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Description
The Social Platform in Romania aims at strengthening the advocacy capacity of social federations and activating citizens in public policy proposals. Its purpose is to increase the advocacy capacity of civil society, for improving the social inclusion policies, the access to quality social services, the respect of rights, the reduction of poverty. The initiators are 4 federations with expertise in advocacy, which cover key social areas: child protection (FONPC), disability (Dizabnet), elderly/vulnerable families (Caritas), social services (FONSS).
The recent evolution has shown that a stronger and coordinated voice of civil society in the social field is needed, of increased credibility and with additional competences in relation to authorities: knowledge of political decision mechanisms, finances, political economy, legislative technique, public administration. In the Social Platform will be invited federations of NGOs representing disadvantaged groups, federations of social service providers, those who defend human rights, anti-poverty networks. The platform will increase the advocacy capabilities, mandate a group of permanent key advocates in Parliament and in key ministries, form a group of lawyers specialized in litigation in the social sector, have permanent legal assistance (elaboration of draft normative acts, answers to legislative consultations), form a group of journalists (including investigation journalists) for the correct illustration of social realities and of the role of social NGOs and professionalize the representatives of NGOs for effective advocacy and public communication. Public hearings with citizens and authorities, on social problems, will document, validate and contribute to finding solutions for social realities in the field. The coalition will connect with the Social Platform (Brussels), the European umbrella organization of civil society representatives in the social field, and with the European Comission.
Summary of project results
Through the project ''''Social Platform in Romania'''' the promoter and his partners have set out to strengthen the advocacy capacity of federations in the social field and to activate citizens in public policy proposals, by creating the Social Platform in Romania. It aims to increase civil society''s advocacy power, improve social inclusion policies, access to good quality social services, respect for rights, and reduce poverty. The political, social, and financial context has determined the organizations that intervene in the social field, a core of approximately 10 social federations and coalitions in Romania, to join forces in a coalition of federations that will campaign with a single voice for improving policies with social impact.
To achieve the project objectives, 34 key Social Platform (SP) activists were selected and trained within A3 to increase their advocacy skills: 12 novice activists, 9 activists with relevant advocacy experience but who wanted additional training to improve their skills, and 13 experienced activists. Depending on their level of experience, they participated in conferences with resource persons (parliamentarians, actors, sociologists, anthropologists, etc.) to better understand the social context, in internal and external communication courses in NGOs; in advocacy communication strategy workshops (January-March 2022) - 28 participants; in participatory local diagnosis sessions in the social field (March 2022) - 20 participants, in rapid response sessions in crises, internal organization and adaptation of advocacy techniques (March 2022) - 90 participants. Within A4, focal points of contact and collaborative relations of the Social Platform with national public authorities, European organizations, and the European Commission were established (focal points of contact are people from different departments or agencies of the relevant public authorities, with whom PS members have established ongoing collaboration or communication links). Within A5, position papers, and public policy recommendations (at the national and European level) were developed, and proposals for legislative changes were drafted. For example, PS was actively involved in the revision of the Social Assistance law, the revision of the law on the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities, and the documents issued by the Romanian Government on assistance to persons displaced from Ukraine. Within A6 and A7, a lawyer was hired who, with the help of some pleading lawyers, initiated 12 court actions. The legal advisor assisted the Platform members on the following types of cases: verification of documents for the establishment of new organizations, assistance for the relationship with the public authority, counseling for the procedures to be followed in the event of a violation of the rights of social protection beneficiaries, assistance for licensing and accreditation procedures, etc. Within A8, the selection, training, and activation of journalists and NGO communicators for the correct reflection of social realities and the contribution of NGOs in the social sector - a press trip for journalists was carried out in Iasi County to the social assistance services for Ukrainian refugees and homeless people in the county; A comprehensive analysis of over 8,500 press articles on how the social field is reflected in the press; A thematic workshop with the participation of 35 NGOs (in November 2023) and a debate on how the press can contribute to changes in the social field, both from a legislative and institutional point of view or in working practices (in November 2023). Following the discussions in the internal meetings of the Romanian Social Platform, within A9, technical groups were created to exchange experience and practices (of organizations in the field of services for children and adults with autism and the one focused on the implementation of the Child Guarantee), common position documents were developed, they participated in meetings with representatives of national authorities and actively collaborated in assistance projects for Ukrainian refugees. Within A10 external communication activities, PS representatives participated in national and international conferences, over 16 articles were transmitted in the classic press, and over 20 articles in social media, positioning the PS in the "horror asylums" scandal, with wide coverage in the national press. Within A9, expanding the Platform and attracting new members, collaboration or support links were established with 10 federations and coalitions (partnership, technical assistance, support for advocacy efforts, establishment of the membership pool). Within the organizational development activities - A12 and A13, a PS procedures manual was developed; two strategic planning workshops were organized in 2021 and 2022; a Social Platform strategy for the period 2021-2023; membership fees were paid to European federations; trips/participations in important European conferences for the sector were organized (e.g. digitalization of social services, Sweden, 2023) and General Assemblies of Platform members were organized (e.g. Caritas federation).
The project aimed to increase the capacity of Romanian NGOs to significantly represent the social services sector (with notable results in the modernization of policies), as well as to stimulate citizens to take a more active part in the social policy-making process. For 3 years of implementation, the partner federations mobilized 806 people in activities of advocacy, representation, and capacity-building actions (carried out at the national, local, or international level). They facilitated the participation of 314 people in consultation with a public decision-maker, they supported 12 actions in court, in the interest of the member organizations, and they elaborated more than 57 interpellation documents, policy proposals, petitions, and open letters for the respect of social rights. Relevant information about the social sector and its challenges was transmitted to more than 17,600 people, on the media channels of the Social Platform and partners. The most important change in the social services sector was achieved at the end of 2023 - the revision of law 292/2011 and the introduction of the financing mechanism "the money follows the client" (public financing). In Nov. 2024, a key event of the Social Platform was organized - the National Forum of Social Services (4 days), with thematic workshops, working groups, and plenary sessions. The forum addressed the current situation of social services and action priorities for the implementation of key strategies in the social sector. Within the project, the advocacy activities of the Platform were continued, the analysis with mass media representatives (the reflection of the social field in the press and society), the partnership and collaboration relations between the members of the Social Platform and other coalitions and federations, as well as with public authorities. The platform gained European scope through its presence in the SSDC (EU)-European Sectoral Committee for Social Dialogue for Social Services (2023).