More information
Description
There are 91 registered CSO-s in the Međimurje County in the field of "social assistance and support" which includes associations of persons with disabilities and those dealing with marginalized groups in society. In 2019. only 0.8% of associations from the Međimurje use public and EU fundings because of ignorance and undercapacity of staff which leads to non-transparent management, financial unsustainability, difficulties in implementation of the program to help target groups, the independence of the association and ultimately lack of provision of much-needed community services and development of innovative method of work.
The objective of the "IMAGINE" project are:
- Strengthening the capacity of CSO-s for transparent financial management
- Empowerment of CSO employees for public communication and work with people with disabilities
With these objective, we will increase the capacity and sustainability of 5 CSOs who work with people with disabilities. Education will be for financial management, fundraising, public communication, working with people with disabilities and measuring social impact and communication with other stakeholders and donors.
Changes we expect in Međimurje County:
- 5 organizations who work with persons with disabilities have strengthened their capacities for transparent financial management
- 5 CSOs have increased their knowledge and experience in fundraising which will lead to diversification of income and stability of these organizations
- 5 CSOs networked with other training participants
- Employees of 5 CSOs are empowered to provide assistance and support to people with disabilities
- Employees of 5 CSOs have improved social, cognitive and creative skills to increase the visibility of their organizations through public communication
- 5 CSOs actively contribute to the social inclusion of their target groups in the local community and through their activities are increasing the quality of life of people with disabilities
Summary of project results
In the official Register of Non-profit Organiozations, there are 91 organizations registered in Međimurje County in the field of "social assistance and support", which includes organizations of people with disabilities and those dealing with marginalized groups in society.
Information that only 0.8% of all organizations from the area of Međimurje County in 2019. use public and EU funding sources, indicates low knowledge and under-capacitation of staff in organizations, which leads to non-transparent operations, financial unsustainability, difficulties in implementing programs to help target groups and ultimately, the lack of provision of much-needed services in the community and the development of innovative work methods.
The project was therefore designed to strengthen the capacities of CSOs that deal with people with disabilities for transparent financial management and empower CSOs staff for public communication and work with people with disabilities.
In order to achieve the project goals, extensive training for five civil society organizations that deal with people with disabilities was carried out. The trainings were designed in such a way that all participants can pass them on to other staff members in their organizations and thus strengthen capacities in management, planning and operation, fundraising and working with marginalized groups.
Implemented trainings at the organizational level were: Writing and implementation of EU projects (for 60 hours), Training for trainers (2 days), Financial administration (continuous for three months), Measuring social impact - education and mentoring (4 days).
At the same time, training was conducted for the staff of organizations on the topics of Communication skills (2 days) and Job mentors (2 days).
Through the project, 1 online brochure was created - a checklist for all civil society organizations in which organizations can compare/check whether they have all the financial documentation that should be kept as a CSO.
The brochure and project activities were promoted online on social networks.
The project had an impact on CSOs that primarily deal with people with disabilities building their capacities for transparent organizational management, financial sustainability and independence by investing in knowledge and skills and providing tools for the development of local CSOs. It can serve as an example to other counties in Croatia encouraging the capacity building of organizations that work with marginalized groups and opening up the possibility for stronger networking of organizations, their sustainability and therefore a greater impact on the quality and availability of services for people with disabilities in Croatia.
Positive changes achieved at the level of Međimurje County are:
- Increased number of capacitated organizations in the field of transparent financial management
- Organizations have increased their knowledge and experience in fundraising leading to diversification of sources of income and stability of organizations
- Organizations have used the opportunity for networking
- Members of staff are empowered to provide assistance and support to people with disabilities
- Members of staff improved their social, cognitive and creative skills in order to increase the visibility of their organizations through public communication
- Organizations actively contribute to the social inclusion of their target groups in the local community and through their activities increase the quality of life of people with disabilities