News from the Maltese platform SKOP

Over the past year the National Platform of Maltese NGDOs has undergone a number of changes. The platform has been engaged more actively with the media, issuing regular press releases about development issues, writing articles for newspapers and also participating in interviews. Therefore the need for a logo and a catchier name was felt.

A process of discussion was opened up with the member organizations which resulted in the new logo (which you can see) and the name SKOP, standing for solidarity and cooperation. Another change related to SKOP's visibility and image is the current restructuring of the platform's website (which will become available at: http://skopmalta.org/)

Both public visibility and regular organization of activities for development organizations (for members and non-members), have brought the platform into closer relationship and dialogue with different stakeholders in the sector of Development. In the past years SKOP’s membership has also increased to 13 organizations whilst others are discussing the possibility of joining.

The above mentioned achievements were possible also thanks to a Presidency Fund project which SKOP embarked on last year. The support of the Presidency Fund has been crucial for the platform’s and its membership capacity building; giving them the possibility to engage NGDO organizations (members and non-members), the media and Ministries into advocacy on development issues, also raising awareness and knowledge about development policy issues.

Also the Platform’s engagement with CONCORD and support from TRIALOG assisted SKOP to slowly but surely strengthen itself, develop its expertise and engage in advocacy work in a more effective and professional manner.

Information provided by Mario Gerada, SKOP - Secretariat

Romania: The day the light turned off...

On 24 April 2008, the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) together with the office of UNDP in Romania officially launched the programme “Strengthening the National Institutional and Educational Capacity to Carry out Official Development Assistance (ODA) Programmes and Projects”. The programme has been presented as „a joint effort to support the transformation of Romania from a recipient of ODA and humanitarian aid to a donor country”.

Albeit the only genuine partners in development cooperation for the Romanian MFA over the last 3 years and the only active actors with some experience in the field, Romanian civil society organizations (CSOs) seem to have been once again overlooked. The long awaited opportunity for them to be offered effective support to become more active abroad and at home as promoters of development cooperation still remains a distant perspective.

Although the objectives, activities and timeframe of the programme were not yet defined at the moment of its launching, according to the first information that have been released it is UNDP Romania that will be the main actor in charge with promoting awareness among Romanian citizens on development cooperation with national ODA funding. It will also strengthen the capacity of the Romanian Government to disburse its ODA. Other „non-state actors” are also invited to participate to the trainings that are to be organized.

The decision to entrust this mission to the UNDP Office in Bucharest came at the end of 2007. It was the result of the lack of MFA capacity to directly disburse ODA funds within the Romanian budgetary and administrative constraints. This can be a great opportunity for the UN agency to contribute to the empowerment of local actors in development, as long as it will offer them the possibility, with national ODA funding, to implement awareness raising and development education activities. However, while, formally, both the Romanian MFA and the UNDP have already recognized that local CSOs have the experience and capacity to carry out this type of activities, both institutions have yet to prove their attachment to the principles of ownership and partnership.

In the words of the UNDP representatives, among other things, „the further expansion of ODA will bring several economic advantages to Romania, including procurement that will benefit Romanian companies”. Consultancies have already been mentioned as likely implementers for development education and awareness raising activities.

The launch event has ended unexpectedly and abruptly when the electricity went off and everybody had to leave the hall. As people were left in the dark, many answers have also remained unanswered.


Information provided by Valentin Burada, Romanian NGDO platform FOND

Latvia has a Development Education Strategy!

Latvia’s development stakeholders adopted Latvia’s Development Education Strategy for 2008-2015 on April 3rd 2008.

The strategy was the result of a process spearheaded by the Latvian NDGO Platform LAPAS that began with a seminar in August 2007 at which representatives of the Ministry of Educations Center for Curriculum Development and Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vidzeme University College, the University of Latvia, Liepaja Academy of Pedagogy, UNESCO Latvian National Committee and many leading Latvian NGOs discussed the vision for Latvia vis a vis development education for 2015 – the year that Latvia chairs the EU presidency.

This was followed by a series of discussions with stakeholder groups: teachers, media representatives, policy makers, those active in adult education, and the academics in which the groups identified the knowledge, skills are necessary for different stakeholders so that by 2015 they are able to play their role in the global development process. The groups also suggested priority actions to achieve this.

Latvia’s Development Education Strategy for 2008-2015 sets out the goals, performance indicators and basic directions for action. The strategy will be published on the LAPAS website and will be used as an advocacy tool until the government decides on adopting an official version of the document.

Ingrida Mikisko, Head of the Development Education Working Group of the Latvian NGDO Platform - LAPAS (Director of the Latvian Adult Education Association) represents Latvia in the Development Education Forum and will present the Latvian strategy to this CONCORD working group.

Visit the LAPAS website at: http://www.lapas.lv/

Information provided by Mara Simane, LAPAS

Commissioners in the neighbourhood

Jan Figel, the European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth has launched the Ljubljana Process – Funding Heritage Rehabilitation in South-East Europe, a joint initiative from the European Commission and the Council of Europe.

The process will ensure funding for significant numbers of rehabilitation projects in the Western Balkans, and foster the adoption of sustainable funding strategies for them. It was announced at a conference organised under the Slovenian Presidency of the EU: New Paradigms, new models- Culture in the EU External Relations in May.

Commissioner Figel said the initiative was part of the endeavours to ‘valorise emblematic heritage sites in the areas’ in order to build bridges between communities, ‘thereby fostering reconciliation, cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue in this part of Europe.’

Meanwhile, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), has launched the EU’s Neighbourhood Investment Facility (NIF). This facility will mobilise funding for infrastructure projects, mainly in the energy, transport and environment sectors, but also for SME (Small and medium enterprises) development and social sector projects, throughout the area covered by the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP).

Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner said that ‘concrete projects financed under this facility will bring tangible benefits to citizens of the neighbouring countries and the Union alike and will bring our partners closer to the EU.’

Links to original press releases:
Figel' launches landmark process for cultural heritage in the Western Balkans
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/737&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
More funds for vital investment in EU’s neighbourhood
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/709&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Information provided by Rebecca Steel, TRIALOG

The EU Budget

The EU Budget is not a topic many would choose for a fascinating discussion among friends, but it is behind every action the EU takes and small changes in the budget can make all the difference to large numbers of people. There is no denying the budget is of vital importance.

At the beginning of May, Budget Commissioner Dalia Grybauskaite presented a proposal for the 2009 budget. In it, spending on structural actions for New Member States (NMS), the so-called EU-12, will be double the share it was in 2006 and up from 47% this year, to 50% of the €48.4 billion allocated to support cohesion across Europe.

More important than the yearly budget though is the multi-annual planning for the budget, the next of which will start in 2014. It might seem a long way off, but the European Commission is in the middle of a budget review, which is intended to feed into the next financial perspectives.

A lunch debate was held on 21 May by the Brussels-based Civil Society Contact Group, to discuss the financing of the EU – where does, could and should the money come from. Presentations gave an overview of the current sources that contribute to the EU budget, the problems surrounding VAT as a source and the current situation regarding environmental tax in EU member states. The discussion that followed looked at alternatives to the current sources of funding, bringing up the importance of finding a solution that is equitable and efficient.

Discussions around this topic will continue at Brussels level. NGOs, institutions and individuals were encouraged to contribute to the EC’s budget review.

Links:
Find more information about the EU budget:
http://ec.europa.eu/budget/reform/issues/issues_en.htm
View contributions submitted to the EC in the consultation on the budget:
http://ec.europa.eu/budget/reform/issues/read_en.htm

Information provided by Rebecca Steel, TRIALOG

European Council focus on Western Balkans

The General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) meeting held in Luxembourg on 29th April 2008 included debates on the situation in the Western Balkans and resulted in conclusions on the region.

Regarding Serbia, the Council welcomed the signature of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) and of the Interim agreement as important steps towards joining the EU. It reiterated the necessity for Serbia to cooperate fully with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and vowed to monitor this cooperation jointly with the EC.

The Council welcomed the conclusion of the first phase of police reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is one of the necessary conditions for further progress towards the conclusion of the SAA.

More generally, the Council welcomed the Commission communication "Western Balkans: Enhancing the European Perspective" from March, and stated that the progress achieved in recent years through the Stabilisation and Association process should be sustained and made irreversible. According to the conclusions, “the European perspective needs to be tangible and more visible to the people across the Western Balkans”.

The Council also welcomed the Commission’s intentions to increase the number of scholarships for students from the Western Balkans to study in the EU, and the initiatives to step up support to civil society and enhance donor coordination, to support socio-economic development in the region.

Links:
European Council press release: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/gena/100227.pdf

Information provided by Rebecca Steel, TRIALOG

European Neighbourhood Policy: Progress Reports

The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) country progress reports were published by the European Commission (EC) on 3rd April 2008, accompanied by a Commission communication on the implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy in 2007.

The EC’s main conclusions from the progress reports are that since the end of 2006, economic integration has been progressing; mobility with certain countries has been facilitated; cooperation on justice and the fight against organised crime has increased; energy cooperation contributes to more energy security; transport links have been strengthened and countries in the European neighbourhood are becoming increasingly involved in EU programmes in research, innovation and education.

The reports are available for Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Moldova, Palestine, Tunisia and Ukraine.

The reports were met with disappointment from certain groups, including the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN), which called for the establishment of a mechanism for the systematic and public monitoring of the ENP Action Plans, allowing for clear benchmarks on which to base future Country Progress Reports.

Links:
All EC ENP reference documents: http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/documents_en.htm
European Commission progress reports: http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/documents_en.htm#3
EMHRN response: http://www.euromedrights.net/pages/511/news/focus/52201

Information provided by Rebecca Steel, TRIALOG

Conference on Civil Society Development in Southeast Europe launches new financing facility

The European Commission’s DG Enlargement held a conference on 17th and 18th April on civil society development in southeastern Europe.

The conference attracted almost 500 participants from the region, who were invited to use the opportunity to network, exchange best practices and build partnerships. High profile speakers such as George Soros and enlargement Commission Olli Rehn started proceedings, giving way to panel discussions and workshops on particular themes, as well as a full programme of side events and stands.

Another of the conference’s main purposes was also to disseminate information about a new facility under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) for civil society development.

The facility will cover three areas:

• Support for local civil society initiatives, capacity building and reinforcing the role of civil society in the candidate and potential candidate countries
• So-called people-to-people activities: programmes that familiarise journalists, young politicians, trade union leaders and teachers for example with EU policies and institutions
• Support for developing partnerships and networks between civil society organisations in the EU and enlargement countries to promote knowledge and experience transfer.

Participants were provided with a cultural programme in the evenings, with a concert by the Sarajevo-based Youth Symphony Orchestra of Southeast Europe and the “Balkan Film Days” showing the best recent films from the region.

Those who attended the conference were generally positive about the opportunities it had provided to network and find out more about EU policies, including the IPA. Common criticisms of the conference were that it had been a too big event and that some of the panel discussions had been ill-prepared and badly chaired.

Find documents relating to the conference at: http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/civil-society-development/conf_17_18_docs_en.htm

Information provided by Rebecca Steel, TRIALOG

Training on Strategic Planning for platforms - „How to make your visions reality"

On Monday, May 19, an intensive TRIALOG training on strategic planning took place with the very energetic facilitator Rocio Lanao from ATINCHIK, Peru. As Rocio participated in the TRIALOG-CONCORD conference "Are we on the right track" organized the week before in Prague (see the related article in this TIS), TRIALOG was able to win her as a trainer for our Capacity Building programme in the field of "management capacities for New Member States (NMS) platforms".

Working since 15 years in the consultancy ATINCHIK in strenghtening local organizations in Latin America, Rocio shared her planning experiences and methods, but especially the participatory approach and spirit of ATINCHIK with the group.

The 12-hour workshop started with incorporating the individual perspectives into a common vision. After discussions in smaller groups, the activities and goals related to the vision for the platform(s) were broken down into expected results and it was shown how to make such a vision more concrete.

Another characteristic of the Latinamerican approach, beside this participatory group involvement, is the visualization of the results - therefore at the end of the day, the wall of the seminar room was filled with posters and above all with a big round globe which contained and visualised all the different levels of the developed strategy.

Within only one day of intensive work, the 12 participants from 7 NMS platforms got a concrete and practical instrument into their hands to elaborate a 3-5 years strategy for their platforms together with their members.

Most of the NMS participants, for the first time in their working life, experienced a capacity building activity carried out by a trainer from a developing country - and as the feedback showed, they were very enthusiastic and impressed by the skills and personal engagement of Rocio Lanao.

Information provided by Petra Kreinecker, TRIALOG

Donor politics and gender orders in the Israeli-Palestinian-Conflict

From April 17-18, 2008, the Vienna Institute for International Dialogue and Cooperation/VIDC (http://www.vidc.org/) organised the Conference "Perspectives beyond war and crisis? Donor politics and gender orders in the Israeli-Palestinian-Conflict".

„There will be no sustainable economical development without a political solution and an end of the occupation in the Palestinian Territories”. All speakers of the conference agreed on this disillusion conclusion of Sara Roy (Harvard University). Although billions of foreign aid had been brought to the Westbank and Gaza during the last decades the economic and social situation today in the Occupied Palestinian Territories has become worse than ever. It was stated on the conference that the donors with their donor politics had become a part of the problem rather than a part of the solution. The foreign aid has helped to prolong the Israeli occupation of the territories.

As Maha Abu-Dhayyeh Shammas (Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Counseling) pointed out: With the creation of the Palestinian Authority (PA) during the Oslo process the Israeli responsibility for the Palestinian people has been transferred to the PA. She also stated that the foreign money is used for the militarization of the territories, with weapons coming from Israel. This situation has a special influence on Palestinian women; they need protection which they do not get from the PA, as Palestine is not a functional state, where women can claim their rights.

As the UN-Resolution 1325 addresses the special needs of women in conflict situations, the conference asked how the resolution works in reality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Siham Bargouthi (Association of Women's Action in Palestine) explained that within the last years lot of programs had been invented in the name of Resolution 1325 to support women’s organizations and to empower women for leading positions. But after the Hamas victory in the elections the donors stopped their support, due to the boycott of Hamas. International help was used as a tool for punishment.

The UN-Resolution 1325 asks for women involvement in conflict resolution therefore also Israeli women’s peace groups are supported. Gila Svirsky (Women for a Just Peace) referred to the tactics and problems Israeli women peace activists are facing in their struggle for a just peace.

The conference was completed by Ghada Hashem Talhami (Lake Forest College) with an enthusiastic speech about struggle of the Palestinian women’s movement under occupation.

Documentation of the conference: http://dp.vidc.org/index.php?id=161

Information provided by Magda Seewald, VIDC

Dynamics of EU Development Policy after enlargement

The enlargement of the EU from 15 to 27 member states has the potential to affect the whole direction and shape of EU policy with regard to development - both because of different priorities of the new Central and Eastern European (CEE) states and the issue of aid diversion to new and poorer states. A research paper by Simon Lightfoot, University of Leeds, examines whether the CEE states have a fundamentally different approach to development and developing countries and whether this will lead to pressure to shift the policy in new directions over the longer term.

Download the research paper "Dynamics of EU Development Policy after enlargement" from: http://www.trialog.or.at/images/doku/lightfoot_eu-dev-policy-after-enlargement.pdf (This is a slightly revised version of European Development Policy Study Group Discussion Paper 35, visit http://www.edpsg.org/index.pl or use the direct link http://www.edpsg.org/Documents/DP35.doc)

See also the article of Simon Lightfoot in BOND's April 2008 edition of "The Networker": Growing pains: development policy in the new Europe, Link: http://www.bond.org.uk/News/growingpains.htm.

Information provided by Simon Lightfoot, University of Leeds

CONCORD Flash

The May issue of the CONCORD Flash is out. Read about the common challenges of poverty in the EU and in the world, and other news from the European NGO confederation for relief and development.

Download the Flash from: http://www.concordeurope.org/Files/media/internetdocumentsENG/4_Publications/1_CONCORD_Flash/Flash2008/Mai-Flash-final.doc

Information provided by Mathieu Pique, CONCORD Assistant

CONCORD exhibition keeps touring Europe

After the European Parliament and the permanent Slovenian representation in Brussels, CONCORD's photo exhibition went to Paris on the occasion of the Day of Europe. Called “Emerging views”, the exhibition presents photos and comments provided by citizens living in developing countries on the impact of Europe on their lives. In Paris, the exhibition was presented in one of the most touristic places of the city, the square of the town hall. It came back to Brussels to be presented at the CONCORD General Assembly and then stopped by the European Social and Economic Committee for the Open Day of the European institutions on 7th of June.

Interested in seeing the exhibition? Be prepared to travel to Slovenia where it will stay till end of August or plan a trip to Paris to see it at the FIAP from 8 September till 15 December, see: http://www.fiap.asso.fr/. Of course, the best way to see the exhibition is to borrow it, for free. Find out more here: http://www.concordeurope.org/Public/emergingviews/Accueil.php?ID=4779&language=eng

For further information: Agnes Philippart, aphilippart@concordeurope.org

Information provided by Agnes Philippart, CONCORD

In memoriam Wico Bunskoek

TRIALOG was deeply saddened to learn of the sudden death on 16 May 2008 of Wico Bunskoek, Director of Kontakt der Kontinenten, Netherlands. He had been working with his organisation since 1971 and was director for 22 years, dedicating himself completely to the organisation.

Wico was also a long-standing and active member of the CONCORD Working Group on Enlargement, Pre-Accession and Neighbourhood (EPAN), which is convened by TRIALOG. The Chair and convenor sent a message of condolence on behalf of the group, as his presence at meetings will be greatly missed .

Th.E.M. Wijte wrote on the Kontakt der Kontinenten’s website that Wico ‘represented values like respect, dialogue between different cultures and religions, internationalisation and above else, he stood for hospitality.’ Wico was 61 years old.

The thoughts of the TRIALOG team are with Wico’s family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time. Messages of condolence may be send to condoleance@kontaktderkontinenten.nl