Go to full description of the project » Outline Background In spite of its important role in the emerging civil societies of South Eastern European (SEE) countries, at present the South Eastern European environmental NGO community faces a number of difficulties. These range from the legacy of a turbulent recent history and a dire financial situation to the lack of trained staff and the limited extent of day-to-day exchanges of information. Considering the diversity of the South Eastern European environmental NGO movement, as well as the diversity of their problems, an equally flexible support mechanism had to be identified. One promising solution was highlighted by another recent development: the emergence of social networking and its main tool, computer networks. The Internet seems to fit the non-hierarchical structure of environmental NGOs, and facilitates community building through the efficient day-to-day exchange of information. In order to pursue these and a number of other goals, the transparency and non-hierarchy of computer networks and the NGO community was chosen as model for this project. Having identified the basic principles and main focus of the project, specific tasks will be designed in close cooperation with South Eastern European NGOs. The current project builds on the results of the networking project that was implemented within the Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme for South Eastern Europe by the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC). Project description This project will provide assistance to SEE environmental NGOs to increase their networking and cooperation. The project will support this goal by creating and supporting environmental NGO electronic communication networks. Project activities reflect the findings of a recent needs assessment that was conducted for each project beneficiary country. (Please find attached this needs assessment, titled “Networks at Work.”) The findings of this research are based on a series of interviews in eight South Eastern European countries. The overall philosophy of the project is based on a bottom-up approach, which means that South Eastern European environmental NGOs identify their own needs and, therefore, the specific objectives of this project. For this reason NGOs will have a leading role in the implementation of activities. REC and L’Umana Dimora will act as a facilitator and international coordinator throughout the process and will closely monitor the NGOs’ progress. The REC’s Country Offices in each beneficiary country will play an important role in the supporting and monitoring process. The REC’s Head Office in Hungary will oversee the overall implementation and quality control. L’Umana Dimora will provide technical support and facilitation for SEE-Italian cooperation between environmental NGOs. The project consists of four major components: institutional strengthening (supporting working network groups and coalitions); improving the electronic communication skills of environmental NGOs (capacity building); creating and running regional environmental NGO information centres (online portals and services); and providing technical assistance (computer equipment) to participating NGOs. Justification One of the basic prerequisites for successful cooperation is an extensive flow of information. Cooperation and information are closely inter-related, and one cannot exist without the other. Therefore, for the long-term sustainability and vitality of the environmental NGO sector, it is very important to create a basic infrastructure that provides the platform for an efficient and intensive flow of information. This basic infrastructure should cover both the institutional framework and the technical means of information exchange. The NGO sector in South East Europe is characterised by properties similar to its counterparts in other Central and Eastern European countries. The sector rejects the idea of hierarchical cooperation, often operates on an ad-hoc basis, tends to be geographically dispersed and, in most cases, is low on financial resources. To cater to the needs of a community with such unique characteristics, a communications tool needs to be identified that not only satisfies these needs, but also creates a sense of community. Besides the emergence of civil society in the Balkans, the past decade was shaped by another trend: the appearance and popular recognition of electronic communication networks -- a process often referred to as the “Internet revolution.” Social and environmental movements all around the world were among the first to realise the potential benefits of the new communication technology. The history of environmental NGO computer networks goes back almost a decade, and its global umbrella organization, the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), celebrated its 10th Anniversary in Hungary in May 2000. Project beneficiaries NGOs that are active in South Eastern European environmental NGO networks represent the target group of this programme. Project beneficiary countries include: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Macedonia, Malta, Romania, Turkey, Serbia and Montenegro, Kosovo (under UN interim administration). International cooperation (REC and L'Umana Dimora) Study tours The REC, in cooperation with L’Umana Dimora, will organise a series of study tours between South Eastern European countries and Italian partner organisations. The REC will implement those project activities which will take place in South Eastern European countries. L’Umana Dimora will implement study tours in Italy. Italian experts will be used to conduct study tours concerning the following topics: environmental NGO management; Internet content development; media and communications research; fundraising; communication skills (media relations, online newspapers). Study tours will be revised and evaluated during the on-going project activities. Study tours will involve four groups of 10 people in the first project year, and four groups of 15 people in the second project year. Study tours will be repeated in each quarter of the year. In 2003, 40 people altogether will take part in the study tours, while 60 will participate in 2004. Participants of study tours will be selected by the South Eastern European environmental NGO networks themselves. Training Similar to other project sub-tasks, the specifics of training programmes will be outlined in the national work-plans of the beneficiary NGO networks. Most training activities will rely on local expertise. However, if there is no local expertise, Italian experts will be invited to hold training courses. In these cases -- cooperating closely with SEE NGOs to best meet their needs, L’Umana Dimora will identify Italian experts. The experts will be invited to SEE countries to deliver training courses. Expected Results and Deliverables The success of the programme will be measured through the following indicators: 100 people trained; improved international cooperation among South Eastern European and Mediterranean countries; improved cooperation between Italy and South Eastern European and Mediterranean environmental NGOs; and 50% increase in the number of NGOs that use the Internet in their work.

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