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Description
Rural areas in Romania are faced with a lack of a common voice of NGOs on issues of European interest - youth, gender equality, and sustainable rural development.
RuralNet network believes that it needs to be involved in the analysis and development of public policies that create national measures to raise the next generation of young farmers, exchange generations in agriculture, as priorities of the future Common Agricultural Policy post-2020, and solutions to make agriculture again a profession that brings value to young people in rural areas. The project will focus on the organizational development of the RuralNet network and the development of an advocacy campaign for an inclusive National Strategic Plan with young people, promoter of equal opportunities, and sustainability of the rural environment. RuralNet project goal is to strengthen and expand the RuralNet network through development and learning actions for member organizations to advocate for a youth-inclusive National Strategic Plan promoting gender equality and rural development. The advocacy component will be developed by the project promoter, alongside project partners, the Community Safety and Mediation Center and Foundation for the Development of Social Enterprise. Furim Institutt, the partner from Norway, with a wide experience in the initiation and the development of social businesses in rural areas, who have successfully developed and tested Norway an instrument/application for social business planning by NGOs, will provide professional services for RuralNet members in the field of social businesses development. The project aim is to develop 4 policy briefs and to participate and transmit the information of interest to at least three thematic working groups and different monitoring committees. The beneficiaries of the project will be the actual and new member NGOs of the RuralNet network.
Summary of project results
The project addressed several key needs and challenges, including the expansion of the Ruralnet network by recruiting new NGO members and strengthening the network''s capacity to carry out advocacy and representation for rural areas. The project had a strong focus on gender equality, promoting rural youth, and fostering sustainable rural development.
As part of the project, the Ruralnet website was enhanced to include comprehensive information about the network and its activities, as well as a collection of resources. The project facilitated the organization of meetings, trainings, and workshops for Ruralnet members and other interested stakeholders. Training courses were offered on topics such as social entrepreneurship and project management, while workshops covered themes like "Equal Opportunities in Associative Structures with an Economic Role," "Young Farmers and Associative Structures with an Economic Role in Rural Areas," "Financing and Support for Associative Structures in Rural Areas," and "Rural Development and Environmental and Climate Challenges."
At the conclusion of the project, the RuralNet National Event was held, which also featured an NGO fair.
Through the project, the Ruralnet network was strengthened and expanded by implementing development and learning activities for its member organizations. As a result, the network currently includes 13 members and 4 experts.
Additionally, the project led to the creation of the RuralNet 2030 strategy and the development of four policy briefs that served as the foundation for an advocacy campaign. This campaign included a series of national and international meetings with key stakeholders.
Summary of bilateral results
The Norwegian partner played a key role in the project by facilitating specific sessions during the Social Entrepreneurship training held in June 2022. This collaboration proved highly productive, achieving the anticipated results.