Building the Next Generation of Civic Leaders

Project facts

Project promoter:
Workshop for Civic Initiatives Foundation(BG)
Project Number:
BG-ACTIVECITIZENS-0003
Status:
Completed
Initial project cost:
€250,000
Final project cost:
€250,000
Programme:

Description

Pre-defined project “Building the Next Generation of Civic Leaders” shall address the shortage of Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) leaders and staff with specialized skills in fundraising and financial planning, strategic communications, networking and partnerships (especially across sectors), and strategic planning. It shall aim to build leadership skills among young CSO leaders, with a focus on those from under-served areas. 

The main activities shall include:

  • Four thematic training modules for 2 cohorts of trainees, of 30 people each, coming from diverse geographical regions;
  • Post-training meetings in the form of webinars to check the progress of their NGOs in the 4 areas covered during the training;
  • The creation of an Alumni Club for the trainees.

 

Summary of project results

The Initiative for Building the Next Generation of Civic Leaders helped build a cohort of new generation of civic leaders in Bulgaria, equipped with knowledge and skills to operate effectively in a crisis-pervaded environment, with shrinking space for civil society, and stringent resources.

 

WCIF completed a capacity building program for 60 young CSO leaders, divided in 2 cohorts of 30 trainees each. Participants were selected among NGO staff that have joined in the last 3 years and were keen to build a career in the third sector. The capacity building program nurtured leadership qualities. Firstly, it enhanced the analytical skills for applying a norm-critical approach in addressing global issues, which contributed to impoverishment and marginalization of some social groups.

The trainees learned how to counterbalance the negative trends of shrinking civil society and foster the creation of new social capital. Secondly, they were challenged to develop fundraising plans and learn about mission-based fundraising with measurable short-term and long-term impact. Thirdly, they were involved in developing strategic communication plans, including the task of building coalitions with various stakeholders for achieving advocacy goals. Last, but not least, the trainees worked in multicultural work teams involving people from ethnic, religious and other minorities, reinforcing a deep understanding of the perspective of "the other". About 25% of the trainees were from minorities. Gender balance was also observed.  All trainees mentioned the work with individual mentors as one of the most useful aspects of the capacity-building program. This work increased their self-esteem as future sectoral leaders and helped address pressing inter-organizational issues. All program graduates became members of an Alumni Club, created by the 1st group of members of the Initiative. The Alumni Club held monthly exchange meetings online and several physical meetings, which helped strengthen partnerships and gave rise to joint new projects. The Club will be maintained by the program graduates long after the project completion as a guarantee for sustainability of the project results.

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