Description
The project addresses the challenges experienced by the NGOs in the Bulgarian-Turkish border areas, lacking institutional, financial and human capacity, and the need to join forces in an association. The project aims at boosting the capacity of the applicant, ANGORT, in order to represent better the interests of its members (9 Bulgarian and 5 Turkish NGOs) and improve cooperation with local authorities and the business. First, working meetings will be held with the Bulgarian and Turkish members to establish the management mode and communication channels and draft internal Rules, the Code of Conduct and the Self-evaluation Card. Second, 10 meetings will be held with the local authorities and NGOs and 5 cooperation agreements will be signed. Third, 5 new members will join ANGORT. Next, the 2013 – 2018 Development Strategy of ANGORT will be adopted. The partner will organize and motivate Turkish NGOs to join the project. The project will benefit the 30-000 strong local community.
Summary of project results
The project addressed the challenges experienced by the NGOs in the Bulgarian-Turkish border areas, lacking institutional, financial and human capacity, and the need to join forces in an association. As a result of the project implementation a strong network was set up consisting of 20 NGOs from Bulgaria and Turkey and working in partnership. The interaction between them is also legalized by their participation in the joint organization "Association of NGOs in the Region of Trakia". The consolidation of this unique coalition of NGOs from both sides of the border was achieved by regulating the ways of managing ANGORT and distributing the responsibilities between the members of the executive authorities. NGOs from the two neighboring countries managed with the help of the Association to find their legitimate representative who will work for their support and development. The NGOs having participated in the project improved their functioning and will be able to provide a more qualitative service to the local people. The project outcomes: a strong and a well-functioning ANGORT was set up; a regulated management of ANGORT was achieved; the interaction between the NGOs, the local government and business was improved; some prejudices towards people and NGOs from the other side of the border were overcome. The main benefits for the participating local NGOs: - Ability to better fulfill their role in overcoming the problems concerning the underdeveloped border region; - Developed better communication skills in order to distribute the tasks and take responsibility among themselves; - Ability to better cooperate with the local government and other organizations and to assert with them the rights of the NGO beneficiaries; - Have a better knowledge of different EU programmes and can give high quality suggestions for using the EU funds.
Summary of bilateral results