Developing the capacity of small or inexperienced NGOs in the South West Oltenia, South Muntenia and South East Regions – NGO Incubator

Project facts

Project promoter:
CSR Nest(RO)
Project Number:
RO-ACTIVECITIZENS-0275
Status:
Completed
Final project cost:
€236,638
Programme:

Description

Our project meets a need of the Romanian non-profit sector. At national level, small NGOs or NGOs without professional experience don’t have financial resources at their disposal and don’t benefit of the specific know-how in order to build their organizational capacity. According to the report called Romania 2017 – The Non-Profit Sector: profile, trends and challenges issued by CSDF(RO), when it comes to small organizations which have few employees and limited financial resources, they don’t have a strategy for organizational development or departments specialized in creating, implementing and monitoring their strategies. Small NGOs have only a survival strategy, while their main objective is to keep their presence on the market. In addition, the Barometer of the NGOs Leaders, issued by CSDF(RO), 2016 edition shows that 16 percent of the Romanian NGOs hadn’t use any tool for planning or organizational management. The South-East Oltenia Region, South-Muntenia Region and South-East Region have a relatively small number of NGOs, about 35 percent of all the NGOs active at national level. Plus, these regions have a relatively poor level of economic development (all these regions counted for about 3 percent (cumulated) to the total income of the NGOs active in Romania in 2015). Our project aims to increase the organizational capacity and the sustainability of 10 small or without professional experience NGOs which have a significant interest in supporting the local communities, by organizing 20 sessions of trainings adapted to their needs. Main activities: the development of some tools and working methodologies for the 10 NGOs, trainings on organizational development (NGO management, communication, financial, HR, sustainability, crisis management etc). Main results that will be achieved: a federation of small or without professional experience NGOs, a methodology for assessing the needs of NGOs, the development of an organizational toolkit, coaching and mentoring for NGOs.

Summary of project results

As part of the project, a series of strategic activities were implemented to address the challenges faced by small or inexperienced NGOs in the South-West Oltenia, South, and South-East regions, which struggle with limited organizational capacity and sustainability. The project aimed to develop the organizational capacity and sustainability of 10 NGOs through integrated measures of training, planning, and strategic membership. Issues Addressed: The project aimed to strengthen the organizational capacity and increase the sustainability of small or inexperienced NGOs in underserved geographic areas. These organizations face challenges such as a lack of resources, difficulties in developing an efficient organizational structure, and limited access to support networks and expertise. 

The project implemented training, organizational development, and network-building activities, culminating in the establishment of the INCUBATOR Federation, a platform designed to assist and develop small NGOs. Training sessions were organized to develop organizational skills and strengthen strategic capacity, allowing participating organizations to enhance their impact in the communities they serve.

The 10 NGOs benefited from increased organizational capacity and sustainability by participating in 10 training sessions. Through the implementation of their own organizational development processes, these NGOs succeeded in attracting new resources and collaborating more effectively at the regional level. Changes Brought to Beneficiaries: The project helped NGOs develop sustainable strategies and increase their visibility and influence in local communities. In the medium and long term, these NGOs will contribute to a stronger and better-represented civil society in the implementation area.

Information on the projects funded by the EEA and Norway Grants is provided by the Programme and Fund Operators in the Beneficiary States, who are responsible for the completeness and accuracy of this information.