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Description
The project aims to develop FOND members'' capacity by developing, monitoring and stimulating advocacy capacity through organizing training sessions, developing the Multiannual Strategy of FOND including 2 strategies (advocacy and fundraising) and establishing a new Branding Strategy with communication tools. The needs of the members, Board of Directors and executive team is addressed by training sessions on internal procedures, financial management, governance, organizational development, leadership and networking events, Romanian Development Camp. Another objective is to familiarize the main institutional actors and stakeholders with the international development cooperation field and the activity of the NGOs active in this area by organizing informative sessions. FOND will carry out an organizational audit to improve the internal procedures, enhance its visibility through social media, promotional materials and an updated website and will reorganize the working groups. The main expected results are: 1 updated website, 2 national AidWatch reports, 2 Romanian Development Camp events, 2 informative sessions, 1 Multiannual Strategy, 2 training sessions for the Board of Directors and executive team, 2 trainings for the member organizations, 2 working groups restructured, 1 organizational audit and 1 Branding Strategy.
All the activities carried out within the project contributed to the strengthening of the organizational capacity of the members, facilitated a better interaction between them and brought real changes to the beneficiaries. All the actions implemented in the project are considered measures meant to lead to the efficiency of the organization''s activity, increasing the sustainability and the consolidation of a positive image among the stakeholders.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to strengthen the capacity of the organization and its members (NGOs) to contribute to the proper implementation of the national development cooperation policy and to involve other non-governmental organizations in this endeavor (both at the consultation level and through concrete actions), but also to change attitudes regarding the reluctance of public actors (especially at the political level) to collaborate with the NGO sector.
In order to strengthen the Federation''s monitoring and advocacy capacity at national and regional levels, the Promoter undertook, within A3, a monitoring of the implementation of international development policy by participating in meetings and events with other organizations, and submitting to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: (1) a position paper on the Joint African-European Civil Society Statement to All Heads of State and Government and Dignitaries attending the 6th EU-AU Summit; (2) a series of proposals on the importance of a people-centered approach and strengthening cooperation with civil society, for a Euro-African partnership that would lead to concrete results and benefit societies on both continents; (3) a letter, to the MFA and RoAid, regarding the situation in Ukraine and humanitarian aid to it, as well as the activation of the European Union''s civil protection mechanism. The Promoter participated in the coordination meetings organized by CONCORD Europe for the preparation of the AidWatch report (October 2022) and contributed to the drafting and dissemination of the article promoting the report on the Federation''s media channels. Research/monitoring of the implementation of international development policy was also undertaken. Within A4, the Promoter organized the Romanian Development School (in 2021) in the context of the crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic with the theme "Europe after COVID-19, from recovery to development, priorities and resources", an event that brought together important actors in the field of development cooperation (53 participants). In June 2022, the 14th edition of the Romanian Development School was organized on the theme "Adapting development cooperation and humanitarian aid to reduce inequalities, enable recovery and build resilience - the role of ODA" in Bucharest and brought together 54 participants. In October 2023, the Promoter organized the 15th edition of the Romanian Development School with the theme "The role and impact of civil society in humanitarian actions carried out in the context of the war in Ukraine". This edition was held in the presence of the Ambassador of Ukraine to Romania, representatives of the Department of Emergency Situations, and the representative of the International Organization for Migration - the event brought together 25 participants. An information session was organized within A5 (December 2021) with 30 participants from institutions and non-governmental organizations who were familiarized with the field of international development cooperation and the involvement of Romanian NGOs in international development. The session involved a communication process with relevant institutional actors, beneficiaries, and other stakeholders. In May 2023, a new information session was organized on the topic "NGOs for Refugees: Challenges, Successes, and Lessons Learned from the Involvement of NGOs in Supporting Refugees in Ukraine." Within A6, a methodology and a work plan on the organizational strategy, an organizational situation analysis report, and a meeting of FOND members were developed. The strategy was finalized and approved in January 2022, and then the Strategy Operationalization Plan and the Annual Activity Plan for 2022 were developed. Within A7, 2 training sessions were held dedicated to members of the FOND Board of Directors and the executive team with 20 representatives of FOND member organizations, including 5 members of the Board of Directors and 2 members of the executive team. Within A8 Training Member Organizations - 2 training sessions were organized to improve the tools and knowledge necessary for identifying and formulating targets and objectives in advocacy campaigns. Participants (representatives of 26 member organizations) learned to develop a coherent and well-structured action calendar, streamline the impact of advocacy campaigns, and mobilize the communities better served. The most effective methods of communication and mobilization of members to support the advocacy objectives of the Federation were discussed and analyzed. Within A9, the working groups within the Federation were restructured, and meetings were organized with organizations with the potential to become members; 20 working visits were made to FOND member organizations to learn about their functioning. Two networking sessions were organized to create the opportunity for members to connect and exchange experiences and good practices; webinars on topics proposed by the member organizations were also organized during the project. Within A10 - FOND organizational audit - the auditing process took place between November and December 2022 by an external auditor contracted by the Promoter. Also within the activity, 3 working meetings were organized with national federations/networks. Within A11, the Branding Strategy for FOND for the period 2021-2025, a Guide with recommendations and resources for FOND members, and a new FOND website were developed.
In view of the challenges faced by the FOND in recent years, in the context of a narrowing civil society space and limited funding opportunities for its field of activity, capacity building and ensuring the sustainability of the FOND and its members have become increasingly necessary. Taking into account the main organisational needs identified through the evaluation of more than 10 years of activity, the proposed project aimed at the organisational development of the Federation through several directions. These included developing monitoring and advocacy capacity, improving the strategic framework through the development of the multi-year strategy 2021-2025, including two complementary advocacy and fundraising strategies, and the related implementation, monitoring and evaluation plan. The project also involved conducting an organisational audit to improve the Federation''s internal operating procedures, together with the development of a branding strategy and communication tools to enhance the visibility and promotion of the FOND brand. In the same time, the aim was to increase the capacity of FOND members by organising training sessions on advocacy and research methods for advocacy purposes, and to increase their involvement in the Federation''s activities by organising networking sessions. The project also aimed to develop the capacity of FOND Board members by organising training sessions on leadership and change management. Last but not least, it aimed at familiarising key institutional actors and other stakeholders with the field of international development cooperation and the activities of NGOs involved in this field, including the Department for Sustainable Development, RoAid, MFA, line ministries, local authorities, the private sector, academia and the media.