ENGAGE!

Description

We want to become an avant-garde for changes and innovation in the field of cross-border Baltic cooperation of NGO entities. The project is a reaction to the need of systematic increase in innovativeness of small and medium NGOs from the North of Poland by virtue of their internationalization - only 14% of organisations have ever attempted to cooperate internationally.The project is addressed to NGO representatives from Pomerania, Warmia and Mazuria. It is going to ensure a long-lasting change in the context of the commencement of internationalisation process, enhancement of projects and processes which have already been taken up by organisations and is going to ensure that a relevant, friendly climate for extensive NGO cooperation is created. The aim of our project is to strengthen other NGOs, increase the quality of their services and international offer as well as to create favourable conditions for their operations in the cross-border and international environment.Planned actions:- workshops specifying the participants’ needs and expectations on internationalisation;- study visits in Norway, Island and Poland;- international advice bureau;- participation in the Baltic Sea NGO Network;- creation of the Book of International Co-operation Rules;- informational campaign.The project deliverables will be, among others: increasing the capacity for cooperation of local entities from the North of Poland with their partners from the Baltic Region as well as establishment of new project-based partnerships among social organisations which will operate or will be supported as part of the project.The partner from Norway - South Norway European Office will conduct: workshop with the use of world-cafe method, hackathons and will use their experience and expertise to support our activities. The Polish partner: Association of RoP Communes - the Baltic Euroregion - is in possession of many years of experience in cooperation in the Baltic Sea region.

Summary of project results

ENGAGE was a project focused on intensifying cooperation between non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from the Pomeranian and Warmian-Masurian Voivodeships and partners from other countries. During the project, we organized three study visits in Iceland, Norway, and Poland. Our representatives participated in the annual EU Strategy Forum for the Baltic Sea Region in Finland, and we published a handbook for international cooperation in two language versions: ENGAGE Playbook. Additionally, we conducted international co-creation workshops in Gdańsk for 14 organizations from Poland and Norway, as well as a Polish-Norwegian practical workshop in Brussels in April this year. However, the most popular activities were the so-called "first step in international cooperation" workshops for NGOs, of which we conducted nine in Tricity, Sztum, Lębork, Elbląg, Olsztyn, and Frombork, attracting over 50 NGOs and more than 100 participants.
As part of the project, Polish partners ran the International Cooperation Advisory Office, offering ongoing consultancy and informational activities for NGOs interested in internationalizing their operations. The outcomes of this cooperation include positively evaluated and funded projects involving foreign entities.

Thanks to the support provided, several organizations became beneficiaries of subsequent projects: the Regional Center for Children and Youth with Autism in Malbork and the Malbork Regional Development Foundation under the Erasmus+ Program; Wama-Coop Association from Olsztyn, which obtained an EEA Grants project; and the Pomeranian COP Network, which will continue collaborating with our Norwegian partner under a new project developed during ENGAGE. Numerous small and local NGOs also decided to engage in international cooperation within the third sector for the first time, thanks to ENGAGE.

Key achievements of the project include:
A kick-off conference gathering numerous representatives of local NGOs from Pomerania and Warmia-Masuria.
Nine international workshops (Gdańsk x2, Sztum, Elbląg x2, Frombork, Olsztyn, Lębork, Brussels).
A study visit to Iceland for ENGAGE partners, exploring the local NGO environment.
Participation of the Project Coordinator in the Interreg Europe annual event "Europe, let''s cooperate! 2023" in Stockholm.
A study visit of NGOs to Norway.
A study visit of Norwegian NGOs to Pomerania.
Participation of a group of seven NGOs in the annual Baltic Strategy Forum in Finland.
Participation of project partners and four NGO representatives in the 4th edition of the Macro-Regional Strategies Week in Brussels.
Establishment of the ENGAGE International Cooperation Office.
Final project conference.
Both the project leader and the two partners from Poland and Norway plan to continue activities supporting the internationalization of the NGO sector within the previously defined development directions. Throughout the project, rich experiences were gained in identifying the potential of other NGOs, allowing for the presentation of concrete solutions based on examples from foreign partners. Moreover, extensive networks of contacts, further strengthened through the implementation of ENGAGE, enable the effective creation of new international consortia and the recommendation of new partners for organizations from Pomerania and Warmia-Masuria.

Summary of bilateral results

The ENGAGE! has gained uniqueness from the very beginning due to the presence of a partner from the Donor State - Agder County Council from Norway. This partnership not only enriched our cooperation, but also introduced unique perspectives and experiences that contributed significantly to the success of the project.Having a bilateral partner from Norway brought key substantive, organizational and cultural elements to the project that enabled it to achieve its goals more effectively. The partner brought its experience in building international cooperation, innovative methods of working. As results: Strengthened the knowledge of Polish NGOs on methods of operation in Norway, facilitate access to good practices and effective tools for international cooperation, strengthened mutual understanding between Polish and Norwegian NGOs, which significantly influenced the development of future partnerships.The partnership with the Norwegians provided a bridge between different approaches to NGO activities, providing an opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience in a spirit of mutual respect&learning. It allowed the project to achieve greater reach and sustainability of results:start in international cooperation, building lasting relations between the Nordics, motivation of organizations to develop cross-border activities.A “train-the-trainers” model was developed and implemented, which was made possible by the knowledge and experience of the Norwegian partner. The model increased Polish NGOs’ capacity for international cooperation and sustainable impact.Organizations from both countries had the opportunity to learn about the differences in how NGOs operate, which allowed them to better understand each other''s needs and capacities.The project succeeded in creating a network of contacts that resulted in further initiatives, including an Erasmus+ project implemented by other organizations from Poland and Norway, which were “paired” by us during the project.