The Regional Environmental Center currently has Country Offices in 17 Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries and two Field Offices in Republica Srpska and Kosovo (territory under interim UN Administration). The REC Country Offices constitute an integral part of the organisation and it is their task to ensure that REC services are accessible in local languages. The Country Offices contribute to the REC's mission by:  ensuring local presence;  providing REC programmes that serve local needs such as grants, information dissemination and capacity building; assuring local access to REC services; and  assuring that, within all REC programmes, the local view is taken into account.  Additionally, the REC is present in all beneficiary countries,which gives it a unique position among the environmental organisations working in CEE. Through the Country Offices, the REC is able to implement projects that need local support quickly and professionally. Since its creation, the REC Country Office network has been tackling the challenge of further development in order to serve the REC as a whole and to reach its full potential through internal capacity building, financial sustainability and a  project management approach.  The REC's Country Offices target all of the REC constituents -- NGOs, government and the business community -- with programmes that are designed to meet local needs. They are involved in many projects that were set up by the REC Head Office, and are also encouraged to develop their own programmes within REC's mission. Each Country Office has a professional staff, which can be increased as projects require. Country Offices use local staff and skills (and are therefore considered "local" organisations, not "foreign-run"), which assures a commitment to local issues within the regional framework. It also ensures local recognition of REC as a partner in environmental protection in mandated countries. During the last few years, REC Country Offices have actively participated in projects that originated from and were set up by the REC Head Office. Based on their capacity and availability, Country Offices provided local expertise in the development and implementation of project activities.  Country Offices have played a crucial role in helping the Head Office implement its programmes by:  providing information on project status;  carrying out research;  arranging meetings and organising workshops; and  offering logistical support and acting as paying agents in finding and contracting local contacts. Country Offices have also worked to develop a niche in their individual countries by implementing their own programmes and projects. Country Offices are in a perfect position to mediate between NGOs, governments and businesses because they are usually recognised by these groups as independent and objective. The unique projects of Country Offices vary in size, scope and targeted stakeholder groups. Naturally, all projects follow the REC mission as a whole, but stress local requirements and use of the local language.

Countries (Front page)   Introduction Management Strengths Services