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Description
The Project aims to strengthen capacity and sustainability of CSOs and Refugee/Migrant Led organizations (MRLOs) that operate on both sides of the divide, offering services to vulnerable persons within refugee/migrant communities, such as victims of trafficking, torture, and gender-based violence.
The project will develop and deliver training sessions promoting the adoption of interdisciplinary, multi-level and holistic needs assessment methods for attending vulnerable refugees/migrants, as well as that of operating principles that ensure transparent and accountable governance among CSOs/MRLOs in the sector.
The joint process of identifying and addressing capacity needs of CSOs and MRLOS in both sides of the divide will increase the capacity of partnering organizations and will allow for the development of relevant, updated, and meaningful training content, which will substantially increase participating CSOs’ and MRLOs’ ability to offer efficient, sustainable, and harmonized services to vulnerable refugees and migrants.
The bicommunal character of the project activities will facilitate networking between CSOs and MRLOs in both sides of the divide, allowing for the creation of a common operation framework and lay the foundation for wider useful synergies both during as well as after the completion of the project.
Summary of project results
The aim of the project was to improve the operational environment for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and to encourage the creation of a more enabling environment for them. To achieve this, a number of activities addressed to CSOs, public authorities, and the wider audience, were organized.
Research activities (online questionnaire, focus group discussions) engaged CSOs in the process of mapping the challenges they face (especially in relation to the implementation of the ‘Law 104(I)/2017 on Associations, Foundations, Federations and Unions of organisations’) and collected their recommendations on how the public authorities can create a more enabling environment for CSOs in Cyprus. The findings guided the development of policy recommendations that were presented to public authorities and CSOs during bilateral meetings, a roundtable discussion, and events at District Offices. The events brought together organised Civil Society and public authorities, such as the Directorate of Associations, Fundraising and Media (Ministry of Interior) and the Authority for Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Ministry of Finance), and achieved to open a dialogue between them.
The project focused on the implementation of the Law 104(I)/2017 on Associations, Foundations, Federations and Unions of organisations, as well as the practices implemented in relation to the anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing rules. Project activities contributed to the achievement of overall outcomes and project outputs, namely ‘Outcome 1 Increased citizen participation in civic activities – Output 1.1 Enhanced citizens’ awareness about the role of the CSOs in society’ and ‘Outcome 3 Enhanced capacity and sustainability of civil society (organisations and the sector) - Output 3.1 Capacity building provided to CSOs and informal groups’.
Outcome 1 – Output 1.1
Research activities conducted as part of the project (online questionnaire, focus group discussions) engaged our collaborators and their member associations (Cyprus Confederation of Organisations of the Disabled, the Cyprus Federation of Patients’ Associations, the Cyprus Voice for Animals, the Cyprus Youth Council, and the National Anti-poverty Network – Cyprus), as well as several other CSOs in the process of mapping the problems and challenges they face, especially in relation to the implementation of the national law and the relevant administrative and financial obligations.
Activities involving the public authorities (bilateral meetings, roundtable discussion event, events at District Offices) contributed to raising awareness about the challenges CSOs face and opened a dialogue between organised Civil Society and key stakeholders. For example, during the meetings with the Ministry of Interior, the lead of the Directorate of Associations agreed to establish a Consultative Body with CSOs to improve consultation with Civil Society and engage them in the process of adopting any changes to the current regulatory framework. In the long-term, the effective function of this body could lead to the adoption of measures, laws and regulations that create a more enabling environment for CSOs. The evaluation of activities mentioned above took part during debriefing meetings following the events. At the end of roundtable discussion event, an evaluation form was also used. Overall, we have received positive feedback regarding the various aspects of the event, including the practical/ organizational aspects, the clarify of information presented and the content of the presentations. All participants completely agreed/agreed with the statements: “The roundtable discussion met its objectives.”, “The content of the roundtable discussion met my expectations.”. Via open-ended questions we explored participants feedback on the most useful part(s) of the event, how it could be improved, and what other topics they would like to discuss. In brief, participants to the roundtable discussion particularly appreciated the open dialogue, the information about the situation on the EU level, as well as the opportunity to discuss directly with the representative of the Ministry of Interior. They would like more time for questions and discussion.
Communication activities significantly contributed to the achievement of ‘Outcome 1’. Communication activities targeted the public authorities, other CSOs and the general public. The campaign “10 Myths And Facts About Non-Governmental Organisations” launched on social media (Facebook) in February 2023 and aimed to address some of the most common myths about NGOs, and to encourage a public discourse around their role and contribution to society. The posts in our Facebook page were shared by a number of CSOs and the campaign had a post reach of approximately 27,000 accounts (based on data provided by Meta). The video “A glimpse into the world of NGOs in Cyprus” (available with text in English & Greek) launched on social media in August 2023. The video aimed (a) to illustrate the work of NGOs and create a better understanding of the diverse topics they work on, how they work to meet their goals, their different needs, the various challenges they face, and (b) to promote a more positive stance towards NGOs by illustrating their contribution to society. Eight (8) representatives of CSOs working on a plethora of topics such as youth participation, animal welfare, arts & culture, gender equality, patient’s rights, environmental sustainability, etc participated in the video interviews. Video posts on Facebook had a reach of approximately of 9,000 accounts.
Outcome 3 - Output 3.1
Two key activities aimed to enhance the capacity and sustainability of civil society. 74 individuals, including Board members and staff of Associations, Foundations, Federations, and non-profit companies, participated to capacity-building workshops, titled “Capacity-building workshop for organisations: Administrative and financial obligations”. Overall, according to the feedback collected via evaluation forms, the workshops met their objectives and enhanced the capacity and sustainability of the participant CSOs by improving the capacity of CSOs to meet their legal obligations and raising awareness about good governance strategies. We have received positive feedback regarding the various aspects of the workshops, including the practical/ organizational aspects, the clarify of information presented, the time allocated for discussion and questions, and the methods used. 98% of the participants to the workshops completely agreed/agreed with the statement “The workshop met its objectives.”. 96% completely agreed/agreed with the statement “As a result of the workshop, I gained a better understanding of the administrative and the financial obligations of my organisation.”. The insights gained from the workshops were taken into consideration when drafting specific recommendations on the implementation of the law and how public authorities can best support organisations to meet their legal obligations (e.g. publishing a short information guide listing obligations and deadlines, planning regular capacity-building activities to inform CSOs).
12 representatives of CSOs participated to the training, titled “Capacity-building training: How to ensure AML/CFT measures do not hinder legitimate NPO activity”. The training took place with the support of international experts from ECNL and Philea. The training focused on the review of the risk assessment tools used in Cyprus, as well as the review of other restrictive measures implemented in relation to the Financial Action Task Force (FAFT) recommendations. Participants explored and analyzed specific recommendations and strategies for responding to the measures and practices implemented. During the training, participants had constructive discussions about the practices followed and the restrictive measures implemented to prevent and combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The idea to form a coalition to collectively respond to these measures was embraced by the participant organisations and they agreed to engage in follow-up actions. The knowledge about international practices and how they are implemented, and the building of a coalition strengthens the capacity of Civil Society to advocate and act as a watchdog.
The project aimed to increase citizen participation in civic activities, enhance citizens'' awareness of the role of civil society organizations (CSOs), and improve the capacity and sustainability of CSOs. It achieved this through various activities and outputs under three main outcomes.
Outcome 1: Increased Citizen Participation in Civic Activities
Through Work Package 2, the project engaged 22 representatives from public authorities in participatory processes, including roundtable discussions, bilateral meetings, and regional events with registrars. Activities included raising awareness about CSOs'' challenges and fostering dialogue between civil society and public stakeholders. Notably, discussions with the Ministry of Interior led to an agreement to establish a Consultative Body with CSOs to improve consultations and regulatory processes.
Outcome 2: Enhanced Citizens’ Awareness About CSOs
The project carried out two awareness campaigns. The "10 Myths and Facts About Non-Governmental Organisations" campaign aimed to dispel myths about NGOs through social media posts, newsletters, and publications in Greek and English, reaching approximately 27,090 people. Additionally, a video illustrating NGOs'' work and contributions was produced in Greek and English, reaching 9,075 viewers. These efforts collectively engaged over 30,000 individuals, significantly boosting public discourse on the importance of CSOs.
Outcome 3: Enhanced Capacity and Sustainability of CSOs
Work Package 3 focused on capacity-building initiatives for CSOs. Interactive training workshops informed 74 participants from 57 organizations about administrative and financial obligations, improving their operational efficiency. A specialized training on mitigating the impact of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism measures was conducted with international experts, involving 12 participants from 11 CSOs. This training facilitated the formation of a coalition to address restrictive measures collectively and strengthened advocacy efforts.
In total, the project reached 11 public authorities and actively engaged 86 individuals in capacity-building initiatives. It also conducted surveys and focus group discussions with 76 NGOs and informal groups, resulting in actionable recommendations for improving the legal and operational frameworks for CSOs. These multifaceted efforts underscore the project''s commitment to fostering an inclusive and sustainable civil society.