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Description
Romania is still on top in the EU regarding the risk of poverty and social exclusion, while still having a weak coverage with social services addressed to vulnerable groups. There is a major need of social intervention in rural areas and NGOs are key actors in providing this. The Bethany Social Services Foundation collected data from a sample of 37 NGOs from Iasi County and North-East region and the results show that most of these NGOs face financial unpredictability which determine employee instability, a low capacity to operate, and lack of sustainability of their actions.
The project will directly support 30 grass-roots organizations from Iasi County and North-East region in a timeline of 18 months through consistent interventions focused on investments in human resources, transfer of know-how, mentoring and coaching in priority areas of organizational development (funds accessing, organizational management and human resources management).
The beneficiary NGOs will be supported to better define/adapt their business mode, to elaborate strategic/operational plans, to increase their PR and communication skills, their capacity to access funds through various fundraising mechanisms, to better deliver services to the public, to increase efficiency in management and to increase their innovation potential. This approach will increase the capacity, sustainability and impact of the civil society in the community and also the innovation potential of the sector.
The project will be implemented in partnership with Iasi Community Foundation and CIVICA Association for Development, Transparency and Public Participation.
Summary of project results
The ONGteca project developed an intervention model centered on investments in human infrastructure, transfer of know-how, mentoring and coaching in priority areas of organizational development, addressed to grass-roots organizations from Iasi County and North East region, for a period of 22 months. Most organizations from the area face financial unpredictability, registering large staff fluctuations. Also, the initial needs analysis conducted by the PP identified increased areas of vulnerability regarding fundraising and human resources management.
The 22 beneficiary organizations were supported to define/adapt their organization''s operating model, to develop strategic/operational plans, increase their capacity for organizational communication, fundraising and accessing grants, to make their procedures more efficient and to increase its potential for testing and innovation by creating contexts for learning and exchange of expertise. A total of 81 non-governmental organizations were involved in learning initiatives in the fields of organizational development. The most important results consist in: the delivery of 5 training programs (Communication & Public Relations, Strategic Planning, Application Processing & Project Management, Fundraising & Team Management & Organizational Leadership) for 22 beneficiary NGOs, the delivery of 817 mentoring sessions in the fields of fundraising, communication, team management, grant proposals & project management for 22 beneficiary NGOs, the development of the online fundraising platform Drag de Iasi, organizational development activities of the consortium of partners.
The total amounts mobilized by NGOs as a result of the ONGteca are 158,680 Euros and 228,447 lei; And as a result of the mentoring and coaching period, the beneficiaries won grants worth of 190.000 euros. The beneficiary NGOs now have enhanced financial stability and improved operational capabilities. Long-term, this success translates to better services and support for the communities they serve, fostering sustainable development and reducing poverty in the region.