CONCORD Newsletter

Read the latest edition of the CONCORD newsletter online.

National Endowment for Democracy Grants for NGOs Working for Democracy

Each year the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) makes direct grants to hundreds of nongovernmental organisations worldwide working to advance democratic goals and strengthen democratic institutions. NED encourages applications from organisations working in diverse environments including newly established democracies, semi-authoritarian countries, highly repressive societies and countries undergoing democratic transitions.

Next deadline for submitting funding proposals is October 3rd 2014.
Guidelines on the application process are available here.

Source: National Endowment for Democracy

Study: A Decade of EU13 CSO Participation in EC Development Cooperation Projects

Just one month after the study on EU13 CSO Participation in European Development Education and Awareness Raising (DEAR) Projects, this new TRIALOG study looks at how successful EU13 CSOs have been in securing grants for implementing European development cooperation projects outside the EU within the last ten years.

The study focuses on four thematic programmes of the Development Cooperation Instrument and the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights:
NSA-LA - Actions in partner countries
Investing in People
Migration and Asylum and Environment
Sustainable Management of Natural Resources including Energy.

What are the main findings? 

• EU13 CSOs have been successfully awarded such European development assistance grants in very limited number of cases. Out of the 3921 grants analysed, only 30 went to EU13 CSOs, representing 0.75% of the grants analysed. 
• EU15 CSOs implemented such European development cooperation projects much more often, in 44.32% of the grants analysed. 
• Among the EU13 group, the CSOs that implemented EC development cooperation projects most often were the Czech CSOs (44%), followed by Hungarian (13%) and Bulgarian and Lithuanian CSOs (both 10%). 
• As many as 11 grants out of the total of 30 grants awarded to EU13 CSOs were awarded to one Czech organisation – People in Need. 
• The main obstacles identified in the study for EU13 CSOs to implement EU development assistance through calls for proposals were the following: EU13 CSOs’ inability to identify partners from the Global South; lack of EU13 CSO country offices in developing countries; limited knowledge of the Global South countries and the “field” experience. 
• Bigger participation of EU13 CSOs in the implementation of European development cooperation implementation could also have positive impact on EU13 CSOs’ work on development education and awareness raising and the level of EU13 citizens’ knowledge about European development cooperation. 

Download the full version of the study from our website here.


Information provided by TRIALOG

Policy Digest: Migration and Development

How are migration and development connected? How is the topic addressed at EU and global level and what are civil society organisations bringing to the migration and development debate?


This new TRIALOG Policy Digest will address these questions and explore: the connection between migration and development issues; how the topic is addressed at global level and how the EU is contributing to the debates; what civil society organisations are bringing to the migration and development debate.


Download the Policy Digest from our website here.

Organisation of the Month: Védegylet – Protect the Future

Védegylet – Protect the Future – is a Hungarian non-governmental organisation founded in 2000, focused on local to global eco-political issues. Since 2012 Védegylet's „Small Communities in Transition” program brings together active local communities to build their resilience, providing practical support on developing local food, low-tech energy and green community economics. The organisation supports the development of „Transition Communities” in Hungary. For almost 15 years its „Future Generations” program provides legal support to communities protecting city green areas, rivers and lakes against unwanted development.

As a partner in projects supported by European Commission, Védegylet has taken a locally leading role working on policy coherence and international development over the last decade, complementing this work with a wide-ranging global education program.

The four main pillars of its work are:
- Global interdependence is a key focus in the work and one of Védegylet most successful long-term activities is promoting fair trade in Hungary.
- Climate change is an environmental and global justice issue - the NGO's photo exhibition on climate justice is available to schools, communities, universities and other organisations. Védegylet raises awareness with documentaries shot during study visits to the Global South, as well as inviting human rights activists from most effected countries to public events.
- Members of Védegylet lobby on policy with their partner networks, introducing policy alternatives at national and European level.
- Public awareness raising and information through the organisation’s website and social media profiles.

Védegylet is a member of the Hungarian Association of NGOs for Development and Humanitarian Aid - HAND, the Global Education Week network of the North-South Centre, Seattle to Brussels Network, Alternative Trade Mandate Alliance, and European Citizens Initiative.

For further information visit the organisation’s website www.vedegylet.hu, or get in touch by sending an e-mail to iroda@vedegylet.hu.

Photo credits: Evaluation of the Small Communities in Transition project meeting, Védegylet 


Information provided by Györgyi Újszászi, HAND

News from the Slovak NGDO Platform

In May and June 2014, the Slovak NGDO Platform organised two events to support capacity building of its member organisations.

On 28th May, the platform invited Magda Vaculciakova, a freelance journalist to give a workshop on “Cooperation of NGDOs with media”. The participants had the opportunity to learn how to approach media to make the topics of development cooperation interesting for journalists, as well as how to write good texts to attract media. They also analyzed the most frequent mistakes they can do in communication with media.
The followed discussion focused on a toolkit for media and NDGOs that the Platform started to prepare on PCD topics (agriculture, migration, decent
work, climate change, etc.) which includes also practical tips such as to use simple and clear language for to make the topics attractive and easy understandable for the target group.

The workshop was organised as a part of the EU-funded TRIALOG project.

On 27th June, the Platform organised a workshop and seminar on “How to put PCD into practice in the Slovak context”. The programme started with presentations of PCD case studies: “Slovak Case” by Edita Bednárová from People in Peril Association and the “Belgian Case” by Oumou Zé from CNCD- 11.11.11. Ms Oumou Zé explained the institutional mechanisms how to put PCD into practice on the example from Belgium and shared CNCD-11.11.11´s advocacy in general and for PCD in particular.
Then the participants divided into groups to develop a genuine PCD strategy for Slovakia. In the focus of the advocacy planning was the topic right to food: land grabbing, bio fuels, food speculations - sharing experience of the campaign of CNCD- 11.11.11 – was especially useful for the Slovakian participants.

The event was organised as a part of the project World Wise Europe - A more coherent Europe for a fairer World financed by the European Commission and co-financed by SlovakAid.


Photo: Participants during the PCD workshop; Archive of the Slovak NGDO Platform.


Information provided by Dagmar Mekinova, Slovak NGDO Platform

MFA and HAND Signed Memorandum of Understanding on Role of Hungarian Private Sector in Development Cooperation

On the 4th of June 2014 a MoU was signed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFA), Hungarian Investment and Trade Agency (HITA), Hungarian Export-Import Bank (EXIM) and the Hungarian Association of NGOs in Development and Humanitarian Aid (HAND).

It was in 2010 when HITA appeared as a new actor, working closely with private sector actors. As the role of the private sector has grown in development HITA proactively tried to engage the Hungarian private actors in development cooperation. Their efforts to build a database of potentially interested companies is supported by HAND with the aim to facilitate the connection between interested CSOs and private sector.

Lately HITA took a step further and initiated an inter-ministerial MoU to establish an unofficial structure called Hungarian Development Platform (HunDP) to strengthen cooperation and coordination among many development stakeholders, unfortunately still with the lack of any private sector actor. The purpose of the MoU is to increase coherence between the public, private and civil stakeholders and their activities in development and facilitate their dialogues, and to increase visibility of Hungarian IDC activities and improve the role of business.

This initiative, if any continuation arising from it can be nurtured, could have significance if the concept of PCD also gains some momentum in Hungary. But the latest news unfortunately tell a different story, the initiator HITA is being re-organised as the new MFA is being formed with its new overwhelming trade focus. As a consequence, HITA has already lost its previously granted independence, much of its professional staff and it cannot yet be seen if there will be any host to carry on with this great initiative.

For more information please contact Peter Rohonyi: peter.rohonyi@hand.org.hu

Information provided by HAND

First Workshop on Policy Coherence for Development in Hungary

On the 24th of June 2014, HAND – the Hungarian development CSO platform organised an open workshop on Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) in Hungary with the title “To give with one hand and not to take with the other”.

The event is part of HAND’s World Wise Europe project on PCD in association with CNCD 11.11.11 and other project partners. The aim of the workshop was to increase the knowledge on PCD among CSOs and government officials. The workshop was opened by Györgyi Újszászi, board member of HAND and Mr. László Baján the Head of the Department of the International Development Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

In his opening speech Mr. Baján said, PCD has an increasingly important role in Hungary’s recently launched Strategy Framework for International Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid. He also emphasised, that the cooperation between the MFA and HAND yielded a fruitful relationship and opened a number of new avenues for working together. The workshop featured several presentations on PCD to provide an overview of the topic as well as relevant Hungarian case studies to use specific examples where the lack of coherence among policies had harmful impact on developing countries.

During the second part of the event, PCD expert Blandine Bouniol from CONCORD introduced what is the importance of research in PCD, how to identify potential PCD topics and build partnerships with other stakeholders to achieve PCD goals. The workshop was considered a success; among the participants were representatives of NGDOs, the Ministry of National Economy, Hungarian Investment and Trade Agency, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Interior and Eximbank.

Agenda available here.

Presentations available online:
M.Leiszen: “Introduction to the concept of PCD – EU and OECD perspective";
Attila BARTHA: „Illicit financial flows and policy coherence – the Hungarian case”;
Myles O. Stiffer: „The Private Sector FOR Development”.


For more information please contact Peter Rohonyi at: peter.rohonyi@hand.org.hu


Information provided by HAND

The Romanian Development Camp: Making Development Cooperation Sustainable – Perspectives on 2015 and Beyond

The 7th edition of the Romanian Development camp, an annual event organised by the Romanian NDGO Platform – FOND, in partnership with the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UNDP – Bratislava Regional Centre, took place this year between 9th and 11th of July 2014, in Sinaia.

This year’s edition took place in connection with two broader processes at the international and EU level: the debates around the Post-2015 Agenda and the European Year for Development 2015.

In this context, the Camp provided the participants with the opportunity to engage in the consultation process at the Romanian level with regards to Romania’s post-2015 position, as well as the National Action Plan for the European Year for Development. Additionally, the topics featured on the agenda, such as Policy Coherence for Development, the role of migration within the future development agenda, mainstreaming gender in development or democracy, governance and human rights, were all discussed from two perspectives: the different related processes at international level and their implementation and recommendations for improvement at the national level, which made the discussions even more relevant for the participants.

These discussions greatly contributed to the overall aim of the Romanian Development Camp, as stated by the organisers, of creating the space for a multi-stakeholder consultation process designed to re-think global development global development policies that are more focused on Romania’s expertise and capacity to deliver development assistance and more adapted to Romania’s partner countries’ needs.

Photo: Romanian Development Camp 

Information provided by Iulia Socea – TRIALOG

FOND’s Involvement in the National Consultations on Romanian ODA Policy

On July 4th 2014, The Romanian NGDO Platform - FOND participated in the third meeting of the Consultative Council on Development Cooperation coordinated by the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Among the participants invited were representatives of the line ministries and Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Since signing the Collaboration Protocol with the Romanian MFA in March 2013, FOND has participated in this consultation process as a partner of the ministry, reflecting the important role of FOND in providing expertise and support for building an active national community in development cooperation. The main role of the Consultative Council is to gather input on the strategic planning of the Romanian ODA policy proposed by the MFA, to disseminate information among representatives of the line ministries and also to encourage a multi-stakeholder dialogue.

The discussions focused on the new development cooperation draft law launched for public consultation in June by the MFA, the European Year for Development and the Romanian Development Camp organized in partnership with FOND between 9th-11th July 2014. The first draft of the new law was one of the main topics of debate at the last year’s edition of the Romanian Development Camp (July 2013, Sibiu).


Information provided by Adriana Zaharia, FOND

Strategic Consultation Meeting on the Future of the Black Sea NGO Forum

The Romanian NGDO Platform – FOND organised, with the support of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a “Strategic Consultation Meeting on the Future of the Black Sea NGO Forum”. The event was hosted by The Permanent Representation of Romania to the European Union in Brussels on the 30th of June 2014 and aimed at initiating a multi-stakeholder consultation process in order to re-design the strategic approach of the next editions of the Black Sea NGO Forum.

Taking into consideration the growing importance of the space provided by the Forum annually for civil society organisations and their partners, as well as recent developments in the region, it is necessary to reshape the vision of this traditional forum in order to better respond to the cooperation needs of civil society in the region.

This initiative represents a follow-up to the 6th edition of the Black Sea NGO Forum (September 2013), implemented by the Romanian NGDO Platform with the financial support of the European Commission, the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in partnership with UNDP - Bratislava Regional Center and it represents the kick-off meeting of the consultation process to be launched among the forum’s participants, regional stakeholders, donors and other relevant actors in the region.

The Black Sea NGO Forum, recognised as a success story of the Black Sea Synergy, brings together NGOs from all the countries in the wider Black Sea region (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine), as a forum for specialised regional dialogue and cooperation and with other non-governmental organisations and institutions active in the region.

For more information please visit www.blackseango.org


Information provided by Adriana Zaharia, FOND

“Citizens for Global Education, Education for Global Citizenship” – The Conference Through the Lens of a Macedonian Participant

From 24th to 25th of June 2014, CONCORD Europe and DEEEP, in partnership with Oxfam Interational, the North-South Centre, Beyond2015, UNESCO, Education International, the Global Campaign for Education, Engagement Global, and CIVICUS, organised the “Citizens for Global Education, Education for Global Citizenship” Conference.

The conference took place in Brussels and gathered representatives of civil society and the development sector from all over the world, in order to share experiences, knowledge and practices for the Post-2015 agenda in development and education. The more than 100 participants, including academics, development practitioners, institutions, students and educators have worked together on the “Brussels Proposal – Towards a new direction for Education”.

Ivana Davidovska from Center for Intercultural Dialogue from Macedonia, with the support of TRIALOG had the chance to participate in the conference and be one of the few representatives of the South Eastern Europe. Her experience is briefly presented in this article: 

‘As an Educator I had an extraordinary chance to be part of such a great conference and contribute to the global dialogue about citizenship education. The event outlined the need for a common global approach in education, but at the same time showed the differences of needs and understanding within educational practices in various parts of the world.

I was happy to contribute to these discussions, by raising the attention that education is not just limited to schools and teaching systems, but rather it is a lifelong process of facilitating learning that can take many different forms and ways. Here especially the civil society organisations can often take the lead, as being one of the most active providers of citizenship education so far, especially through processes of youth work and non-formal education. Nevertheless a cross sectorial cooperation and efforts from all stakeholders are needed in order to establish common approaches and new ways to reach inspire and engage learners to find sustainable solutions to global challenges. This are in particularly the bases of the Brussels proposals, a document drafted as an outcome of the Conference.

The event also inspired many reflections of mine, with regards to development work and education, particularly the need for greater involvement of all stakeholders in order to develop quality and rights based approaches in education. There is a space indeed for improvement in this field, and I hope that the whole post 2015 and “Citizens for Global Education“- movement will foster the process to have positive outcomes. Additionally it was great opportunity for making new contacts, networking and sharing with practitioners from the field with many different backgrounds and experiences.

I am happy for this inspiring opportunity, as I am certainly looking forward to be more engaged both in development of citizenship education, as well as building bridges for capacity development in the sector where I am active in. I am looking forward to this learning journey."


Information and photo provided by: Ivana Davidovska, Center for Intercultural Dialogue, Macedonia

EPAN finds out more about the European Neighbourhood in the South

On 11 July 2014 the CONCORD Working Group on Enlargement, Pre-accession and Neighbourhood (EPAN) held an information session in Brussels on the ENP Civil Society Facility for the Southern Neighbourhood and on the ENP South Civil Society Forum. Participants included representatives of the European Commission’s DG DEVCO, the European Economic and Social Committee and various European civil society organisations and platforms active in the fields of development cooperation, good governance, human rights and environment in the EU’s Southern Neighbourhood.

ENP South Civil Society Facility: The Civil Society Facility South is an EU-funded regional programme that supports CSOs as actors of democratisation and aims to strengthen the links between the EU and its Southern Mediterranean partners. The facility was established as a response to the Arab Spring as a tool to provide CSOs with the necessary skills and capacities to become relevant interlocutors vis-à-vis their national governments and other stakeholders. Since 2011, 11 million euro has been available under this facility for Southern Mediterranean CSOs supporting 11 regional projects covering different topics such as gender equality, youth, water management and rural development.

Participants suggested improvements for the future operations of the Civil Society Facility, including stronger coordination from Brussels to mainstream the facility and achieve its aims rather than EU delegations using the facility to top up other calls; an underlining of the flexibility of the facility as its added value; the need to build links between EU African processes (ACP) and Neighbourhood processes; a focus on CSOs not only as a target group but as stakeholders that can be involved through consultations; and the need for risk analyses to be undertaken when designing the calls, particularly for the NGOs who operate on the ground.

Civil Society Forum South: The EEAS, EC and EESC launched the initiative to create a structured regional dialogue between civil society from the Southern Neighbourhood, national authorities and the EU. Over the last 12 months an advisory group has been established and consultation meetings organised, to develop advice on how to build this forum and to ensure the participation of various stakeholders. In the beginning of July, the European Institutions developed a joint proposal.

Six main challenges still remain as to how to organise the structured regional dialogue: 1. Bringing EU delegations to a regional way of thinking; 2. Deciding on which elements the forum should discuss (bottom-up approach where discussions focus on democracy, human rights and gender OR structured regional dialogue on information, trade, migration, investment and energy flows); 3. Making links between this initiative and all the dialogues already taking place in the region (in-country dialogue, EU and African Union CSO dialogue, the Policy Forum for Development, the European Endowment for Democracy (EED), EIDHR mechanisms and tools, and the European Info Centre based in Malta); 4. Ensuring participation of new actors, such the media, local authorities and social movements, including non-registered CSOs; 5. Recognising the need for and promoting a structure that improves coordination; and 6. Avoiding a heavy structure such as the Civil Society Forum East, and ensuring it is facilitated by someone with a strong CSO background.

It has been agreed that a consultation process with the Commission/EEAS will be organised in autumn 2014 with a possibility to use CONCORD webinars to reach out to CSOs outside Brussels. The topics of discussion will be the design of the New Civil Society Facility, articulation of the Policy Forum for Development and the set-up of the Civil Society Forum South.


Information provided by Rebecca Steel-Jasińska, TRIALOG

EESC Urges for Enhanced Transparency and Inclusiveness of the EU Accession Process

The External Relations Section of the EESC (European Economic and Social Committee) adopted an own-initiative Opinion on Enhancing the transparency and inclusiveness of the EU accession process on 12th June 2014, tabled by Marina Skrabalo - an EESC member from Croatia. The Opinion outlines some of the key features and lessons learned from the EU's enlargement policy over the past five years. The role of EESC in facilitating civil society engagement in the accession process and its challenges is also reflected in the document. Many of the recommendations urge for more significant participation of the civil society and the other social partners in the negotiation process and concrete recommendations are given for improvement in this area to the European Commission, the national governments of negotiating countries as well as to the EESC itself.

The current version of the document can be downloaded here.


Source: Balkan Civil Society Development Network