JUNIOR FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

   The Junior Fellowship Program is one of the REC's most popular and effective programs for developing the capacity of young environmentalists, many of which go on to become influential leaders in the region. The program provides participants with valuable experience at an international environmental organisation, and encourages the development of new relationships and the exchange of experiences.

   Fellows come to the REC's head office for one month of practical training on many aspects of NGO management, from fundraising and budgeting to proposal writing and computer applications. At the Center, fellows have the opportunity to use REC facilities and resources and to network with staff and other environmental experts from the region. In 1997, the program hosted 37 fellows from 17 countries in the CEE region and opened its doors to others outside the region, provided that they had secured their own funding.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TRAINING CENTER NETWORK (EMTC)

   The EMTC Network aims to support leading environmental training institutions in the region by initiating and coordinating international environmental training projects and facilitating the exchange of experience and expertise among members. In 1997, two demand-driven projects on European environmental legislation were completed in five countries of the Danube basin. More than 200 individuals and institutions have joined the network, marking an increase of 65 percent from 1996. The network's quarterly newsletter Insight now delivered around the world developed into one of the only environmental training publications in the region, addressing global international debates such as climate change and its relation to capacity building in the region.

IN-HOUSE CAPACITY BUILDING

A number of in-house training events took place at the REC in 1997, the most notable being the High Performance Teams for Sustainable Development Training workshop - the REC's first attempt to address issues of sustainable development through a training format. Other training included 37 hands-on sessions in computer literacy, delivered successfully to head office staff. A one-day introductory training session on Project Management was designed, delivered to and well-received by REC Local Offices as part of the Local Office Network Meeting. And one-day workshops on project management were developed and delivered in the REC head office for REC staff.