Study Visit on Development Effectiveness

In this year’s Study Visit to Brussels the representatives of EU13 development CSOs learned about the main actors in European development policy-making and the role of CSOs in the process. The focus topic was development effectiveness. The wide array of meetings allowed participants to understand different institutional positions, perspectives, insights and opinions on the topic of development effectiveness and development cooperation in general. Moreover, a diverse range of topics was addressed during the study visit, including the HLM in Mexico, transparency, joint programming, development effectiveness concepts, CSO development effectiveness, the Eastern Partnership, aid effectiveness and Official Development Assistance.

Read the full article and learn more about the programme here.



Photo credits: TRIALOG, in the photo: participants of the study visit.

Information provided by TRIALOG.

New CONCORD-TRIALOG Policy Digest: A New European Parliament for a Fairer World

Ahead of the upcoming European elections in May 2014, this Policy Digest firstly looks more closely at the role of the new European Parliament in development cooperation and in addressing inequalities in the world. Secondly, the actions of European civil society organisations (CSOs) active in the field of development cooperation are presented both ahead of and following the elections. Thirdly, suggested action points are outlined for citizens (individuals and organisations) that want to get engaged in achieving the “Europe We Want” by influencing the European elections and the new set of commissioners.


Download the Policy Digest here.






Information provided by TRIALOG.

Serbian CSOs’ Study Visit to Brussels

From 23 to 29 March 2014, in cooperation with the Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC) Serbia, Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence has organized a study visit to Brussels for representatives of CSOs – grantees of the Civil Society Forward (CSF) program.

Participants were informed about the work and functioning of Brussels-based institutions, they met with numerous officials and held some exceptionally useful meetings regarding the organizational and financial sustainability of civil society in Serbia. Besides meeting with representatives of European Commission, European Parliament, and many other foundations and organizations, the representatives of CSOs met with TRIALOG representatives on 26 March.

Serbian CSOs representatives learned about what European CSOs do in development cooperation and development education. Ms Rebecca Steel-Jasińska, TRIALOG project manager, also talked about how long it took Central and Eastern European NGOs to start working on cooperation projects in new regions and to become active in EU development policy issues. Ms Mirjam Sutrop, TRIALOG Liaison Officer, introduced CONCORD to the CSO representatives from Serbia. They had an opportunity to learn about the functioning of a big confederation and see what the benefits of working in a large network are.

For more information regarding the entire study visit to Brussels, visit the website of Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence.



Photo credits: TRIALOG; in the photo: participants of the study visist.

Information provided by Ivana Tabasevic Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence (BFPE)

HORIZONT3000 International Conference on „Educational Institutions for Development – down to earth and close to the people“

TRIALOG’s lead agency HORIZONT3000 is looking back on several years of successful knowledge–sharing. A time, in which members of its partner network engaged in systematising their experiences and exchanging them in a series of regional meetings and two international conferences in Vienna. Besides the HORIZONT3000-partners from the Global South and many Austrian stakeholders, as well as members of EU13 organisation participated through TRIALOG in those conferences, enriching discussions in working groups and contributing to their results and learning experience.
See here for information on previous events.

From 10th to 12th of June 2014 the International Conference on „Educational Institutions for Development – down to earth and close to the people“ will be taking place in Vienna, to which you are cordially invited. The conference will provide a space to get to know the reality of HORIZONT3000-project partners in the Global South focusing on tertiary educational institutions, to share experiences and to establish contacts. HORIZONT3000 is very interested to include experiences not only of their partners in the Global South but also of educational institutions and CSOs in EU13 countries and Austrian Universities.

In case you want to join our knowledge exchange journey on education you are very welcomed at the conference. See the background document here.


You can register now for participation via email to conference@horizont3000.at.

Visit the online knowledge management platform of HORIZONT3000: www.knowhow3000.org.

The Conference will be held in English, simultaneous translation into Spanish and Portuguese as well as from those languages will be arranged where necessary.




Information provided by TRIALOG

Organisation of the Month: NGO Mondo from Estonia

Good practices in linking development cooperation and global education from Estonia 

NGO Mondo is an Estonian NGDO devoted to humanitarian aid, development cooperation and global education. It works with local partners in countries like Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Afghanistan and Yemen in order to give children better access to quality education, for women and disabled people, provide training and support in health and income generating activities. Mondo was established seven years ago and its activities have grown steadily year by year. Currently, it is the biggest and most experienced NGDO in the Baltic States.

In Estonia, Mondo works in close cooperation with hundreds of teachers and schools to support the inclusion of global dimension in the curriculum and school practice. As a result of joint advocacy work with other Estonian NGOs, the new Estonian curriculum includes more opportunities for that. Due to the experience from development cooperation work, Mondo is able to make learning about development issues interesting through concrete case studies and joint projects between schools in Estonia and schools in Africa as well as through school visits by the volunteers who have spent time in the field.

 In the Estonian education sector Mondo is also known for offering quality training and a large variety of teaching and learning materials. Mondo’s Global Education Centre has a film library of more than 180 documentary films on global topics available for teachers and film clubs for free. Mondo has also prepared materials for a new optional course in the high school level called “Globalising World”. The first edition of the material, consisting of a book for teacher, CD with lesson descriptions, worksheets for students etc. was launched in autumn 2012 and soon after it received a prize from the Estonian Research Council in the national competition for best educational materials. Currently, the material is being revised and a new version will come out in fall 2014.

Visit the website of MONDO for more insights in their projects: www.mondo.org.ee.


Photo credits to NGO Mondo: The picture shown students Ghana that their programme has supported.


Information provided by Tormis Laanisto, NGO Mondo 

Platform for International Citizen Solidarity Established in Croatia

Less than a year has passed since Croatia joined the European Union, but NGOs in Croatia have already successfully concluded their platform building process. During the establishing assembly on February 21, 2014 the Croatian Platform for International Citizen Solidarity (CROPICS) was founded in Zagreb.

The initial group of 24 NGOs from different parts of Croatia have strong experience in the fields of protection of women rights, environment, peacebuilding and transitional justice, volunteerism, youth, education, migration and culture. The Platform was established with the support of TRIALOG that accompanied the process with platform building seminars and a study visit, as well as with the support of the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. At the assembly the platform board was elected with seven board members. CROPICS has already expressed the interest to join CONCORD on the forthcoming General Assembly in June 2014.

Current priorities of the platform are to increase capacities of Croatian NGOs to become more active in development cooperation projects and to focus on monitoring the implementation of national policies related to development cooperation. The platform also wants to influence EU policies through cooperation with other EU networks, particularly CONCORD. Finally, one of the platform’s aims is to promote solidarity with people across the world on combating poverty, human rights violations and social injustice.


Information provided by Gordan Bosanac, CROPICS

Becoming a Glocal Interpreter

The national seminar “Localizing global issues: Development of methodology for grassroots informing, empowerment and social inclusion” organized by Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation (LAPAS) took place on March 4-5.

It was a two day seminar that welcomed two groups of participants: nine representatives of LAPAS member organisations, one international expert from the UK and 10 local grassroots leaders. In this seminar we applied holistic, inductive and multi-stakeholder approach involving non-formal educators, adult-education trainers, academia and grassroots.
This seminar challenged our views with stories about heart journeys and encouraged us to evaluate our development cooperation and global education experience in connection to the
new development paradigm.

As the result, we developed methodological guidelines for NGO and grassroots representatives about localization of global issues. We expect to use the acquired ideas and learnings in activities of LAPAS' EU Presidency project where the developed methodology will support our discussions about global issues within local communities. Thus, the seminar is an investment in competency development and team building of representatives of LAPAS and local grassroots leaders involved in the Presidency project work group who will become “glocal interpreters” in Latvia during EU Presidency in 2015.

Photo by LAPAS: Participants of LAPAS glocalization seminar
Find more info on our website.


Information provided by Inga Belousa and Inese Vaivare, LAPAS

Slovenian Platform SLOGA Focuses on Peacebuilding, Migration and Development

SLOGA, the Slovenian NGDO Platform initiated a process regarding Migration and Development in Slovenia. A working group will continuously hold discussions with decision makers and jointly work on building up coherent policies for development. Members of SLOGA could deepen practical knowledge on how to successfully design and implement projects in peacebuilding during a recent training with the Romanian NGO PATRIR.

SLOGA’s recent process on migration and development 
A recent process regarding Migration and Development in Slovenia has been initiated by SLOGA. Start off was marked in February by a training on relations between migration and development and the current situation in Slovenia. With the participation of Austrian experts from ICMPD (International Centre for Migration Policy Development) and VIDC (Vienna Institute for Development and Cooperation) to guide the Slovenian working group through the process, discussions followed up with representatives and decision makers from the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of the Interior to present the outcomes of the past day. The working group, composed of member organisations of the platform as well as representatives from the civil society and other stakeholders working in the field of migration and development, also agreed on a schedule until the end of 2014. This schedule aims to gradually discuss and decide on common positions in order to continue discussions with decision makers and jointly work on building up coherent policies between the Slovenian ministries involved in this process. Upcoming meetings are therefore already planned so that the working group keeps on refining the strategy and its priorities, as well as further steps to complete the process, such as including concerted actions not only at the national level but also at the international level.

For more information please contact ana.kalin@sloga-platform.org.
Photo credits: SLOGA; in the picture : training participatns.


SLOGA raises the importance of peacebuilding 
In March 2014, SLOGA held a training event on “Designing, implementation and evaluation of peacebuilding projects”. Two years after the first session, PATRIR (Peace Action Training and Research Institute of Romania), a Romanian NGO working in peacebuilding, constructive conflict transformation and prevention of all forms of violence, managed once again to share its knowledge in this field. The training aimed at providing participants practical information, concrete tools as well as good practices in order to successfully design and implement projects in peacebuilding. It also gave the opportunity to share experiences, doubts and new stakes in relation to recent conflicts throughout the world. By consolidating a working group capable of leading the process afterwards, the aim was also to present the outcomes to representatives from the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A meeting was therefore organised and allowed both parts to exchange and give each other a better picture of peacebuilding, but also to m
ake understand its importance in the roll out of new development cooperation policies in the framework of the post-2015 process. Given the involvement of participants and their needs to completely master the specific features of peacebuilding projects, a follow-up training will be probably organised by the end of the year. It will aim to provide comprehensive information and tools by involving other expert organisations in Europe.

For more information please contact patricija.virtic@sloga-platform.org.



Information provided by Nicolas MARTIN, SLOGA.

News from the Czech NGDO Platform FoRS

Since April the Czech NGDO platform FoRS has a new director, Mr. Pavel Přibyl, who brings in experience from the NGO sector with a focus on environmental issues. Fund out about the recently published FoRS study “Sustainability of Czech Development Cooperation Projects” and the public opinion poll on the Czech citizens’ attitudes towards humanitarian aid and international development cooperation.


Czech platform FoRS has a new director 
Since April 1st, the Czech NGDO platform -Czech Forum for Development Cooperation- FoRS has a new director, Mr. Pavel Přibyl. He has replaced Mrs. Jana Miléřová who is taking maternity leave. The new director has a long and an interesting carrier in the NGO sector, mainly connected with environmental issues, but also touching the development and global ones. We thus believe that he will bring new interesting views into FoRS work as well as into the discussions and cooperation within TRIALOG.

Photo credit: FoRS (in the photo: Pavel Přibyl).







The Czech platform’s study on sustainability of development projects 
FoRS recently published an inspiring study “Sustainability of Czech Development Cooperation Projects”. The study addresses different aspects of sustainability, including internal and external factors that influence it. The study presents current examples of Czech good practices and provides a series of practical recommendations to development stakeholders. The need to increase sustainability has repeatedly been among the key recommendations identified in the majority of external evaluations of Czech bilateral projects commissioned by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The study serves as contribution to ongoing debates on the quality of the Czech bilateral development projects and responds to the needs of both the implementing actors, Czech Development Agency (CZDA) and MFA.

Based on the study, the Czech Development Agency together with FoRS organised an internal expert workshop on March 13th in order to forward the debate on the possible steps for increasing the sustainability of Czech bilateral projects. The participants (MFA, CZDA, NGOs, private sector) agreed in general on the findings of the FoRS study: for example, the need to focus on sustainability from the early stage of identification of development topics.

The publication is available here.


Czech public support helping people in need and in the poorest countries, the fresh FoRS public opinion poll shows 
The Czech NGDO platform FoRS commissioned the very first own representative public opinion poll on the Czech citizens’ attitudes towards humanitarian aid and international development cooperation. The survey focused on four main areas of publ
ic awareness: on perception of the Czech development NGOs, fundraising and donation willingness for development and relief, on the Czech governmental ODA program and on perception of the global interdependencies.
The Czech public is in general supportive to development and humanitarian issues, more than one half of the population donated to humanitarian aid or development cooperation projects during the past year. About 75 % of the public thinks that the Czech Republic should keep the current level of financing (and not cut the aid) or better: increase aid budget according to the international aid commitments. The main priority should be helping people hit by humanitarian crises and in the poorest countries. The priority region is Africa. The Czechs are rather passive information receivers – they are interested in the issues, they lack information however are not actively seeking them. This is a challenge for both NGOs and the Czech government. More than 60% of public agrees that its lifestyle has an impact on problems in other parts of the planet and is willing to buy more expensive products if it can be guaranteed that they were produced fairly and with a minimum impact on the environment. The unprecedented majority of public supports that pupils and students should be taught about the global interdependencies at schools.

The survey sample was more than 1200 respondents, 36 survey questions were jointly elaborated by the FoRS members. The survey was carried out by the company NMS Market Research. The financing was provided and supported by a grant from Switzerland through the Swiss Contribution to the enlarged European Union.
For more information, please contact Adela Stiborová at adela.stiborova@fors.cz.


Information provided by FoRS

News from the Romanian NGDO Platform FOND

The Mobility Fund for experts from Romania and Republic of Moldova launched by FOND has been extended from March to June 2014 
Between the 5th March - 30th June 2014, experts and NGOs from the two countries will have the opportunity to share their expertise and to enhance collaboration on topics which respond to the Romanian ODA strategic priorities for the Republic of Moldova. The Mobility Fund is funded by the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget and implemented by the Romanian NGDO Platform – FOND.
The main areas targeted are: the transition to democracy reforms, democratic governance, mass-media, conflict resolution, environment, education and health. The Mobility Fund supports the transfer of expertise between civil society and academia experts from the Romania and Republic of Moldova and also offers the possibility of awarding small grants to NGOs from the two countries. The Mobility Fund is part of the follow-up activities of the Civil Society Forum Romania – Republic of Moldova (May, 2011) , when the participants emphasized the need of a mobility fund to support the expertise and knowledge sharing between the experts of civil society from both countries.

For more information about this opportunity please contact Oana Perju, at: oana.perju@fondromania.org.

FOND General Assembly – 9th edition 27th-28th of March 2014 
The annual General Assembly took place between 27th-28th of March in Bucharest and gathered more than 30 representatives of FOND members. The first day analyzed the platform activities implemented in 2013 and members’ involvement in the field.
Besides the plenary sessions, the GA also hosted the meetings of the working groups, which gathered both members and representatives from local authorities, academia, NGOs. The discussions were focused on the main important debates at the EU level and how they can be approached at the national level – European elections, European Year of Development and the post 2015 agenda, Policy Coherence for Development.
This year, three more organizations joined the platform: People Development Foundation, Novapolis Association - Center for Analysis and Development Initiatives, Arcadia Association - Romanian Association for International Cooperation and Development.
The second day was traditionally dedicated to the Romanian NGDO Platform’s partnership with other relevant stakeholders, such as the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (represented by Mr. Radu Podgorean, Secretary of State responsible for ODA), Cartel Alfa Trade Union Confederation (on synergies regarding our PCD policy work) and the Romanian Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration (on the next cross-border programs for the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine).


Information provided by FOND

Hungarian Notes on a CONCORD Talk on Ukraine

On March 19, 2014 CONCORD organised an online discussion to assess the current situation regarding civil society in Ukraine and to see what CONCORD as a confederation of European CSOs should do to support CSOs in Ukraine. Many representatives of CSO platforms, including from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland and the Ukraine joined the interesting discussion, made possible by an ambitious and ultimately successful technological approach!

A short overview of the discussion can be accessed through the CONCORD website  where the video of the discussion can also be watched.

One issue that was raised during the discussion was the situation of minorities. It could be argued that EU should improve its own policies on minorities and find better answers for minority issues within its borders if it wants to be able to better intervene on such issues beyond its borders. One cannot overemphasis the need for a better and more just division of resources between EU member states with regard to access to the EU’s international development resources within Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries. Surely, newer member states, those who neighbour Ukraine for example could do more: but then why are so many of the resources made available for old member states only?
 Another challenge that EU policy makers could think further is where additional resources could and should come to cover the existing needs in EaP countries? An additional element to capture, from the perspective of someone in a country sliding towards a similar political direction, that ‘state capture’ should be more widely acknowledged, describing circumstances in Ukraine as one main reason behind the events. These kinds of events underline the need for much more emphasis on good governance in the post 2015 process.


Information provided by Peter Rohonyi, Eisenhower Fellow, Policy Officer, Foundation for Development of Democratic Rights, board member of the Hungarian NGDO platform HAND.

MDG Weeks in Romania, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic

In February and March the 24 facilitators who had been part of the study visit to Burundi within the project “8 Goals...We Act!” in 2013 (see TIS Article here) organised various activities within the MDG weeks in 12 schools in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Romania.

8 Goals…We Act! is granted by the European Comission and implemented by Partners Foundation for Local Development (Romania) partnering with Partners Czech, YMCA Gabrovo and FOCODE (Burundi). Using nonformal education methodologies, the 24 facilitators had been promoting development education and the Millenium Development Goals to groups of 20 students in each of the 12 schools.

During the practical phase of the week, the students developed project ideas related to the MDGs, based on problems identified in their schools and their communities. The best ideas will be realized during a Project Week in May and June 2014. During the evaluation meetings, the students highly appreciated the programme of the week and the fact that they had the opportunity to get to know more about the MDGs as well as to get to understand the reality in Burundi. Additionally, the fact that for the activities the schools paired up (two schools from two different countries) had been a great intercultural learning experience for the students involved in the MDG Weeks.


 Photo credits: Partners Foundation for Local Development Romania

Information provided by Adina Calafateanu , Partners Foundation for Local Development

Romanian Contribution to Development Cooperation: New Video

The Romanian Ministry of Foreign affairs launched a video which emphasizes how Romania contributes to the well-being of people in developing countries. According to the strategic framework, Romania supports the development of states in geographic areas labeled as priorities for the Romanian foreign relations, i.e. the Eastern European states, the Western Balkans and South Caucasian countries . The main beneficiary countries of Romania include: Republic of Moldova, Egypt, Tunisia, Georgia, Libya, Azerbaijan, Belarus .

The video reflects good practices implemented by Romania in partner countries: rehabilitation of a regional blood transfusion centre in Republic of Moldova, electoral assistance to Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, improvement of the health conditions in Georgia (Abkhazia).


You can watch the video here.




Information provided by FOND

Forests in the World: Training Sessions in Malta and New Toolkit

KOPIN held a number of training sessions in late February and early March 2014 aimed at creating awareness among educators about the importance and the positive impact that the sustainable management of forests has on indigenous communities and the global community at large.

The training tool place in the frame of the “Forest in the World” project, an EC funded project with partners in Italy, Malta, Romania, Poland and Spain. Trained educators are now reaching out to pupils at six Maltese secondary schools through awareness-raising workshops. Pupils will be encouraged to get involved in activities within their community.
One group of pupils, for example, is researching the level of awareness of sustainable criteria among importers of timber and wood products. Other students will be promoting good practices on the sustainable use and consumption of forestry resources within their school or with the public together with civil society organisations and local authorities.
Some of the schools will have the opportunity of developing a self- regulatory code of conduct on the sustainable consumption of forest products to be promoted by students within their schools.

THE “PLANT FOR THE FUTURE” TOOLKIT
The first part of the kit (Learning...) presents an introductory overview on world forests: what they are, where they are located, their p
urpose, difficulties being faced and possible solutions. The kit offers a short review that can be useful to introduce the subject in a class and/or to stimulate the discussion and deepen the knowledge of the topic.
The second part (…and doing!) presents some educational proposals that can be used in workshops on sustainable management of world forests and responsible use and consumption of forest resources. These proposals consist of activities and workshops that can be realized

The toolkit is available online on the website www.forestintheworld.org in the languages English, Italian, Spanish, Romanian and Polish.


Information provided by William Grech (KOPIN) For more information info@kopin.org

Introduction Development Cooperation and Global Citizenship to University Students in Malta

In the framework of its European project Global Campus – Students for Social Justice, KOPIN has organised a second edition of the Global Campus course for this semester at the University of Malta.

The course, aimed at giving the students an overview about the main elements and topics related to development and international cooperation, comprises lectures about migration and development, gender and human rights, institutions for development and development aid, all dealt with from the perspective of Global Social Justice; this semester, moreover, a specific lecture about campaigning for social change has been scheduled.

At the end of the course, a two-day seminar on Project Development and Management will be organised and facilitated by KOPIN’s members with experience in the field, giving the students the opportunity to understand the key elements of the project cycle management, as well as learn through a series of practical exercises.

For further information about the project and the course, send an email to globalcampus@kopin.org or visit www.globalcampus.eu. You can also add Kopin Malta on Facebook.



 Information provided by Federica Di Giulio, KOPIN

“AbilityFAIR” for Social Justice in Malta

In February 2014, the Third World Group and Breaking Limits organised the ‘AbilityFAIR’ in Malta, an activity to raise awareness just before the the World Day for Social Justice. The aim was to make people aware that we are still living in an unjust society while a “society for all” is possible if we set our mind to it.

Participating NGOs had stands to promote and inform the public about their work. The information available aimed to inform people about issues such as disability, migration, fair trade, domestic violence and poverty. Speeches encouraged the audience to work together for a just society by looking at the abilities of every person instead of grouping them according to their challenges. Representatives of the Maltese government gave examples how the government is working to provide equal opportunities for all citizens.
The public could also reflect about and write their abilities on a board titled ‘I am able to…’ aimed to raise awareness that we’re all able to contribute to our society, big or small. A forum discussed the privileges participants enjoy in their lives and whether they contributed to achieve them or assumed that they deserve them. There were also various spor
ts promoting inclusion in sports: wheelchair handball, sitting volleyball and partaking in an urban obstacle track whilst using a wheelchair. Participants could experience some of the daily challenges many people face.

For more information on the work of Third World Group see http://www.thirdworldgroup.org/


Information provided by Isabel Micallef (Third World Group).

Conference: How do Humanitarian Crises affect Estonia?

On 6 May 2014, the World Day Conference “How do humanitarian crises affect Estonia?” will be taking place in Tallinn.

Everyone interested in global politics is invited to discuss with us how humanitarian crises in far-away regions affect Estonia and Europe, and how each one of us can contribute to a safer world for everyone.

The conference offers an opportunity to hear the views of the best experts from the United Nations, the European Union, think-tanks and humanitarian aid practitioners. The keynote address by Mr. Rashid Khalikov, the director of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva, will be complimented with debates about the working conditions of humanitarian workers, the role of media in humanitarian crises, using technology to improve response to natural disasters, and more.
 The event will culminate with a debate of the Estonian parliamentary parties’ candidates for the European Parliament on the role of Estonia and the European Union in responding to global crises.

Our approach is to replace lectures with conversations with the audience and we will provide each participant with technical tools to be able to contribute. Bringing personal smart devices is also encouraged. Working language of the conference in English.
The conference is a part of the annual public educational concert-festival Maailmapäev/World Day taking place on Liberty Square in Tallinn on May 31 that showcases the best Estonian and international organisations working in the humanitarian and development sectors.

Please go to http://www.maailmapäev.ee/en/conference/ for the full programme of the conference and to register for the event.


For further information, please contact Ms. Evelin Andrespok, Policy Officer of AKÜ on evelin@terveilm.ee

The conference is organized by the civil society platform Estonian Roundtable for Development Cooperation in close cooperation with the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs with financial support from of the European Commission and the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.



Information provided by AKÜ

Opportunity for Journalists: Free online course linked with travel opportunities to unearth the real stories behind the news headlines

Minority Rights Group’s invites to a free online course for journalists, photo-journalists, editors and journalism students from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia.

The course takes 5 weeks, with a 4-5 hour investment of time weekly and is free for participants (supported by the European Union). The 20 most active participants will have the opportunity to travel and collect stories about minorities and indigenous peoples in Cambodia, Nepal, Thailand or in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda.

See call for participants for details and visit www.minorityrights.org 



Information provided by MRG

NOHA Spring School on Humanitarian Action

The NOHA
Spring School on Humanitarian Action, will be taking place from 12-15 May 2014 in Olomouc, Czech Republic, co-organised by the Palacký University. Each year an overall topic serves as a framework for reflection and training, and this year’s topic is ‘Quality of humanitarian work: criteria and measurement.’

Aim of the Spring School is professional training of civil servants, staff from local, international and civil society organizations, and more generally of those who are involved in HA and feel the need to upgrade their basic knowledge and skills. Faculty from the network’s universities and field actors will conduct the teaching, in order to provide professionals with a global approach and specific tools.

More information on the programme and registration here.

Registration deadline: 18/04/2014
Registration online
Fee: Possibility of reduced fee for Czech and neighbouring countries upon motivated request: 50 € for working applicants, 25 € for students.






Information provided by NOHA.

Save the Date: Conference on Global Citizenship Education

DEEEP invites to the conference "Global Citizens for Education - Education for Global Citizenship" 24-25 June 2014 in Brussels. The event is organised in partnership with Oxfam International, the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe, Beyond2015, UNESCO, Education International, CIVICUS and the European Youth Forum.

 The conference is taking place in the framework of DEEEP’s advocacy process undertaking among civil society actors and other stakeholders to give a strong united voice to Global Citizenship Education in the Post-2015 context.

More information on movement.deep and via Twitter #GC4education.




Information provided by DEEEP

Conference: Responsible Development in a Polycentric World

DEEEP will be holding its annual research conference in partnership with EADI, as part of their General Conference "Responsible Development in a polycentric world: inequality, citizenship and the middle classes."

The conference takes place from 23-26 June in Bonn, Germany, and for the first time ever will include four working sessions on development education! These sessions are organised by the EADI Working Group "Global Learning meets Development", of which DEEEP is co-convenor. This is a chance to gain recognition of development education within the development sector, as well as to
make greater links to and inform ourselves of the key debates currently going on within development discourse.

 For further information on the general EADI conference please see: www.gc2014.org.

It promises to be an interesting and diverse programme, including some more progressive panel debates on citizenship with contributions from Olivier Consolo, and another panel on "from development in the South to global transformation".

You are warmly invited to participate and to apply for a reimbursement grant of up to 500EUR per person to cover some of your accommodation, travel or conference fee expenses related to the event. If awarded a grant, you will receive reimbursement after the event upon provision of receipts. To apply for the grant, please fill in the online application form before 23 April here.

*Please note that DEEEP will not be organising accommodation, travel or payment of conference fees. You can register for the conference and get advice on accommodation via the EADI website: http://www.gc2014.org/.
 *Also just a note to say that the first two days of this conference do indeed overlap with the DEEEP GCE conference in Brussels.


Information provided by DEEEP

Move DEAR Forward: Capacity Development Funding Opportunities

Are you a Change Agent? Transform your ideas for Development Education and Awareness Raising (DEAR) into the creation of seminars and projects and participate in DEEEP's call for proposals.

DEEEP / CONCORD Dare Forum are launching Capacity Development Funding Opportunities to address learning and capacity development needs and create concrete approaches to overcome difficulties and obstacles in the Development sector, specifically on the Development Education and Awareness Raising (DEAR).
So, if you are part of the Development sector through CONCORD, DARE Forum or member of one of these you can present your ideas and design a national seminar or plan a project to put it into practice.

In the two funding mechanisms DEEEP is launching there are several similarities, but you should find the one which better suits your needs.

There are funding opportunities: the sub-granting mechanism and the national seminars. 
(-) Call for Proposals on National Seminars  and
(-) Call for Capacity Development Projects.

More information on the DEEEP Capacity Development Funding Opportunities here.

 Photo credit: DEEEP.


Information provided by DEEEP

The Czech platform’s study on sustainability of development projects

FoRS recently published an inspiring study “Sustainability of Czech Development Cooperation Projects”. The study addresses different aspects of sustainability, including internal and external factors that influence it. The study presents current examples of Czech good practices and provides a series of practical recommendations to development stakeholders. The need to increase sustainability has repeatedly been among the key recommendations identified in the majority of external evaluations of Czech bilateral projects commissioned by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).

The study serves as contribution to ongoing debates on the quality of the Czech bilateral development projects and responds to the needs of both the implementing actors, Czech Development Agency (CZDA) and MFA.

Based on the study, the Czech Development Agency together with FoRS organised an internal expert workshop on March 13th in order to forward the debate on the possible steps for increasing the sustainability of Czech bilateral projects. The participants (MFA, CZDA, NGOs, private sector) agreed in general on the findings of the FoRS study: for example, the need to focus on sustainability from the early stage of identification of development topics.

The publication is available here.






Information provided by FoRS

The Journey from Istanbul: How CSOs Implement the Principles for Development Effectiveness

This month of April, Development Effectiveness will be discussed among high level representatives during the Meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation in Mexico. Over 1300 development leaders are expected to join Enrique Peña Nieto, President of Mexico, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría in Mexico City to review global progress in making development co-operation more effective.

Find more here. 

Ahead of the meeting, CONCORD recently published the briefing paper HOW EUROPEAN CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS STRIVE FOR THEIR DEVELOPMENT EFFECTIVENESS highlighting how European CSOs have put the Istanbul Principles into practice since 2011. It serves as one of the inputs for the High Level Meeting, focusing on progress in development effectiveness since Busan. The briefing paper can be downloaded here.

“The Journey from Istanbul: Evidences on the implementation of the CSO DE Principles” is a review of evidence initiated by the CPDE Working Group on CSO Development Effectiveness. The project was launched to showcase experiences, practices, and lessons learned by different organisations in performing their various mandates in terms of implementing the Istanbul Principles and promoting the concept of CSO Development Effectiveness. It highlights how CSOs have worked to improve their effectiveness following the adoption of the Istanbul Principles and the International Framework for CSO Effectiveness. Stories were gathered from 19 CSOs drawn from different sectors and in different countries, among others the Czech Republic.
The review is available for download here.


Information provided by TRIALOG

Challenge your Vision of Change!

The Think Piece "The stories we tell ourselves" written by Rene Suša, steering group member of the CONCORD DARE Forum was published by DEEEP in the beginning of March 2014.

An incredibly challenging and emotional reading that we recommend to anyone who asks him-/her-self what change really means. By questioning the origin of change, the society in which we live and global education as it is stated now, this reading won’t leave you indifferent! “How can we even know what is collectively possible if we are not aware of our personal power?“

Have a look inside the Think Piece and explore this and other questions.

"Changing the world or changing ourselves?" was also the topic of the #DAREtalk webinar on March 20. The video of the webinar can be watched here.


Information provided by DEEEP

Financing Sustainable Development: Are we up to the challenge?

CIDSE Recommendations, March 2014. This paper argues that the international community needs to forge a new framework to reorient finance to serve sustainable development. Informed by Catholic Social Teaching, it presents CIDSE's position on how best finance - whether public or private, national or international - should be governed and channelled.

Download via CIDSE website.









Information provided by CIDSE

Back for the future: Resource materials for free to engage returned volunteers in development education

Engaging returned volunteers who have had an experience in the global south is a huge opportunity for development education in Europe: combining first hand experiences and highly motivated individuals can raise awareness and become active for development issues.

But where to start and how to channel the energy and ideas that returnees have? The EU funded project "Back to the future" has focused on working with returned volunteers in Ireland, Poland and Germany for the last three years. As a result the project has produced a series of resource materials. These materials are providing options for returnees to become active in global development issues within Europe. Also the organizations that are sending these volunteers get useful advice on how to improve post return trainings of their volunteers and how to support returnees in their continuous engagement.

Resources

The training handbook offers knowledge and interactive methodologies for trainers in development education containing relevant development topics and approaches for training returnees.
Download in
English
German
Polish

The research report presents findings and views of returnees, sending organizations and development educational organizations on the role, chances and challenges of returned volunteers in development education in Europe.
Download in
English
German
Polish

The guidelines for volunteer sending organizations summarises good practice on how to motivate and prepare returned volunteers to become multipliers for development education.
Download in
English
German
Polish

The toolkit for returned volunteers helps volunteers to unpack their experiences on return, showing approaches to reflect on the time abroad, identify their strengths and make connections between the volunteering in developing countries and ongoing engagement with global development from their home country.
Download here in
English
German
Polish

The leaflet on continuous engagement comprises of ideas for staying active as a returned volunteers and contact points on where to turn to for future activities.
Download in
English
German
Polish 

The social media guidelines reflect on the use of images and messaged on the overseas experience through social and other media channels by volunteers.
Download in
English
German
Polish

Contact for ordering materials as hard copies 

in English language Comhlámh Gráinne O’Neill grainne@comhlamh.org +353 1478 3490 http://comhlamh.org 

 in Polish language Salezjański Wolontariat Misyjny (SWM) Jadwiga Karlak jadwiga.karlak@swm.pl +48 12 2692333 http://swm.pl

in German language forum for international development (finep) Kai Diederich kai.diederich@finep.org +49 711 932768 – 62 www.finep.org

Information on the project: Back for the future


Information provided by Kai Diederich, finep www.finep.org

Useful Tools for Youth Workers “Act for What You Believe”

A.R.T. Fusion Association created the “Act for What You Believe” project for youth workers across Europe and Africa. The project took place in 2013 and resources are available now share the experience gathered during the project. .

Act for What You Believe was a capacity building project where youth workers from Romania, Bulgaria, Ghana, Slovenia, Tanzania and Uganda developed practical competencies in working with image and the forum theatre methodology for dealing more efficiently with social problems, conflicts and oppression from their community.

The main project results included:

• A network of Forum Theatre Multipliers active in Africa and Europe; 
• A manual representing a tool that could be used by any person interested to work with Forum or Image Theatre. Available for free download here.
• More than 1000 direct beneficiaries of the local projects, which we empowered and motivated to make a change in their lives (in connection with the social issues relevant for them); 
• A resource movie based on the project development and experience (available online via YouTube)

For any questions, comments or suggestions contact Andreea-Loredana Tudorache at andreea_loredana_psi@yahoo.com

Photo credits: ArtFusion Romania, showing Forum Theatre Multipliers.


Information provided by FOND, Romanian NGDO Platform

Global what? – A Study on Facts and Needs of Global Learning in Germany, Portugal and Romania

The consortium of the project "Facilitating Global Learning - Key competences of members from European CSOs" announces the publication of the study "Global what? – A study on facts and needs of global learning in Germany, Portugal and Romania".

The study shows that the vision on Global Learning (GL) is remarkably different: in Germany there was mention of an “absence of one consistent or commonly known and accepted set of key aspects of what GL means or can mean” as well as “a relatively high familiarity with and receptiveness towards certain competencies and potential neglect of others”.
In Romania there are noted “various interpretations and understandings of GL among Romanian NGOs” and it was concluded that “GL is only partially understood or is limited to the NGOs own experience and interpretations of the term”.
In Portugal it is reported that “31 CSOs did not answer the question or do not have a vision” and, in relation to GL competencies and skills, considered it “very surprising” that “among 100 participants, only 3 specifically mentioned Human Rights and only 4 Social Justice”.

For more results please consult the study here.

The project is implemented by organizations from Germany, Portugal and Romania and it is co-financed by the European Commission. For more information. please visit www.agenda21.org.ro  



Information provided by Monica Cugler, Project coordinator for Romania

Plan Europe is Recruiting a EuropeAid Partnership Manager

Plan Europe is a regional network within Plan International, one of the largest international children’s development organisations in the world, which links 12 European national offices of Plan and our 50 programme countries around the world with the Plan EU Office in Brussels.

Currently the position of EuropeAid Partnership Manager is vacant.

See the job advertisement here. 


Information provided by Plan EU Office