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Description
Having the UN Sustainable Development Goals at its core, this project aims to engage Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in understanding and advocating for their human right to a sustainable and healthy environment.
With “Knowledge leads to awareness; Awareness leads to change” as its motto, this bicommunal project aims to create synergies and joint forces among CSOs and informal groups and build networks of active citizens across the divide. To do so, a series of activities will be implemented to foster civic engagement and volunteerism through the heightened involvement of the public, particularly children and youth, in actions and advocacy that concern the protection of the environment and the promotion of sustainability.
Training and capacity-building activities will be implemented, aiming to build capacity in CSOs and informal groups working on a variety of topics that can affect and are affected by environmental/sustainability policies, helping them become more efficient and effective at advocacy and participation.
The successful implementation of these activities will enhance the capacity and sustainability of civil society and will foster peacebuilding. The overall result of the project will be its contribution to a stronger and more sustainable civil society on the island, greater bicommunal cooperation and intercultural dialogue concerning sustainability, and more active citizens.
This project is implemented through the collaboration of AKTI Project and Research Centre with the Turkish-Cypriot organization MASDER (Famagusta Walled City Association), and Norsensus Mediaforum from Norway.
Summary of project results
The project "AdvocaCY: Participate, learn, decide, challenge: stronger Cypriot civil society for sustainability, advocacy and change!" aimed to address key challenges related to climate change awareness, civic engagement, and capacity building among diverse stakeholders. It sought to empower children, young people, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) by providing them with the knowledge and skills needed to advocate for environmental sustainability.
One of the main issues tackled by the project was the lack of accessible information and active participation in discussions around climate change and environmental rights. Through school presentations, young people learned about climate change, the role of CSOs, and how they can contribute as environmental advocates. At the same time, representatives from CSOs and informal groups received specialized training on sustainability policies, EU environmental targets, and effective public engagement strategies.
Another challenge was fostering collaboration and networking among different organizations and individuals working towards sustainability. To address this, the project organized café-style meetings and networking events, creating spaces for discussion, knowledge exchange, and partnerships. Additionally, it launched awareness campaigns on social media to reach a wider audience, emphasizing the importance of public participation in environmental decision-making.
To further enhance accessibility, an online event platform was developed, serving as a centralized hub where the public could discover and participate in sustainability-related activities organized by various CSOs. This ensured better visibility of initiatives and encouraged greater community involvement.
Throughout its implementation, the project remained committed to transparency and accountability, ensuring the visibility of its donors, the Active Citizens Fund Cyprus, and the EEA and Norway Grants. It also had a risk and mitigation plan in place, ensuring smooth execution without encountering irregularities.
By engaging a diverse range of stakeholders and providing them with the necessary tools and opportunities, the project successfully contributed to strengthening civic participation and promoting sustainable solutions in the fight against climate change.
The AdvocaCY project implemented a wide range of activities to promote civic engagement, environmental advocacy, and collaboration among Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Cyprus. Over 20 months, the project successfully engaged children, youth, and CSO representatives through education, training, networking, and awareness campaigns. A key focus was educating young people, with 27 interactive presentations delivered in 48 schools across both Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot communities, reaching 3,221 students and teachers. These sessions raised awareness about climate change, environmental rights, and the role of civil society, encouraging youth to become active environmental advocates.
To strengthen the capacity of CSOs and informal groups, the project organized a series of workshops, co-creation cafés, and training sessions that provided participants with valuable knowledge on sustainability policies, EU environmental targets, and advocacy strategies. These sessions exceeded expectations, engaging over 400 participants—double the initial target. In addition, café-style networking events and a bi-communal decision-support workshop fostered connections between larger and smaller CSOs, leading to 12 formal collaboration agreements, significantly surpassing the initial goal of five.
Public awareness was another major component of the project. Three large-scale social media campaigns focused on key topics such as the environment as a civic right, the role of CSOs in society, and the importance of public consultations. These campaigns reached an impressive audience of over 10 million people through online platforms. Additionally, the project developed a centralized online events platform to promote sustainability-related activities organized by CSOs across Cyprus, reaching 35,152 people and encouraging greater public participation.
Inter-communal cooperation was at the heart of AdvocaCY, fostering strong collaboration between Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot CSOs. By supporting bi-communal initiatives and providing spaces for dialogue and joint action, the project helped build a shared commitment to sustainability and civic engagement. Through these activities, AdvocaCY successfully increased public awareness, strengthened civil society, and promoted cross-community partnerships for a more sustainable future.
The AdvocaCY project achieved significant results, empowering diverse groups across Cyprus and strengthening civil society’s role in sustainability and advocacy. A major impact was seen in education and awareness-raising efforts. Through 27 interactive presentations in 48 schools, the project educated 3,221 students and teachers on climate change, environmental rights, and active citizenship, fostering a new generation of environmental advocates. Additionally, capacity-building activities significantly strengthened Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and informal groups. Over 400 representatives participated in specialized training sessions, co-creation cafés, and workshops—double the initial target—gaining essential skills in advocacy, sustainability policies, and public engagement.
The project also played a key role in promoting networking and cooperation among CSOs. Through café-style meetings and a bi-communal decision-support workshop, 48 organizations participated in knowledge-sharing and collaboration opportunities. As a result, 12 formal cooperation agreements were established between Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot CSOs, surpassing the goal of 5 and fostering long-term partnerships for sustainability initiatives.
Public engagement was another major achievement, with three large-scale awareness campaigns reaching an impressive 10.7 million people online. These campaigns focused on key themes, including the environment as a civic right, the role of CSOs, and the importance of public participation in decision-making. Additionally, the project launched an online events platform, which promoted sustainability-related activities and reached 35,152 people, encouraging greater civic involvement.
By educating youth, strengthening CSOs, fostering inter-communal cooperation, and engaging the wider public, AdvocaCY successfully empowered individuals and organizations to advocate for environmental sustainability. The project not only increased knowledge and skills but also strengthened networks and partnerships, ensuring a lasting impact on civil society in Cyprus.
Summary of bilateral results
The AdvocaCY project successfully strengthened bilateral relations by fostering collaboration between Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and engaging with donor project partners. Through joint activities such as co-creation cafés, networking events, and training workshops, the project created opportunities for meaningful dialogue and cooperation. A key outcome was the establishment of 12 formal collaboration agreements between CSOs, surpassing the initial target of 5, and promoting long-term partnerships for sustainability and advocacy efforts.The involvement of Norsensus Mediaforum, a donor project partner, further enriched the project by providing expertise in media literacy, strategic communication, and advocacy training. Their contribution helped build the capacity of CSOs, equipping them with essential skills to enhance public engagement and promote sustainability initiatives. Additionally, the partnership extended beyond the project’s initial scope, with AKTI and Norsensus continuing their collaboration through the "Digital Communication Tools for Effective Public Engagement and Advocacy" project under the Active Citizens Fund Cyprus.Public engagement was also significantly enhanced through three large-scale awareness campaigns, which reached over 10.7 million people and emphasized the importance of civic participation in environmental advocacy. The project’s visibility was further amplified by media coverage and a centralized events platform, which engaged over 35,152 people in sustainability-related initiatives.By promoting cross-community cooperation, capacity-building, and public awareness, the AdvocaCY project contributed to stronger bilateral relations, improved mutual understanding, and the development of lasting partnerships that will continue to drive sustainability and civic engagement efforts in Cyprus.