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Description
The project "Local Policies under a Magnifying Glass - Monitoring the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals in Local Communities" addresses the problem of under-developed advocacy capacities and watchdog role of civil society organizations in smaller local communities, with a focus on public policies within Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The SDGs are multilayered, global policies, which need to be implemented at all levels from global to local. The project aims at localizing SDGs through strengthening the capacities of local organizations to monitor the implementation of SDGs and advocate for policies that can improve it. At the same time, local CSOs will learn methods of public communication and community work in order to reach and include as many fellow citizens as possible with their approach.
The project will strengthen democratic initiatives and capacities of local CSOs as the main target group, as well as increase the degree of active civic participation in the policy-making and implementation processes in Vukovar-Srijem and Lika-Senj counties. This is especially pertinent because both counties have below-average development indexes with negative demographic trends and a predominantly older population that is less prone to civic participation. Local partnes are target groups of capacity building activities and contribute with the community outreach while donor country partner bring its expertize in advocacy and (digital) tools for advocacy actions at all leveles (transfer of good practise).
By introducing watchdog and advocacy practices at the local level, CSOs will contribute to increasing the quality of SDG implementation in their communities, as well as the overall well-being and understanding of democratic principles and values by their fellow citizens.
Summary of project results
The project "Local Policies Under a Magnifying Glass - Monitorng of Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals in Local Communities" addresses the central issue of underdeveloped advocacy and watchdog capacities among civil society organizations (CSOs) in local areas, with a focus on public policies related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In Croatia, advocacy and watchdog activities are predominantly concentrated in Zagreb and other major urban centers, where decision-making institutions and public policy offices are located.
The project aimed to strengthen the capabilities of CSOs in the Vukovar-Srijem and Lika-Senj counties to engage in advocacy and watchdog activities. This was achieved through a series of workshops on public advocacy and communication for local organizations, followed by independent advocacy and watchdog activities carried out by partner organizations.
Additionally, the project focused on raising awareness among local citizens about the importance of monitoring and implementing global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the local level through public events and campaigns. It also sought to enhance democratic principles and citizen participation in decision-making processes by actively involving them in project activities.
The project engaged in several key activities to build advocacy and watchdog capacities among civil society organizations (CSOs) in local areas, with a focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It the project successfully provided training and resources to enhance advocacy and watchdog activities, supported local CSOs in developing management and strategic plans, and encouraged greater community involvement and dialogue on SDGs.
One major activity involved a series of online workshops designed to enhance advocacy and watchdog roles. Conducted in both Croatian and English, these workshops offered training on public advocacy and communication strategies. The workshops covered how to effectively advocate to institutions and communicate to gain public support for policies and social changes. A total of 29 participants from 14 CSOs attended the sessions, including organizations from Vukovar-Srijem and Lika-Senj counties, as well as others from different regions. The participants developed their own advocacy and communication plans, learning to apply these skills in real-world scenarios. Recordings of the workshops are available online for those who wish to review the sessions.
Another important activity was a two-day in-person workshop held in Zagreb, focusing on organizational management and internal capacity assessment. This workshop, attended by eight CSOs, provided training on effective organizational management and good governance models. Participants used self-assessment tools to evaluate their own organizational capacities and needs. As a result, six of the participating organizations developed detailed organizational development plans, aimed at improving their management practices and organizational transparency.
The project also included the preparation and public release of reports on the implementation of SDGs at the local level. Partner organizations were responsible for creating these reports, which focused on specific goals such as gender equality and reducing inequalities. For the piurpose of report creation, surveys were conducted to gather opinions and needs from citizens and organizations within the target counties. This input helped in crafting advocacy documents that reflected the local community’s needs.
In early 2024, public presentations of these reports were held in Vukovar and Otočac. During these events, the reports were shared with local citizens, authorities, and media, fostering dialogue and collaboration. The presentations led to commitments from local authorities to consider the recommendations and enhance future cooperation.
An online campaign was also launched to promote the reports and raise awareness about SDGs and the importance of citizen participation. The campaign included articles and radio broadcasts, reaching thousands of people and highlighting key issues such as gender equality and youth representation.
Finally, efforts were made to mobilize support and advocate for local institutional changes. Meetings were held with local governments and authorities in Vukovar, Otočac, and surrounding areas to discuss the implementation of the report recommendations and explore further collaboration. These meetings helped establish new opportunities for future partnerships and advance local policy improvements.
The project aimed to empower civil society organizations (CSOs) in the Vukovar-Srijem and Lika-Senj counties, while also engaging local authorities, media representatives, and citizens. It successfully enhanced the advocacy skills of these CSOs, raised public awareness about civic participation, and fostered better collaboration between civil society and local authorities. Furthermore, its impact reached beyond the targeted counties, involving additional CSOs from other regions who also benefited from the workshops.
One of the major achievements was the strengthening of advocacy and watchdog capacities among the CSOs through a series of online workshops on public advocacy, communication, and organizational development. Fourteen CSOs from the targeted counties participated in these workshops, creating their own advocacy and communication plans. The partner organizations, EDVU and OU Podum, applied these skills to produce advocacy reports. These reports, which were developed with input from citizens and other CSOs, helped to enhance the advocacy capabilities of the involved organizations. They were then presented to the public and communicated to both citizens and institutions, increasing the organizations'' influence on public policies.
Additionally, the project included surveys that gathered citizen opinions and needs related to gender equality and reducing inequalities. This involvement not only helped participating CSOs improve their understanding of advocacy but also highlighted the importance of collective efforts in advocacy work. Organizations with less experience in advocacy learned that successful advocacy often involves collaboration and that participating in broader initiatives can enhance their chances of influencing policy.
Citizens were positively impacted by the project as it increased their awareness of the importance of civil society and their role in civic participation. By involving them in surveys and public events, the project reinforced their understanding of how they can monitor public policies and advocate for improvements.
Local authorities in Vukovar, Otočac, and the surrounding counties were engaged in the project, which raised their awareness of the value of collaborating with CSOs in policy-making. The project provided valuable policy recommendations and strengthened the relationships between local authorities and civil society.
Media representatives gained a better understanding of issues related to gender equality and reducing inequalities in local communities. They also became more aware of their role in monitoring public policies and encouraging public participation in democratic processes.
Summary of bilateral results
The project significantly benefited from its partnership with the Citizens Foundation, an Icelandic civil society organization. Their involvement was crucial for carrying out part of Activity 1, specifically the workshops aimed at strengthening the advocacy and communication capacities of CSOs. Out of a total of five workshops, Citizens Foundation led three, while the remaining two were conducted by CROSOL. CROSOL, a platform with 31 member organizations, primarily focuses on advocacy and connecting national and European CSOs in areas of international development and sustainable development. Their expertise lies in advocacy and networking with decision-makers to support social changes. In contrast, the Citizens Foundation specializes in online activism and public campaigns, utilizing modern digital tools and platforms they have developed.This collaboration allowed the project to offer a unique blend of skills to participating CSOs. The workshops provided by Citizens Foundation focused on public communication and citizen engagement through innovative digital tools and successful campaign examples. Meanwhile, CROSOL’s workshops addressed traditional advocacy techniques and networking strategies. As a result, the participating CSOs gained a comprehensive set of skills in both advocacy and communication, which they could practically apply in creating their own advocacy and communication plans.Looking ahead, there is a strong interest in continuing the collaboration between CROSOL and the Citizens Foundation, particularly in the area of strengthening CSOs'' capacities for running public campaigns. To sustain this partnership, securing funding will be essential, and efforts are underway to find new financial opportunities to support future joint projects.