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Description
The PDP is designed to provide additional, targeted support to project applicants and promoters, in order to ensure more effective outreach of the ACF to CSOs in under-served geographic areas and among disadvantaged groups. The PDP will provide support to enable them to achieve a higher quality of implementation of projects, to facilitate know-how exchange among the project promoters, and to encourage interconnection between the project promoters and other organizations.
The project responds to lack of capacity building training addressing the needs of CSOs from under-served target groups and regions, accessible both in terms of the distance and participation fees. By it focus, PDP3 complements to objectives of the Outcome 5 Enhanced capacity and sustainability of civil society.
The target groups to large extent correspond with the segments of CSOs which are likely project promoters of the ACF:
- CSOs implementing projects whose objectives include income generation, diversification of funding sources and self-financing , particular focus on those working in under-served regions
- CSOs active in the field of advocacy
- Smaller and less developed CSOs operating in under-served regions
The main activities:
Activity 1, responsible Ekopolis:
- Three trainings in various regions for a total of 40 participants representing around 20 CSOs.
- One nationwide seminar on self-financing for 40 participants from CSOs.
- Five coaching processes in self-financing for five CSOs.
- Ongoing support to project promoters (personal, per phone and email) for the whole period of project implementation.
Activity 2, responsible OSF:
- A ‘Capacity Accelerator” that shall include: three workshops for CSOs working on advocacy for a total of 30 participants representing around 10 CSOs; and four individual action development plans for four different CSOs.
Activity 3, responsible CF:
8 trainings organised in under-served regions for around 100 individuals representing 50 CSOs.
Summary of project results
The pre-defined project reflected on situation in Slovakia, where there is a general lack of funding for capacity building activities that can build the sustainability of the civil society sector. Opportunities for the capacity building of CSOs that were targeted by this PDP were not available in the country. The existing trainings and know-how exchange opportunities are mostly available in the capital and for more advanced CSOs. While these are typically focused on transmitting modern ways of fundraising and management, they rarely provide training accessible to the needs and priorities of CSOs from under-served target groups and regions, both in terms of the distance and participation fees.
Therefore the PDP was aimed at providing additional, targeted support to project applicants and promoters, in order to ensure more effective outreach of the ACF to CSOs in under-served geographic areas and among disadvantaged groups. The PDP provided support to enable them to achieve a higher quality of implementation of projects, to facilitate know-how exchange among the project promoters, and to encourage interconnection between the project promoters and other organizations. The specific attention was given on CSOs from regions outside major urban centres and advocacy CSOs, in accordance with the objectives and defined target groups of the programme.
The three members of the consortium managing the ACF programme divided the project activities according their specific fields of interests (and the areas of supports of the ACF program under their specific supervision).
Within Activity 1 the Ekopolis focused on provision of training, networking and fundraising skills development for the CSOs implementing the projects with income generation or self-financing objectives.
In the Activity 2 "Capacity accelerator" the OSF worked with CSOs active in the field of advocacy.
Activity 3 under auspices of Carpathian Foundation was aimed at CSOs operating in under-served regions, working with target groups with specific needs, including Roma.
The project activities were divided among the three members of the consortium managing the ACF programme according their specific fields of interests, and the areas of supports of the ACF programme under their specific supervision.
Within Activity 1 the Ekopolis focused on organising provision of training, networking and fundraising skills development for the CSOs implementing the projects with income generation or self-financing objectives. Typically these were the project promoters working on establishment of the social business - several such projects were supported as part of programme, and more intensive assistance and networking was very useful. By engaging experts to conduct a series of trainings on business plan development, communication and marketing, crowdfunding and related topics, the PDP further assisted the project promoters also through coaching and networking. The experts were recruited both those within the FO consortium and external lecturers. This activity was particularly designed to help the CSOs supported under Outcome 4 Vulnerable groups empowered.
In the Activity 2 "Capacity Accelerator", series of workshops tailored to the needs of CSOs active in the field of advocacy activities with a strong strategic element was organised. Support was provided through workshops, and individual coaching conducted with blended learning and international networking. Individual action plans for participating CSOs were developed in consultation with the specific CSO. The responsible consortium partner for the operation of this part was the Open Society Foundation.
As part of the Activity 3 the Carpathian Foundation provided series of training designed specifically for CSOs operating in under-served regions which work typically with those target groups with specific needs, including Roma. The trainings were focused on basic skills in Project Design and Management, CSO Governance, Marketing and Communication and Fundraising. Additional coaching and mentoring was provided to those CSOs that received the financial support from the programme and had difficulties with project management.
In line with the objectives of the ACF programme, capacity building efforts within this pre -defined project aimed at helping the CSOs to invest in their capacities and long-term development efforts, share their knowledge within training and networking sessions and benefit from mentoring provided by experienced experts. The three FO consortium members offered a set of activities to the target CSOs, in line with the objectives and outcomes of the ACF programme. Building on their rich in-house expertise and experience, they also used a broad network of collaborating external experts when appropriate.
Activity 1 - series of training including 5 online webinars involved 78 participants. Seminar on social entrepreneurship brought together 62 participants representing 45 CSOs. Couching/mentoring processes in self-financing for 5 relevant CSOs were organized, three of them were grantees to ACF SK, two organisations were outside of the programme.
Activity 2 - 3 organised workshops covered topics “From activism to advocacy”, “From hoaxes to understanding”, “Stability of a not-profit organisation”, these included 30 participants representing 26 CSOs. Also 4 individual development plans were prepared jointly with CSOs Cyklokoalicia (enviro-advocacy), Saplinq (LGBTI-human rights), IPcko (Internet counseling for young people) and Slniecko (victims of gender based violence).
Activity 3 - as part of this module, CF organised 8 workshops for 110 participants, representing 80 individual local CSOs. The trainings focused on skills in Project Design and Management, CSO Governance, Marketing and Communication and Fundraising. Additionally the CF organised a SK-CZ conference on fundraising, communication and leadership organised in Kosice, attended by 92 participants, both well established and less developed CSOs were represented.