentalnon-governmentalorganisations(ENGOs)ingoverningTurkey’s
Europeanisationprocess.• ExpertexperiencesfromPolandandRomania.• PossibilitiesofinternationaldevelopmentcooperationinconnectingthecountriesoftheWestern
BalkansandTurkeywiththeEUcountries.• TheroleandcapacitiesofCSOsinCroatia,withanemphasisontheopportunitiescreatedbythe
accessionprocesstoinfluencepublicpolicyinCroatia,andalsoonthechallengestheCSOsfacedandthechangesexpectedintherolesofCSOsafteraccession,availablehere.
• CSOsandMediaCooperation-RegionalWorkshop:ConnectingtheLinks-CapacitiesandRelationsbetweenCSOsandtheMediainPrishtina,KosovoinJune2013-RecentfindingsintheregionshowthatrelationsbetweenCSOsandthemediaarenotverystrong.ThemediadoesnotseeCSOsasaidsinbuildingdemocracyandreachingcitizens,whileCSOsdonotseethemediaasindependentactorstowardscivilsocietyanditscitizens.Neitherhavestrategiestoworktogether.Thisregionalworkshopwasanattempttomakethefirststeptobringthesetwoopposingpolesclosertogether.Theresultsoftheworkshopprovidedinitialplansforshortandlong-termperspectivesfordevelopingthecapacitiesofCSOsandthemediainregardtoprocedures,standardsandstrategiesinthelocalcontextwithaspecificfocusonCSOs,availablehere. Allofthesepoliciesandconceptswereinitiatedfromaregionalperspectiveandwerefollowedbyconcretenationalactionplansallowingadaptationtothelocalcontext.Insomecases,aspecificpolicyorconceptattheregionallevelwasprecededbynationalresearchonthetopic.
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REGIONAL PROJECT OFFICEPotoklinica 1671 000 SarajevoBosnia and HerzegovinaE-mail: [email protected]
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