overview of tacso - wbc-rti infowithin the project’s set objectives, there are two major...

Overview of TACSO achievements Compiled by Jasenka Perović

July 2013www.tacso.org

This project is fundedby the European Union

The European Union (EU) funded project Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations (TACSO) has for four years (2009-2013) worked on the main objective to strengthen the overall capacities and accountability of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) within the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) beneficiaries and to guarantee the quality of services of CSOs and a sustainable role of CSOs in the democratic process.

OVERVIEW OF TACSO ACHIEVEMENT

Compiled by Jasenka PerovićJuly 2013

2 TACSO Project | Overview of TACSO achievement - www.tacso.org

LIST OF ABBREVIOTIONS

ABA TheAlbanianBlindAssociationAEC Assemblée Européenne des CitoyensAL AlbaniaASB Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland eVASE Albania Social Enterprises ForumBCSDN Balkan Civil Society Development NetworkBeWMAN Balkan e-Waste Management NetworkBiH Bosnia and HerzegovinaBIOM AssociationforBiologicalResearchBON Balkan Organic NetworkBRESN BalkanRegionalEarlySupportNetworkCARDS CommunityAssistanceforreconstruction,DevelopmentandStabilisationCBC Cross Border ProgrammeCCSD CouncilforCivilSocietyDevelopmentCEID AssociationforMonitoringGenderQualityCELOR CentreforLocaldevelopmentCfPs CallsforProposalsCHP Republicanpeople’sPartyCISS MetamorphosisandCitizensofMacedoniaCONCORD EuropeanNGOConfederationforReliefandDevelopmentCPE CommissionerforProtectionofEqualityCRDP CentreforResearch,DocumentationandPublicationCSDev Civil Society DevelopmentCS Civil SocietyCSF Civil Society FacilityCSO CivilSocietyOrganisationsCSSA GovernmentAgencyforSupportingCivilSocietyCTCS YouthNetworkagainstCommercialSexualExploitationofChildrenDACU OfficefortheEUIntegrationsofSerbiaDEI DirectorateforEUintegrationsDGELARG DirectorateGeneralforEnlargementDoA DepartmentofAssociationsProvincialDirectorsECAS EuropeanCitizensActionserviceECLO EuropeanCommissionLiaisonOfficeECOSOC HeadoftheEuropeanEconomicandSocialCommittee’sEDROM EdirneRomaAssociationEIDHR EuropeanInstrumentforDemocracyandHumanRightsEMI EuropeanMovementInternationalENGOs Environmentalnon-governmentalorganisationsERRC TheEuropeanRomaRightCentreEU European UnionEUD DelegationofEuropeanUnionEUSG SecretariatGeneralforEUAffairsFPA Framework Partnership AgreementFYRP RomaYouthProgrammeGCDO TheGjirokastraConservationandDevelopmentOrganisationGOfCNGOs GovernmentOfficeforCooperationwithNGOsGONG CitizensSupervisingVotinginanorganizedmannerGTZ GermanAgencyforTechnicalCooperation

www.tacso.org - Overview of TACSO achievement |TACSO Project 3

HandiKOS AssociationofParaplegicsandParalysedChildreninKosovoHD Help deskHR CroatiaHUP CroatianEmployers’AssociationsICT InformationandCommunicationTechnologyIPA InstrumentforPre-AccessionAssistanceISC InstituteforSustainableCommunitiesISDY SustainabilityandDevelopmentofYouthISO InternationalOrganisationforStandardisationKAOSGL KaosGayandLesbianCulturalResearch–SolidarityAssociationKEPAD HumanRightsDefenceCentreKS KosovoKUZKA TheNorthAnatolianDevelopmentAgencyLAG LocalAdvisoryGroupLF LogicalframeworkLFA Logical Framework ApproachLGBT Lesbian,gay,bisexualandtransgenderedLOD LocalDemocracyprojectMB Multi-beneficiaryMK MacedoniaMN MontenegroMOBDER TheAssociationofFurnitureIndustrialists,ImportersandExportersMPs MembersofParliamentMTCYS MinistryofTourism,Culture,YouthandSportsNeLP NetworkofLawHIVPrevalenceCountriesNGOs Non-governmentalorganisationsOGG OfficeofGoodGovernanceOKORUZ QualityAssuranceofYouthWorkintheCommunityOPM OfficeofthePrimeMinisterOSCE OrganisationforSecurityandco-operationinEuropePADOR PotentialApplicantDataOnlineRegistrationPCM ProjectCycleManagementPQASSO PracticalQualityAssuranceSystemforSmallOrganisationsPRAG PracticalGuidetoContractProceduresforEUExternalActionP2P People to PeopleQAS QualityAssuranceSystemRO RegionalofficeROM ResultsOrientedMonitoringRS SerbiaRTP RegionalTrainingProgrammeSAP StabilisationandAssociationProcessSAPD StabilisationAssociationProcessDialogueSE Social enterprisesSeConS DevelopmentInitiativeGroupSEECHANGENET SouthEastEuropeanChangeNetSEEPRA SoutheastEuropeanPolicyResearchAssociationSEIO SerbianOfficeforEUIntegrationsSEKO SectoralorganisationofcivilsocietySEP Socio-Economic Partnership ProgramSOKNO QualityAssuranceSystemforNon-profitOrganisationsSTE Short-term Expert


STGM CentreforCivilSocietyDevelopmentTA TechnicalassistanceTACSO TechnicalAssistanceforCivilSocietyOrganisationsToR TermsofReferenceToT TrainingofTrainersTR TurkeyTÜBİDER ITIndustryAssociationTÜSEV ThirdSectorFoundationUNDP UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgrammeUSAID U.S.AgencyforInternationaldevelopmentVAT ValueaddedtaxZID AssociationforDemocraticProsperityWBT WesternBalkanandTurkey

ThisdocumenthasbeenproducedwiththeassistanceoftheEuropeanUnion.ThecontentsofthisdocumentarethesoleresponsibilityofTACSOandcan innowaybetakentoreflecttheviewsof theEuropeanUnion.ThecontentofthisdocumentisconsideredinternalandmaybedistributeduponapprovaloftheTACSOTeamLeader. Ifyouuse thismaterial,pleaseciteTACSOas thesource,and include theWebpage fromwhich thematerialwastaken.Ifyoureproducethetextofthedocumentpleasecitetheoriginalcontributingauthorsandtheirorganisations.

Introduction

Component1:ProjectVisibility

Project Visibility - Phase one of TACSO

Project Visibility - Phase two of TACSO

Component2:Research,HelpDeskandGuidance

Research, Help Desk and Guidance - Phase one of TACSO

Research, Help Desk and Guidance - Phase two of TACSO

Component3–CapacityDevelopment Capacity Development - Phase one of TACSO

Capacity Development - Phase two of TACSO

Component4:RelationshipbetweenCSOsandExternalStakeholders

CSOs and External Stakeholders - Phase one of TACSO

CSOs and External Stakeholders - Phase two of TACSO

COMPONENT5:RegionalDimension

Table of Contents6

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TheEuropeanUnion(EU)fundedprojectTechnicalAssistanceforCivilSocietyOrganisations(TACSO)hasbeenimplementedforthepastfouryears(August2009–August2013).TheprojectispartoftheCivilSocietyFacility(CSF)whoseaimistostrengthencivilsocietywithinaparticipativedemocracy,aswellastostimulateacivilsociety-friendly‘environment’andcultureinalltheInstrumentforPre-AccessionAssistance(IPA)beneficiarycountries,i.e.Albania(AL),BosniaandHerzegovina(BiH),Croatia(HR),Kosovo*(KS),theFormerYugoslavRepublicofMacedonia(MK),Montenegro(MN),Serbia(RS)andTurkey(TR).

Theproject’sgeneralobjectiveistostrengthentheoverallcapacitiesandaccountabilityofCivilSocietyOrganisations(CSOs)withintheIPAbeneficiarycountriesandtoguaranteethequalityofservicesofCSOsandasustainableroleofCSOsinthedemocraticprocess,withthepurposetoincreaseandimprovethecapacityandactionsofCSOsaswellastheirdemocraticrole.Itisexpectedthatbytheendoftheproject:

• theprojectitselfandCSOs’roleindemocraticprocesseswillbevisibletothegeneralpubliconthenationalandregionallevel;

• CSOs’servicedeliveryinrelationtodemocraticprocessesonthenationalandregionallevelwillbeimproved;

• SOs’competencestoaccomplishtheirmissiononthenationalandregionallevelwillbeenhanced; and

• cooperationanddialoguebetweenCSOsandthegovernmentaswellastheprivateandpublicsectoronthenationalandregionallevelwillbestrengthened.

Withintheproject’ssetobjectives,therearetwomajordimensions:1)torespondtothespecificneedsofthecountries.i.e.CSOs,coveredbytheprojectwithinthecontextoftheobjectives;and2)topullthewholeregioninthedirectionofdesiredchangessetbytheCSF.

Inordertomeettheobjectivesanddimensionsoftheproject,thefollowingprojectstructurewasestablished:

1.aRegionalOffice(RO)whoseroleistocoordinatetheworkofthenationaloffices;provideguidanceinprojectoperations,communicationandstrategicaspects;liaisewiththeDirectorateGeneralforEnlargement(DGELARG);anddevelopanddelivercapacitydevelopmentandinformationsharingthroughregionaleventsandguidelines;

2.ninenationaloffices,withoneofficepercountry(twoinTurkeyduetothecountry’ssize)whoseroleistosupportandaddresstheCSOs’needsintheircountryrelatedtocapacitydevelopmentandtheCSOenablingenvironment;liaisewiththegovernmentrepresentativesresponsibleforcooperationwiththeCSOs,representativesoftheEUDelegations,membersoftheLocalAdvisoryGroup(LAG),stafffromtheotherTACSOnationaloffices,theRegionalOfficeandDGELARGwhenneeded.

Inadditionandcomplementarytothecoreprojectstructure,LAGswereestablishedineachcountrywhereTACSOisoperating.TheLAGsconsistofrepresentativesfromCSOs,thegovernmentandotherstakeholdersrelevanttocivilsocietysuchasthemedia,donorsandtheprivatesector.TheLAGs’roleistoserveasa‘corrective’measuretotheactivitiesandservicesdeliveredbyTACSO,i.e.itisa‘bounceback’bodyagainstwhichTACSOcantestwhetherornotplannedprojectideas,concepts,andactivitieswilltrulycorrespondtoCSOs’needs.

*Thisdesignationiswithoutprejudicetopositionsonstatus,andisinlinewithUNSCR1244andtheICJOpinionontheKosovodeclarationofindependence.2HereinafterreferredtoasMacedonia

Introduction


Additionally,throughtheLAGS,TACSOhasensuredthatthereisgreaterparticipationintheplananddesignofactivitiesandservices.

Afterfouryearsofprojectimplementation,itisinterestingtolearnthat,perhapsduetoitsstructure,TACSOhasgrownintoaninterestingparadigmofaregionalproject,whileatthesametimemaintainingthatitisasmuchanationalprojectasitisaregionalproject.TACSOhasmanaged,toalargeextent,torespondtoCSOs’needsineachTACSOcountrywithoutjeopardizingtheregionaldimensionandyetwhendealingwithregionalinitiativesithasnotneglectedthenationalneeds.Moreover,nationalneedsareportrayedintotheregionalinitiativesandsomenationalinitiativesareanaturalfollowuptotheinitiativescomingfromtheregionaldimension.

TheTACSOprojecthasimplementedanumberofactivitiessince2009,whichcanbegroupedaroundtheproject’sfourmaincomponents:

1.ProjectandCSOvisibility;2.SupportservicestoCSOs:research,helpdeskandguidance;3.DevelopmentofCSO’scapacities;and4.ImprovementofthecooperationofCSOswiththegovernmentandotherstakeholders.

Thepurposeofthisreportistocaptureandreflectonwhathasbeenachievedwithintheproject’ssetobjectives,inregardstothenationalandregionalcontext.Theinformationpresentedinthereporthasbeencompiledfromquarterlyandinterimreports,whichweredevelopedduringtheprojectimplementationonaregularbasis;andfromotherreports,surveysandevaluationscarriedoutbyexternalshort-termexpertshiredbyTACSO.Itisimportanttomentionthatthereportiswrittensixmonthsbeforetheendoftheprojectsonotallactivitiesorachievementsareincludedinthereport.

FindingsonTACSO’sachievementsaregroupedperprojectcomponent,withthedifferencethatanadditionalcomponentisadded,theregionaldimension,withthereasonbeingtounderlinetheaddedbenefitsoftheproject’sregionaldimension.Hadthereportbeenwrittenagainstonlythefourprojectcomponents,thewealthofTACSO’sachievementsinthenationalcontextswouldhavebeenpresented,buttheimportantbenefits,thecomparativeadvantageoftheprojectderivingfromitsregionaldimension,wouldremaininsufficientlyperceptible.

Thereportiswritteninsuchawaythatitrespondstothepreferencesandtimeavailableofeachpotentialreader.Forthosewhodonothavetimetoreadamassivedocumentwithnumerouspages,eachcomponentisprecededbyagraphicaloverviewofthemajorachievementsofthecomponent.ForthosewhoaremoreinterestedtoengageinTACSO’sjourneyoverthepastfouryears,eachcomponentofthereportoffersagreaterlevelofdetailsrelatedtotheachievementsineachcountryandtheregion.

ThereporthasbeencompiledandwrittenbyTACSOCSOEUexpert,JasenkaPerovic.

PalleWestergaardTeam Leader Sarajevo,July2013


www.tacso.org - Information Events and Trainings Country-Based Overview Report |TACSO Project 3

UnderComponent1ofphaseoneofTACSO,theobjectivewasthattheprojectwouldbecomevisibleforandwouldbesupportedbybothCSOsandotherexternalstakeholders.Bytheendofphaseone,thefollowingwasachieved:

1.1. Developed the TACSO brand as well as the enti re infrastructure and system for informati on sharing among CSOs in the region in regards to matt ers concerning the CSO community.

AccordingtothebrandingsurveysconductedinMacedoniaandBosniaandHerzegovinain2010,100percentofthosepolledinMacedoniaand89percentofthosepolledinBiHhaveheardofTACSO.AccordingtomediamonitoringbyTACSOnationaloffices,TACSOhasappeared459timesindifferentmediaintheregionduringTACSOPhaseOne.

COMPONENT 1: PROJECT VISIBILITYProject Visibility - Phase one of TACSO

# of press clippings / country / reporti ng period – TACSO Phase One

Interim 1 Interim 2 Interim 3

AL 0 1 17

BiH 7 11 30

HR 0 8 116

KS 6 11 1

MN 7 24 10

MK 4 20 24

RS 15 7 27

TR 0 67 43

Table 1. Press clippings reported by TACSO offi ces per interim report

ThenucleusofthedevelopmentoftheTACSObrandconsistedoffi ve main components:

1.DevelopmentoftheTACSOcommunicationstrategy-TACSOdevelopedacommunicationstrategythatwasusedbyeachTACSOofficeandprovidedgeneralguidanceaswellasaplanningframeworkforeachtechnicalassistance(TA)desk’sinteractionwithmedia.Inseveralcases,thestrategywasadaptedtothenationalcontextandmediasituation.

2.Establishmentofanetworkofcontacts-OneoftheinitialandimportanttasksfortheTA/helpdesks(HD)wastheestablishmentandsubsequentmanagementofcontactnetworksembracingtheCSOcommunity,relevantgovernmentinstitutions,mediarepresentatives,theprivatesectorandotherstakeholders.Thekick-offsofferedtheteamsanopportunitytoestablishinitialcontactswithalmost1,800CSOs.


Thesecontactshave,inmanycases,beencomplementedbyeffortstomeetwithsmallergroupsoforganisationsorevenindividualCSOs.Arangeofinformationandpartnershipevents,individualconsultationsandotherinitiativeshavecontributedtotheexpansionofthenetwork.Therefore,thenumberofCSOsdirectly contacted by TACSO grew to 5,700in12to15monthsafterthekick-offmeetings.ApartfromthegovernmentalbodiesinchargeofcooperationwithCSOs,TACSOestablishedcontactswithapproximately60 additionalgovernmentalinstitutionsaswellaswithallrelevantnationalandlocalmediarepresentatives.

Inaddition,addressregisterswereestablishedthatincludeatotalof11,949e-mailaddressesfromalleightTACSOnationalofficesand730fromTACSOregionaloffices.

# of addresses registered to the TACSO mailing list – TACSO Phase One


RO 400 730

AL 700 730 750

BiH 400 520 659

HR 240 604 826

KS 250 700 700

MN 435 600 600

RS

560 660 1056MK

600 812 1630

TR 3500 4500 5028

6685 9526 11979

Table 2. Overview of the increase of addresses registered to the TACSO mailing lists

3.Developmentofpromotionalmaterialandpublicrelations/communicationactivities-Substantialeffortshavebeenmadebothattheregionalofficeleveland,inparticular,byeachTAdesktoproducepromotionalmaterials.AllmaterialsareproducedwiththeTACSObrandingconceptandinclude:

• TACSOprojectbrochuresfortheregionalofficesandallnationalofficesinvariouslanguageversions.• ProjectflyersandbannersinEnglishandnationallanguages,roll-uppostersforthekick-offevents,pens,

notebooks,stickers,signposts,letterheadswithlogo,envelopeswithlogo,andsimilaritems.• SpecialbrochuresongrantopportunitiesforCSOsinKosovoandleafletsonhelpdeskactivitiesin

MacedoniawereproducedbytheindividualTAteams.

4.Aunifiedsystemforproductionofnewsletters-Establishedatotalof42newslettersproducedbytheTACSOnationalofficesand28e-newslettersproducedbytheTACSORegionalOffice.


5.DevelopmentandupdatingoftheTACSOWebsite-theWebpage,althoughregional,isalsoadaptedtonationalcontextscontainingpartsinnationallanguagesforTACSOnationaloffices.Itiscontinuouslyupdatedinordertoofferthelatestinformation.

Table3.OverviewoftheincreaseinthenumberofsinglevisitorsandWebpagevisitsthroughoutTACSOPhaseOne

# of single visitors and Web page visits throughout TACSO Phase One


Single visitors 1,798 5,681 6,987

Web page visits 2,913 10,087 11,130

DuringthesecondphaseofTACSO,theoverallobjectiveofComponent1shiftedtowardsmakingtheprojectandtheCSOs’rolesindemocraticprocessesvisibletothegeneralpublicattheregional,nationalandlocallevels.Thefollowingwasachieved:

2.1. TACSO became a recognised brand and gained importance.

TACSOcontinuouslyworkedonpromotionandvisibilityoftheprojectaswellasonofferinggoodqualityservicesinordertoreachingouttoCSOs.

AccordingtothebrandingsurveysconductedinMacedoniaandBosniaandHerzegovinainDecember2011,theprojectwasfairlysuccessfulinpromotingitsservices.Forexample,95percentofthesurveypanelinMacedoniabelievedthatTACSOhadprogressedfrom2010to2011,whileinBiHthenumberofCSOspolled,whohadheardofTACSO,grewfrom89percentin2010to100percentin2011.

Inaddition,thebrandingsurveyshowedthatinMacedonia:

• Almost90percentoftheCSOsbelievethatthecivilsocietybenefitedfromTACSO.• Seventy-eightpercentbelievethatTACSOislocallyrelevantandhasadapteditselftotheneedsofthe

Macedonianenvironment.• Over75percentseeTACSOasrelevantoressentialtotheirwork,whichishigherthanthe2010branding

surveyof63percent.• The86percentofCSOsthatbelievethatTACSOishelpfulingatheringinformationandknowledgeforEU

projectsisfairlyhigh.• Eighty-twopercenthaverecommendedTACSOtootherorganisations.• ThepercentageofthosethathavebeenincontactwithTACSOhasincreasedincludingthosethathave

beenincontactmorethantentimes.• NinetypercentofthosepolledfindTACSOinformationeasytoaccess.• Morethan93percentoftheCSOs’representativeshavevisitedtheTACSOWebpage.• TACSOisseenasaserioussourceofinformationforCSOs.

Project Visibility - Phase two of TACSO


The branding survey in BiH showed:

• Eighty-fourpercentofCSOswouldrecommendcollaborationwithTACSOtoanotherCSO/institution/mediaoutlet.

• Onehundredpercentofpolledrepresentativesofstateinstitutions,77percentoftheCSOsand67percentofmediahavevisitedtheTACSOWebsite.

• TheexpertiseofTACSOrepresentativesencounteredbycivilsocietyorganisationswasgiventhehighestgradation“good”bymostofthosepolled.Seventy-eightpercentofthatgroupgavethehighestmarkforthepointthattheyarewellacquaintedwithEUprojectissues.In2010thatfigurewas72percent.

• Fornon-governmentalorganisations(NGOs),inbothresearchyears,2010and2011,themostcommonwayofencounteringtheTACSOprojectwasattendanceatvariousconferencesandseminars.

• Two-thirdswofthosewhoattendedtrainingsandseminarsbelievethattheywereusefulandthattheygainedalotofknow-how,whereasone-thirdconsideredtrainingpartlyuseful.Noonesaidtheydidnotbenefit.

• InterviewswithCSOrepresentativesconfirmedtheviewfromthepollthattheTACSOprojectisapositivefactorinthecivilsocietylandscape,andithashelpedinconnectingCSOswitheachother.

Theprojectcontinuestopublishprintedandelectronicnewslettersattheregionallevel,aswellasthecountrylevel,andthenumberofsubscribersfortheelectronicnewslettergrewtobetween40,000-50,000 addresses duringthesecondphaseofTACSO.Thenumberofsubscriberstotheelectronicnewsletterincreasedbybetween 334 percent to 417 percent,incomparisontothenumberofsubscribersoftheelectronicnewsletterinthefirstphaseofTACSOwhichwas11,979.Inaddition,theTACSOnewslettersaredistributedtoseveralthousandreadersinhardcopies.

Accordingtopressclippings,TACSOwasmentionedinthemedia1,205timesfromAugust2011-December2012,i.e.inthe16monthsofthesecondphaseoftheTACSOprojectimplementation.ThismeansthatthenumberofappearancesofTACSOinthemediaincreased by 263 percentbytheendofthe16thmonthoftheTACSOOne,PhaseTwoprojectimplementation.ThisisincomparisontothetotalnumberofmediaappearancesofTACSOinTACSOOne,PhaseOne.Themediacontentispositive towards TACSO and emphasisesitsregionalcomponent,aimsandobjectives.

Inbothsurveys,MacedonianandBiH,over90percenthaveindicatedthattheinformationfromTACSOiseasytoaccessespeciallyviatheWebsite.DuringthefirstsixmonthsofTACSOPhaseTwo,theWebsiteregistered74,910visitsand38,539uniquevisitors.Fromthe7ththroughthe12thmonthofprojectimplementation,theWebsiteregistered71,188visitsand235,829pageviewsmadebysome37,387uniquevisitors.Thismeansthatthenumber of visits to the TACSO Web site increased 656 percentbythemiddleofTACSOPhaseTwocomparedtothenumberofvisitsattheendofTACSOOne,PhaseOne.Thetotalnumberofsingle visitors increased by 543 percent.Sinceitsinception,theTACSOWebsitehashad144,985 unique visitors with 1,408,808 views and 307,350 visits.

2.2. TACSO contributed to the promotion of civil society (CS) and democratisation in the Western Balkans and Turkey (WBT).

TACSOsupportedCSOsintheregionsoCSachievementsindemocratisationbecamemorevisibletothewiderpublic.Thesupportcanbeobservedinatleastfourareas:

1.InvolvementofjournalistsinTACSOandCSactivitiestoeducateandsensitisethemaboutCSroles andissues. 2.PromotionofsuccessstoriesofCSOs.


3.StrengtheningcapacitiesofCSOsto interact with mediaandpromotetheirownagendas. 4.Co-organisationofCSrelatedeventswhereCSachievementsareinfocusandmediacoverageis ensured.

Involvement of journalists

UptoJanuary2013approximately50journalistswereinvolvedindifferenteventsorganisedbyTACSO.InthemajorityofitseventsTACSOincludedmediarepresentativesasparticipants,thusinvolvingtheminCSOrelatedactivitiessuchas:

• InternationalConferenceonSocialEntrepreneurshipinIstanbul,Turkey,February2012.• TACSOAlbanianationalworkshopsonSuccessfullyManagingEUFundedProjects;theEUIPARegionalCall

forProposalsfortheFrameworkPartnershipAgreement(FPA)andAssociatedImplementationGrants;andCSOsustainability.

• SupportofTACSOCroatiaforthePanonaFest2012,whichappeared30timesinthemedia.ItwasthemajorsocialentrepreneurshipeventorganisedbytheAssociationWaterfall(NGOSlap).FundingopportunitiesforCSOswereprovidedbytheDelegationofEuropeanUnion(EUD)andtheSchuelerHelfenLebenFoundation.

• Regionalconference:KeepingUpMomentuminSkopje,Macedonia,September2012.

Inaddition,TACSOAlbaniaorganisedinformalmeetingswithmediarepresentativestofindpracticalwaystodevelopcooperationbetweenmediaandCSOs,andonhowtoincreasethebroadcastingcomponentandvisibilityofCSOprojectsfundedbytheEUorotherdonors.

Provision of technical assistance to CSOs in the area of communication and public relations

TACSOprovidedtechnicalassistanceto51CSOsincommunicationandpublicrelationsfromAugust2011-January2013.

• InSeptember2011,TACSOKosovoconductedashortsurveyonthepresenceofcivilsocietyinthenationalmedia.Resultsshowedthatthemediaisinterestedintheworkandroleofcivilsociety.Furthermore,urbanCSOsappearmorefrequentlyinthemediaincomparisontograssrootsorganisations.Preliminaryfindingsfromthesurveywereincludedintheneedsassessmentreportandincludedintheactionplan.

• TACSOSerbiasupported12CSOsbypromotingtheiractivitiesthroughsocialnetworks,bybuildingactiveandthrivingonlinecommunities,aswellasbyutilisingexistingSerbianwebplatforms,whichareopentopublishingnewsfromthecivilsector.Fiftypercentmanagedtohaveoneormoreappearancesonlocaltelevision,radio,newspaperoronlinenewsportals.

• TACSOTurkeyassistedseveralCSOs/platformsinmediarelationsbymakingcontactswithwell-knownjournalists,throughtheprovisionofguidanceinthecontentanddesignofcampaignmaterials,throughrecommendationsforsocialmediarelations,etc.TACSOprovidedtechnicalassistancesupportto11CSOs/platforms,viaone-on-oneandopencallsupport.FiftypercentofthesehaveappearedinthemediainrelationtoactivitiesassistedbyTACSO.


Promotion of success stories of CSOs

TACSOpromoted117CSOsuccessstories,whichhaveappeared168timesinthemedia.

• Throughmonthlyinformationletters,TACSOCroatiapromoted:CSOshostingroundtablesduringtheNGOdays,CSOsparticipatingintheOpenDoorDay,WeekofNGOsorganisedbytheCityofZagrebandZagrebGayPride2012.OthermediareportedextensivelyonNGODays2012andonthelocalleveltherehavebeennumerousreportsonNGOsparticipatingintheOpenDoorDay.Finally,TACSOCroatiagavespecial awardstofiveNGOsthatparticipatedintheOpenDoorDay.

• TACSOMacedoniaassistedoneCSOmediaappearanceinthedailynewspaper,Vest,relatedtosuccessstoriesof:

i.AcoalitionofenvironmentalCSOs,Front21/42(HarmonizationoftheSocietywithNature), MacedonianGreenCentre,Eco-sense,MacedonianEcologicalSociety,CentreforLocalDevelopment (CELOR),andEkoskop,thatareworkingonmonitoringtheimplementationofenvironmentallegislationandpoliciesaffectingtheenvironmentinMacedonia,aswellasESSENCE,aregionalnetworkwhich engagesinstimulatingsocialentrepreneurship. ii.TheWomen’sCivicInitiativeAntiko,aTACSOlocaladvisorygroupmember,anditsEUmulti-beneficiary (MB)partnershipprojectforbuildingthecapacitiesofwomen,andasecondstoryaboutSOSChildren,abeneficiaryoftheTACSOcapacitybuildingprogramme,publishedas“Thepulseofthecivilsociety organisations”.

• TACSOSerbiapromoted19newCSOsuccessstoriesusingafullrangeofavailablesocialmediaincludingTwitter,Facebook,YouTube,etc.

• TACSOTurkey,intheperiodOctober-November2012,featured17CSOgoodpracticesinaquarterlynewsletteranddistributedthenewslettertotheTACSOcontactlistof3,960andtomailinglistsreachingover29,000people.Fifty-onenewstoriesaboutCSOactivitieshavebeendisseminatedviaaweeklye-lettertoallcontacts.

Inaddition,the“NotwithoutUS”showbroadcast,tothewiderpublicinTurkey,theroleofTACSOTurkeyinsupportingtheprocessofdraftinganewconstitutionandtheissuesthatshouldbeincludedinconstitutions,thuscontributingtodemocratisation.Issuesdiscussedincluded:

• Sensitisationoftheconstitutiontotheneedsoflesbian,gay,bisexualandtransgendered(LGBT) individualsandtothewiderperspectiveoffreedomsandrightsaswellassocialrights.• ProtectionofcultureandmothertongueoftheCircassiancommunity.• Demilitarisationofsocietyandgettingclosertoapeacefulcommunity.• Implementationoftheconstitutionalclausesonequalityforwomen.• InclusionofLGBTindividualsintheequalityclause.• Bringingtogethercivilsocietyandparliamentarians.• Creationofastatewithoutideologies.• Improvementofeducationalstandardsandquality,andtheproblemofaccesstoeducationinTurkey.• Disarmamentissuesinrelationtosmallarmstopromoteapeacefulsociety.• Asystemofchecksandbalancesinthegovernmentmechanism.• Preventativemeasuresagainsthatecrimesinordertodetertheirrecurrence.• OppressionoftheAlevipeoplebythesystemandtheneedforittochange,aswellashowreligious teachingsshouldbeincorporatedineducation.• Rightsabusesduringmilitaryservice.• Problemsofclimatechange.• Needforprotectionofbiodiversity,organicproductionandendemicseeds.


• PoorconditionsofprisonsinTurkey,includingconditionsformothers,childrenandLGBTindividualsin prison.• Qualityofthepublishedmonitoringreportontheconstitutionalprocess.

Co-organisation of CS related events

• TACSOBiHco-organisedapartnershipeventledbytheAmericaBosniaFoundation.Itreceivedstrongmediacoverageincludingreportsin15mediaoutlets,suchasRadioSlobodnaEvropaandtheVoiceofAmerica.Inaddition,oneofthemajorcivilsocietyportalsintheWesternBalkans,OneWorldsee.org,coveredtheconferenceandthepanelexclusivelyandpublishedseveralshorterreportsduringtheconferenceaswellasonemajor,longreportfocusingontheoutputoftheconferenceandthepanelafterwards.

• SpecificachievementsofCSOs/CSOnetworksrelatingtostrategicplanning,approachtocommunicationwithinmembershipandplatformsofaction,whichhavebeenpromotedinTACSOnewsletters.

• TACSOCroatiareportedthatCSOsengagedinsocialentrepreneurshipwerepresentedtwiceonaCroatianNationalRadioshowontheInternationalConferenceonSocialEntrepreneurshipinIstanbul.Itwasco-organisedbyTACSOinFebruary.

• Areportoncivilsocietyachievementsin2010and2011waspreparedinNovember2012byTACSOMontenegro.Thepublicationcontainsinformationon144civilsocietyorganisationsthatrespondedtoaquestionnaire,throughthemediaandtheWebsite.Ane-maillistwasmadeavailabletocivilsocietyinMontenegro.Thispublicationisintendedtoinformdecision-makersatthestateandlocallevel,membersofparliament(MPs),representativesoftheGovernment,thepublicadministration,representativesoflocalgovernments,representativesofpoliticalparties,internationalorganisations,themediaandcivilsociety,ontheachievementsofcivilsocietyorganisationsin2010and2011.Thepublicationcontributedtotheobjectiveexaminationoftheworkofcivilsociety.Suchaggregateinformationabouttheworkofcivilsocietyorganisationswillimprovetheirimageinthecommunityandprovideanadditionalincentivetoimprovecommunicationwithallrelevantinstitutionsandcitizensthatcancontributetoabetterunderstandingoftheroleandfunctioningofcivilsocietyorganisations.

• TACSOsupportedactivitiesofCSOs/platformsinTurkeyformediacoverageandasaresulttheyhaveappeared579timesinpublishednewspapers,onInternetnewsandsocialmedia.Asanexample,TACSOTurkeysupportedtheConferenceonDemandsforProtectiveLegislation&NationalTrans-NetworkMeetingsorganisedbyPinkLifeandaimedatpromotingequalrightsfortransgenderpeopleinTurkeyandspecificallytheinclusionoftransgenderrightsinnewlegislation.Theconferenceenabledlesbian,gay,bisexual,transgenderedCSOstodevelopanactionplantowardsthisgoalaswellastonetworkwithEUMPs,women’sandhumanrightsCSOs.Asaresult,theLGBTnetworkbeganone-on-onemeetingswithTurkishMPsfromtwopoliticalpartieswhoattendedthemeetingfortheinclusionoftransgenderrightsintheiragenda.Also,PinkLifereceivedavisitfromtheRepublicanPeople’sParty(CHP)todiscusstheirworkandattendedameetingwitheightCHPMPsattheparliamentwiththeKaosGayandLesbianCulturalResearches–SolidarityAssociation(KAOSGL)ontheinclusionofLGBTrightsinthepoliticalagenda.Themeeting,supportedbyTACSO,enabledPinkLifetobeincludedintheHumanRightsDefendersworkinggrouporganisedbytheHumanRightsJointPlatformandthePlatformforLegislationonHateCrimes.Followingtheevent,PinkLifehasbeencarryingoutadvocacyactivitieswithimportantachievements.Forexample,PinkLifeorganisedapressmeetingwiththreeMPsfromCHPintheParliamentonhomophobicstatementsfromtheMinistryofInteriorinJanuary2012.TheorganisationalsosubmittedtheirpositionpaperforinclusionofLGBTrightsinthenewconstitutiontotheParliamentaryCompromiseCommissionontheConstitution.TheyhavealsosenttheiropinionsofthenewdraftlawoncombatingviolencetowardswomenandfamilymemberstotheMinistryofFamilyAffairs.


2.3. Contributed to improvement of public perception on CSOs

TheTACSOteaminKosovohasworkedveryactivelywithvisibilityrelatedissues,generatingknowledgeandunderstandingofthepublicperceptionofcivilsocietyaswellasexpandingtheroleofCSOsinsocietaldevelopment.

TheInstituteforSocialSciences,IvoPilar,contractedbytheTACSOCroatiaOffice,conductedanassessmentofpublicperceptionofNGOsinCroatiainApril-May2012,inordertocapturethemostimportantchangessince2007.CompletedresearchonVisibilityandPublicPerceptionofNGOsinCroatia2012,isavailableinCroatianwith a summary in English.

Preliminaryfindingsindicateseveralpositivetrends:

• Familiaritywiththetermnon-governmentalorganisationincreasedsixpercentandtheunderstandingofthetermbymorethan20percent.

• ThepercentageofrespondentsknowingactivemembersofanNGOincreasedfrom14percentin2007to28.5percentin2012.

• ThepercentageofthosewhofeltsomebenefitsthankstoNGOactivitiesrosefrom17percentin2007to26percentin2012.

Anegativetrendwasnotedregardingthepossibilityofinfluencingnationallevelpolicies.In2007,onlyathirdofrespondentsfeltthattheycannotinfluencedecision-makingonthenationallevelthroughanNGOandin2012almostahalfoftherespondentsfeltthesame.Thesituationissomewhatbetteronthelocallevel.ThepercentageofthosewhofeelthatthroughanNGOtheycaninfluencedecision-makingintheirlocalcommunitiesincreasedfrom33percentto40percent.

Publicopinionresearch,TheAttitudesofCitizensofMontenegrotowardsCivilsocietyOrganisations,wasconductedonarepresentativesampleofcitizensofMontenegroduringSeptember2012.ThemainpurposeofthisresearchwastoprovideinsightintothemostrelevantchangesintermsofvisibilityandattitudesofcitizenstoCSOsinMontenegro.InmostcasesthecitizensofMontenegrohadapositiveassociationwithCSOsandprimarilysawthemasorganisationswhichactintheinterestofsocietyandworkonissuesofproblem-solving,whichareindependentofthegovernmentandpoliticalparties,andwhichassistvulnerablegroupsandfightforhumanrights.Negativeassociations,whicharepresentinaconsiderablysmallernumberthanpositiveones,connectCSOstotheftandmoneylaundering,foreigninfluencesandincompetence.

OnthebasisoftheanalysisofattributesusedtodescribethemitcouldbesaidthatamongthecitizensofMontenegrotheexistingCSOs,observedasawhole,enjoyagoodimage.CSOsareprimarilyperceivedasnecessaryandrelevant,consideringthattheyhavebeendescribedinthatwaybyalmost60percentofcitizens.Also,theyhavebeenperceivedascompetentorganisations,whicharehelpful,successfulandmodern.Aroundhalfofthepopulationchosetheabove-mentionedattributes.


www.tacso.org - Information Events and Trainings Country-Based Overview Report |TACSO Project 3

UnderComponent2ofphaseoneofTACSO,theobjectivewastoimproveservicedeliverybyCSOs.FromAugust2009toAugust2011,thefollowingwasachieved:

1.2. For the first time, CSOs needs were assessed with due diligence throughout the WBT.

Theneedsassessmentprovidedacomprehensiveassessmentofcivilsocietyineachcountry/territoryanditsenvironment,itsstrengthsandweaknesses,itsimpactstodateandthechallengesitfacestofurtheritsdevelopment.Theassessmentwascomprisedofdeskresearchembracingallrelevantdocumentationincludinglegalandfinanciallegislationapplicabletocivilsociety,previouscivilsocietymappingsandevaluations,situationanalyses,policydocumentsandcountry-specificacademicliterature.Aconsultativestakeholderanalysiswascarriedoutbymeansofnumeroussitevisits,focusgroups,interviewsandquestionnairesurveyswithCSOs,governmentactors,donororganisationsandotherinstitutionalplayersincluding roughly 450stakeholderrepresentatives.

NationalneedsassessmentreportswerecombinedintoaregionalthematicneedsassessmentoftheneedsoftheWBTregiontoestablishanenablingenvironmentforcivilsocietyincluding:

• LegalframeworkforCSOs,CSOregistrationandpublicbenefitstatus.• Lawsonvolunteeringandfiscalencouragementofphilanthropy.• Facilitationoffundraisingandtaxexemptions.• Agreements,governmentstrategiesandmechanismsforcooperationwiththeCSOsector.• InstitutionalcooperationbetweenCSOsandlocalgovernments.• GovernmentcapacitiesforengagingCSOsinsocialpolicy.• Governmentfundingofcivilsociety.• TheEU,government,civilsocietytriangle.

Inaddition,theneedsassessmentslookedintoCSOcapacitiesatthe:

• Operationalandsustainabilitylevel.• Levelofinfluencingpoliciesintheirrespectivecountries.

All needs assessments are available here.

Variousrequestshavebeenreceivedfromorganisationsconcerningtheutilisationofthereport.Forexample,VitaEuropeaskedforapprovaltousethereportforpostinginformationaboutSerbiainitsnon-profitatlas,available here.

1.3. The TASCO Web site has become a powerful instrument for dissemination of information relevant to civil society organisations in the region.

The regional TACSO Web pagewaslaunchedinFebruary2010andcomplementedbyeightcountry/territoryspecificpagesineachlocallanguagepresentingtheprogrammeofactivitiesandservicesoffered.Theregionalpageinitiallywascompletedasane-learningtool,whichwasintroducedasasupportandfollow-upmechanismforthepilottrainingsandlinkstorelevantnational/territorialdatabases.

COMPONENT 2: RESEARCH, HELP DESK AND GUIDANCEResearch, Help Desk and Guidance - Phase one of TACSO


The TACSO Web page contains a CSO database.ThecreationofaCSOdatabasewasthemostchallengingofallthetasksintheproject’sTermsofReference(ToR).AftertheinitialideatohavethedatabasedecentralisedandbasedonalreadyavailableCSOdatabases,TACSOprojectmanagementcametotheconclusionthatsuchanapproachwouldbeunfeasible.Technicalconstraintsaswellasdataqualityconcernscontributedtothedecisiontorecommencetheworkwiththeintentionofbuildingacentrallymanagedandadministereddatabase.Basedonfurtherconsiderationsandexternaladvice,astrategyandactionplanforthedevelopmentofthedatabaseanditscontinuedmaintenancehasbeencreatedand,consequently,adatabasewasdevelopedattheendofphaseone.ItisaccessedthroughtheWebsiteanditisopentoorganisationsintheIPAregionaswellastothosebasedintheEU.BytheendofTACSOPhaseOnetherewerenoregisteredCSOs.

Inordertopromotepartnership,informationsharingandexchangeofideasandexperiences,theTACSOWebpage also contains the partnershipforum.Inanattempttopromotetheforumtheprojecthasintroducedautomaticmembershipintheforumtoallneworganisationswhentheyregisterinthedatabase.

The TACSO ToolkitisanonlinesourceofinformationincludingvariousTACSOdocuments,manuals,guidesandglossariesaswellasdocumentsproducedbytheEU,theEuropeanNGOConfederationforReliefandDevelopment(CONCORD)andotherorganisations.TheTACSORoster was introduced during towards the end ofphaseoneofTACSO.

InordertofurtherincreasetheavailabilityofprojectinformationTACSOdeployedsocialmedia.InmidTACSOPhaseOne,projectinformationbecameavailableonFacebook and LinkedIn.RoughlyfivepercentofthevisitstotheWebpagecomethroughtheFacebooklink.TheTACSOYouTube channel is another tool used to disseminateinformation,whichhasproventobeaninterestingcomplementtotheothercommunicationchannels.Oneoftheveryfirstvideo-clips,whichprovidedinformationonthenewLawofAssociationsandFoundations,had35viewersduringthefirstweekafteritwasposted.

1.4. TACSO responded effectively and efficiently to the on-going, concrete, and on-the-spot needs for development and daily operations of CSOs.

DuringtheestablishmentoftheHDinphaseoneofTACSO,differentsolutionswerechosendependingonthespecificsituationandtheneedsofeachcountry/territory.ThisincludedtheplacewhereaTACSOofficewasestablishedalongwiththerangeofservicesoffered.Inordertorespondtotheneedsoftheeachcountry/territory,prioritieswereestablishedbytheLAGs,theneedsassessmentreports,theprovisionofsupportbyotherprojectsandinstitutions,etc.

TheTACSOhelpdeskshavebeenprovidingservicesondemandinallthebeneficiarycountriesthroughoutphaseone.HelpdeskshavebeensupportingtheCSOcommunityineachcountrybyorganisingspecifictrainings,onlinesupportorthroughindividual,in-housesupport.Additionally,whenresourcesallow,theofficesprovideassistancetootherstakeholders.Ondemandassistanceisrecorded,allowingtheTACSOstafftoidentifyissuesandareasofconcerntomanyorganisations.Inmostcountriesthenumberofrequestshasbeencontinuouslygrowingasaconsequenceofincreasingawarenessoftheavailabilityofsupport.ParticularlyhighnumbersofrequestsandcontactshavebeenrecordedinconjunctionwithcallsforproposalsandPeopletoPeople(P2P)activities.InformationrelatingtofrequentlyaskedquestionsispublishedonthenationalWebpages.TheexamplesbelowillustratetherangeofsupportprovidedbytheTACSOhelpdesks.

Thetotalnumberofphonecallsande-mailsinquiriesduringphaseonewas3300,whiletheapproximatenumberofCSOssupportedduringphaseonewas1500.

ThetypesofinformationprovidedviathehelpdeskduringphaseoneofTACSOwere:


3 Socio-economicAssistanceinDevelopingStrategyPartnerships,PartnershipActionbetweenCulturalOrganisations,PartnershipActionstoMinorities/VulnerableGroupsandOrganisations,EDHR,etc.

Helpdesksupport

EU/IPA

Capacitybuildingsupport

Support to the call for proposals (CfPs)

• IPA CrossBorderProgramme(CBC)CfPsinformation• Clarification,informationonwheretofindtheCfPguidelines,application

formsandotherrelevantdocuments,wheretoapplyforEUfunds3

• FillingoutanEUapplicationform• PotentialApplicantDataOnlineRegistration(PADOR),registrationand

re-registration

General

• Informationsharingontrainingopportunities• TACSO e-learning tools

Support in project implementati on

• RulesforimplementationofEUfundedprojects• ValueAddedTax(VAT)exemption• PracticalGuidetoContractProceduresforEUExternalActions(PRAG)• Supporttomulti-beneficiaryprojectsandpartnershiprelations

Partnership and networking

• National,regionalandEUpartnersearch• Network building• Managingaplatform• Organisationofpartnershipandinformationevents

Operati onal

• Financial management• Informationonannualfinancialreports• Accountingservicesfornon-profitorganisations• Legalandpolicyframework

Strategic• CSO management• Organisationaldevelopment• Help in designing sponsorship proposals• Modificationofconstitutionaldocuments

Programming

• DisseminationofgeneralinformationonnationalIPAs• ProjectfichewritingforleadingCSOs• InformationonEUpolicies

Increasing quality of project proposals submitt ed

• Reviewoflogframes(LF)forCfPs• Assistanceinprojectproposalwriting


Processes

• Campaign design• Adviceonroundtabledesignsandproposalsofguests• Consultancyonparticipatoryconsultationmethods

Table 4: Types of topics and areas covered by the Help desk services during TACSO Phase One

• ResultsOrientedMonitoring(ROM)methodology

ThefollowingaresomeofthedirectbenefitsfortheCSOsderivingfromhelpdesksupport:

• One hundredandforty-eightCSOsweresupportedforPADORregistrationwithatotalof180participantsfrom21BiHmunicipalities,outofwhich63CSOsregisteredimmediatelyinPADOR.

• Outof21CSOssupportedbyTACSO,threehavesubmittedtheirapplicationsfortheSocio-EconomicPartnershipProgramme(SEP)CfP.Ofsixapplications,50percentofthetotalapplicationssubmittedtoSEPweresupportedbyTACSOSerbia.

TACSOorganised12trainingsinalltheadministrativeunitsofAlbania,regardingtheNationalIPA2009CallforProposals.Sixoutofnineoftheorganisationsthat

• were awardedfundingwereassistedbyTACSO.• AnotherachievementworthmentioningistheCultural

CallofPartnershipBuilding2010,whereoneCSObenefitingfromTACSOAlbaniaserviceswasawardedaregionalgrantinthepositionoftheleadapplicant.

• TACSOKosovosupportedCSOsforEuropeanInstrumentforDemocracy&HumanRights(EIDHR)byprovidingtraining,mentoringandinthefollowup.Mentoringserviceswereprovideduntiltheorganisationssubmittedtheirfinalapplications.ThenumberofapplicationsreceivedbytheEuropean CommissionLiaisonOffice(ECLO)inKosovogrewfrom24applicationsin2007to87applicationsforEIDHR2010,andmorethan90percentoffundsavailablewereabsorbed.

• TACSOMacedoniaintroducedwebstreamingtohavegreateroutreachforaninformationseminartofamiliariseCSOswithfinancialandothersupportavailablein2010.Thetotalnumberofparticipantsphysicallypresentwas90andthetotalnumberofviewerswas162.

• ThereweretencallsforparticipationintheP2PprogrammeinCroatia.TACSOassistedtheEUDelegationinannouncingthecallsandinpre-selectingparticipants.TACSOCroatiapreselectedatotalof44CSOrepresentativesoutof154applications.Byandlarge,thedecisionsmadebytheEUDelegationhavebeeninlinewiththerecommendationsmadebytheTACSOoffice.

“Dear Sirs, A few days ago we managed to successfullycompleteourPADORregistration.In this way we would like to sincerely thank you for your help, because you have enabled me to correcttheerrorIhadmadeintheregistrationprocess which had nearly cost me the possibility of registering in PADOR, and thus the possibility of applyingfortheUnitedNationsChildren’sFund’s(UNICEF’s)latestcallforproposals.Iwouldalsoliketo point out that you have been very kind, and that youhaveshowngreatdedicationandperseveranceinyoureffortstohelpme.”

DeputySecretaryoftheMunicipalityofBatočina,Serbia

“I would like to thank you for giving us the opportunity through the P2P programme to participateinthestudytourontheRoleofCivilSociety in the Development of Organic Agriculture. ThefourrepresentativesfromSerbiareallyworkedasateam,andIbelieveweshowedexpertiseandrepresented the Serbian civil society well. The journey has given us an opportunity to establish a strong network with people from the Balkans and also from Iceland. We have all agreed that this study tour will be the start of establishing an organicagriculturenetworkintheBalkans.”

Olivera Radovanovic, Green Network of Vojvodina


• TACSOSerbiamanagedtheapplicationprocessforsixcallsforP2Ptrainings.TheTACSOofficereceived118applicationsofwhich24wereselected.Onaverage,theprogrammehadfivetimesmoreapplicationsthanselectedparticipants.P2PhasraisedhighinterestamongSerbianCSOs,andselectedparticipantswereopentotheideaofdeliveringfollow-upactivities.Inaddition,theTACSOSerbiaofficehasprovidedfollow-uptopoststudytripactivitiesthatinvolvedthepreparationofprojectideasbasedonknowledgegainedduringP2P.InthisstageseveralSerbianparticipantsexpresstheirappreciationofP2Prelatedassistanceofferedaswellastheirsatisfactionwiththestudyvisit.

AfterspendingtimewithagroupofNGOrepresentativesfromtheWesternBalkansandTurkey,AleksandraSelakZivkovicfromtheCentreforSocialPolicyInitiatives,whoattendedtheP2Pstudytour,EuropeanSolidarityagainstPoverty,statedthatshebroughtback“agoodfeeling”resultingfrominteresting,well-balancedseminarswithexcellentlecturers,aninteractiveatmosphereandintensivenetworking.

GoranaLipnjakfromtheCroatianAssociationforaHealthyWorkPlaceandtheCroatianAssociationforOccupationalHealthwhoparticipatedintheP2Pstudytour,AdvocatingforaBetterPolicyofWasteManagement,expressedthatshe plans to transfer the acquired knowledge to other members of her CSO and also to everyone interested in waste policymanagementbyorganisinganeventdedicatedtothistheme.AspecialeventwasorganisedforthisinformationsharingattheendofMarch2011.

1.5. TACSO is an additi onal instrument that contributes to the quality of implementati on of EU funded projects by providing project guidance and monitoring.

ProjectmonitoringandguidanceisoneofthemajorspecificissuesintheTACSOToR.DiscussionswiththeEUDsafterthecommencementofprojectactivitiesinAugust2010havemadeitclearthattheneedsandrequestsdiffergreatlybetweenthecountries/territoriesinthisrespect.WiththeexceptionofSerbia,theemphasiswasonguidanceandprojectmanagementsupportnottraditionalprojectmonitoring.Althoughprojectmonitoringandguidanceispartofoverallhelpdeskservices,inordertohighlightthecontributionsofTACSO,thetablebelowdepictstheexactTACSOinterventionsinthissegment.

TA desk

Albania

Servicesagreedonandactiontaken

Monitoringandcoachingof:

• Ten CommunityAssistanceforReconstruction,DevelopmentandStabilisation(CARDS)2007andEIDHRprojects

• IPA2009CivilSocietyFacility-CivicInitiativesandCapacityBuilding

GuidanceandTAforgrantrecipientsfor:

• IPA 2009• CSF regional EU grants on Socio-Economic Partnerships and a cultural call on

procurementissues,contractualobligations,eligibilityofexpenditures,budgetamendments,financeissues,visibilityissuesandtheorganisationofthekick-offmeeting

Organised training course on:

• ApplicationproceduresforIPAnationalgrantsfortenadministrativeregionsofAlbania

• SuccessfullymanagingEUprojects-thePRAGRegulations


TA desk

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Croati a

Kosovo


Monitoring/guidanceofprojectsunder:

• IPA2007/IPA2008-tenprojectsunderEnvironmentandNaturalResourcesandoneprojectundertheRomaActionPlan

• Nineteensmall-scaleprojectsimplementedbyUnitedNationsDevelopmentPro-gramme(UNDP)undertheReinforcementofLocalDemocracy(LOD)project

InformativeworkshopsonIPA2009grantschemesforcivilsociety:

• Monitoringandadvocacyinthefieldsofdemocratisation,humanrights,minorityintegrationandsustainablerefugeereturnintheareasofspecialstateconcern

• Implementationofinnovativesocialservicedeliveryprogrammesintheareasofspecial state concern

Workshops/informationmeetings:

• A meetingwithKosovarCSOsimplementingIPAregionalprojects,26June2010• AworkshopwithCSOsandpartnersimplementingIPAnationalprojects,26July

2010

OrganisationofthetwopartnershipeventsintheframeworkoftheIPACrossBorderCooperationProgramme,AlbaniaandMacedonia;AlbaniaandMontenegrowithNGOsfrombothsidesoftheborder

SixIPA2008projectsinguidanceandcapacitybuildingCapacityassessmentandtwodaycapacitybuildingtrainingwithfollow-upvisitsAnindividualmeetingwiththeIPAfundedproject,AssociationofParaplegicsandParalysedChildrenofKosovo(HandiKOS)

Organisedaconsultativemeetingwithbeneficiariesofthere¬gionalprogramme,En-vironment,EnergyEfficiency,HealthandSafetyatWork,topromotethenetworkingofpresentprojectsandtoprovideanopportunityformutualsupportandlearningFollowingtheIPA2009InfoDays,fiveCSOssubmittedlogicalframeworksforreviewbyTACSOforprospectiveprojects

DiscussedthechallengesofpartnershipinprojectimplementationwithEESHWgrant-ees,GONG,Zelenaakcija,CroatianEmployersAssociation(HUP)andAssociationforBiologicalResearch(BIOM)

SpecificTAneedsdefinedandVATexemptioninstructionsdistributedtotenCSOrecipientsofgrantsunderCSFFrameworkPartnershipAgreement(FPA)IPAcallsonculture,minorities,vulnerablegroupsandsocio-economicpartnerships

DirectcapacitybuildingandguidanceforaHandiKOSprojectfundedbyIPAonprojectimplementationandorganisationofinternationalevents

DirectcapacitybuildingandguidanceforotherIPAfundedprojectswhenimplement-ingactivities.


TA desk Servicesagreedonandactiontaken

AsagreedwithECLO,thefollowingtrainingsweredelivered:

• Financial management training • CSO management training

Monitoring and guidance to:

• Ten regionalIPA2008projects• FifteennationalIPA2008guidanceprojects

Monitoring and guidance to:

• EightnationalIPA2007projects• NineregionalIPAprojectswhereorganisationsparticipatedaspartnersinre-

gionalprojects• FiveEIDHRprojects

Macedonia

Montenegro

MeetingwithfourrepresentativesofCSOsimplementingprojectsasleadpartnersundertheregionalIPA2008programmetoidentifyneedsforguidanceandtoclarifyexpectationsonTACSO

MeetingwiththeEUDelegationregardingtheneedforguidanceandtoclarifyexpec-tationsofTACSO

Follow-upsupporttoMetamorphosisandCitizensofMacedonia(CISS)IPAregionalprojects,throughmeetingsrelatedtothepreparationoftheinterimreportandanexternalevaluation

AguidanceworkshopforregionalIPAprojectsprovidingadviceonhowtocarryoutmoreeffectiveprojectmanagement.Supporttoyouthentrepreneurshipcreatingacultureofanti-corruptionintheprivatesector 4

Intotal,therewere44visitsforallmentionedprojectswithguidanceininternalmonitoringincluding,ifnecessary,improvementoftheLFmatrixanddevelopmentofinternal monitoring plans as well as support in problem solving

MediationassistanceamongpartnersinoneoftheEUfundedprojectswhichsolvedaproblemandledtothesigningofacooperationcontractbetweenthepartiescon-cerned

SixteensessionswithCSOstoimprovetheprocessofinternalmonitoringand/ortheestablishmentofaninternalmonitoringplanandtheLogicalFrameworkApproach(LFA)matriximprovements(indicatorsandsourceofverification)resultedintheintroductionofinternalmonitoringplansintheproject’simplementation.

4 YouthEntrepreneurialServiceFoundation/SupporttoPartnershipActionsFightagainstCorruption,OrganisedCrimeandTrafficking.



GuidanceandtechnicalassistanceprovidedtoregionalIPAprogrammeswithTurkishpartners:

• HeinrichBöllStiftungDerneğiTurkeyRepresentation• MOBDER-Turkey• AssociationofPublicHealthResearchofTurkey• TransparencyAssociation

InconjunctionwithanofficialvisitbyaDGELARGofficial,visitedthefollowingorgan-isations:

• HeinrichBollStiftung• MOBDER• TUBIDER• SeffaflikDernegi

TACSOTurkeyassistedtheseorganisationsinmediationwithapartnerorganisation:

• TurkeyEnterpriseandBusinessConfederation(TURKONFED)onEUexternalaidproceduresincludingbudgetingissues

• TransparencyInternationalAssociationinTurkeyontheirpublicrelationsandcommunicationsactivities

Serbia

Turkey

Monitored(approx.40)projectsfundedbyCSF

BasedonarequestfromTACSOMacedonia,TACSOSerbiametwithIgorKostic,arepresentativefromtheInitiativesfromProkuplje,tosortoutdelaysintheimplemen-tationoftheMBproject.

IncooperationwiththeEUDelegationandGOPA,TACSOSerbiahasdevelopedproce-duresformonitoring27projectsfromthecall,CivilSocietyDialogue

ProvidedassistancetotenCSOswhowereleadapplicantsundertheCSFs,Partner-shipActionbetweenCulturalOrganisations

ContinueditsassistanceinwritingaprojectficheonStrengtheningCivilSocietyDevelopmentandCivilSociety-PublicSectorCooperationinTurkeyforthenextpro-grammingstage.TheofficeplayedakeyroleinfacilitatingcommunicationsbetweenthefiveCSOsinvolvedinwritingtheficheaswellasinstreamliningthefinaldocu-ment together with the applicant CSOs led by the Civil Society Development Centre (CSDC).

Table 5: Types of guidelines and monitoring for the EU funded projects covered by the Help desk services during TACSO Phase One


DuringthesecondphaseofTACSO,theobjectiveofComponent2changedfromimprovedservicedeliveryofCSOstoimprovedservicedeliveryofCSOsinrelationtodemocraticprocessesattheregional,nationalandlocallevels.Thefollowingwasachieved:

2.4. Updated the needs of CSOs with due diligence throughout the WBT.

Twoyearsaftertheinitialneedsassessmentwasmade,thesameassessmentwasrepeatedatthebeginningofphasetwoofTACSO.Itagainincluded450stakeholdersandlookedintoCSOs’enablingenvironmentsandCSOs’capacities.

2.5. The TASCO Web site has continued the solidification of its position as a powerful instrument for dissemination of information relevant to civil society organisations in the region.

TheregionalTACSOWebpagetogetherwitheightcountry/territoryspecificpageshasbeenupdatedonadailybasis.ItfeaturesthenewestinformationrelevanttoCSOsintheregion.

RelevantdatawasaddedduringTACSOPhaseTwo.Forexample,theCSOdatabase,whichcurrentlyhas514registeredCSOs,ortheTACSOrosterwhere,afterintroducinganewpolicytoallowexpertswithoutanyspecificTACSOexperiencetoregister,thenumberofregisteredexpertshasgrownto53atthetimeofdevelopingtheachievementreport.

TheTACSOWebpageenablesanoverviewofEUawardedprojectsunderdifferentEUgrants.Thecontractnumber,nameandashortsynopsisarepresentforeachEUawardedproject.AlthoughthepartnershipforumwasestablishedinordertocorrespondwiththeneedsofCSOsandtoprovideanon-goingdialoguewitheachother,itisonlymodestlyusedbyCSOs.

TheTACSOToolkit,anonlinesourceofinformation,hasbeenconstantlyenrichedbynewdocumentsduringTACSOPhaseTwo.

ApartfrommakingTACSOavailableonFacebook(1990likes),LinkedIn(247followers)andYouTube,TACSObecameavailableonTwitterinFebruary2012(309followers,and1529tweets).TheTACSOTwitterfeedisparticularlyactiveduringTACSOconferences,sothatthosewhowereunabletoparticipateattheconferencesbuthadaninterestinthesubjectscouldfollowdevelopmentsattheconferences.

AsasampleofthemaximumutilisationoftheTACSOWebsite,duringTACSOPhaseTwo,aliveCSFinformationsessionforpartnershipactioncallwasbroadcastbytheTACSOWebpage.

OverviewoftopicscoveredwithhelpdesksupportinphasetwoofTACSO:

Research, Help Desk and Guidance - Phase two of TACSO


Helpdesksupport

EU/IPA


Increasing quality of project proposals submitt ed

• ApplicationproceduresforEUfundingANALINDHNetwork• Projectcyclemanagement(PCM)usingtheLFA• Projectcyclemanagement/EUfunds/EUapplications• Projectproposalwriting• ProjectproposalwritingforaRomaCSO• PreparationofacallforproposalsunderIPA2011civilsocietyprogramme• EmpowermentofsmallandruralbasedCSOsthroughnineeducationcyclesonprojectproposalwriting

Support in project implementati on

• ImplementationofEUfundedprojectsandmulti-beneficiaryprojects• SuccessfullymanagingEUfundedprojectsforEUgrantbeneficiaries• FinancialaspectsofthreeEUfundedprojects’implementation• Financialaspectsofmulti-beneficiaryIPAprojects• FivePADORworkshops• MB IPA grantees• EUprojectimplementation• DevelopmentandmanagementofthesecondmoduleofEUfundedprojects

General

• Refreshmenttrainingforqualityassurancesystemfornon-profitorganisations(SOKNO)mentors• Goodgovernanceandorganisationalstructure• Democracyandgenderequality• TrainingofTrainers(ToT)onnewtrainingandfacilitationmethodology• TA workshop• Monitoringandevaluation• FourworkshopsforCSOs,secondgroup,self-assessmentmethodology• Projectplanning• Developing a volunteer programme• Volunteer management• Threefuturesearchworkshops• Twoprojectdevelopments• Roma:RightsForum;YouthAdvocacy;ForumWorkshop;CampaigningandAdvocacy• Teambuilding/changemanagement

Programming• Threepilotsectorconsultativemechanisms(SEKO)CSOs• SEKO training

Policies• MakingPRAGmoreCSOfriendly


Partnership and networking

• TAtoLegalAnti-CorruptionNetwork• Capacity building TA to issue based networks• CSO networks training

Operati onal

• Two administrativeandfinancialworkshops• Twomobilisationoflocalresourcesevents

Media

• Sixpartnershipandcooperationpublicrelationsandcommunicationevents,part1,2,cooperationwiththemedia• Twomediacommunicationworkshops• Communicationandpublicrelations• SocialmediaforCSOs

Regulatory and Policy related

• Eight legalandfiscalframeworkeventsforCSOs-PromotinganEnablingEnvironmentforCSOs• Three social entrepreneurship events• TwoeventsforCSOcontributiontoconstitutionalchange• Violencelawandwomen’ssheltersby-law

Processes

• Processofstrategicdialogue“Togetherwearestronger”

Strategic

• CSOSustainability-ChallengesandOpportunities• Bringing Civil Society In• ApplicationofNewModelsofSupporttoPersonswithDisabilities,ContributiontoReformProcesses• StrategicPositioning/Planning;NetworkforBuildingPeace;OLDERBROTHER,OLDERSISTERNetwork;NGOCouncil• BosnaRiverBasinInvestmentFair• Sixorganisationalmanagementandstrategicplanningevents• Advocacy and strategic planning• Sevenadvocacy,lobbyingandcampaignevents• Threewatchdogtrainingswithsituationaltesting• Sixyoungleaders’trainings• Advocacyand“NoChildBrides”• Two strategic planning events• Leadership training• Foureventsonparticipationinlocaldecision-making

GovernmentandCSOscooperation

Fundraising

• CSO/governmentcooperationmechanisms• TwoToTfortheTheatreoftheOppressedandEUMinistryOfficials

• Fundraising• Identifyingpotentialdonors• Fundraising,donorrelations,projectwriting


Cooperationwithbusinesses

• CSO/businesscooperation

Table 6: Types of topics and areas covered by the Help desk services during TACSO Phase Two

ThefollowingaresomeofthedirectbenefitsforCSOsderivingfromhelpdesksupportduringthesecondphaseofTACSO:

• AVATreimbursementmechanismforCSOsinAlbaniaforIPAfundedprojectsisinplaceduetothecombinedeffortsoftheTACSOAlbaniaOfficeandtheEUDinTirana.

• ProjectswerepreparedandsubmittedforthePartnershipProgrammeforCSOs.Followingthetraining,sixrepresentativesofCSOswhotookpartinthetrainingappliedforthefirsttimeforthecallsforproposals,IPACBCAlbania-KosovoandIPACSF2012.

• FiftymembersoftheWomen’sNetworkofBiHarecommittedtoactivelyexchangingexperiencesandtoactingtogethermoreeffectivelywiththepublicinaccordancewiththemissionofthenetwork,TogetherweareStronger.

• Developedaconcretetwo-yearactionplanintheformofalogicalframeworkwithfoursix-monthperiodsandsevenprogressmeasuringindicatorsfromNovember2011toNovember2013fortheOLDERBROTHER,OLDERSISTERNetworkinBiH.

• StrategicplanwasupgradedfortheNGOCouncil.• TheEUDreceived72applicationsforEIDHR2011.AlloftheapplicantsreceivedsupportfromtheTACSO

KosovohelpdeskinthepreparationprocessforthisCfP.• The North Anatolian Development Agency (KUZKA) launched over ten grant programmes for local

stakeholdersontourism.• AssociationforMonitoringGenderQuality(CEID)establishedgendersensitivecivilrightsmonitoring.In

additionCEIDsubmittedaprojectproposaltobuildthegendermainstreamingcapacityofcivilmonitoringinitiativesinTurkeytotheEIDHR2012call.

2.6. By providing project guidance and monitoring, TACSO is an additi onal instrument that contributes to the quality of implementati on of EU funded projects.

TACSOreceivedapproximately50differentrequestsfrom80CSOsinonesix-monthreportingperiod.This ishelpfulinunderstandinghowoftenserviceisrequestedandhowimportanttheprovisionofprojectguidanceandmonitoringistoCSOs.Examplesofsomerequestsareasfollow:

TA desk

Albania


OrganisedtwosessionsonSuccessfullyManagingEUFundedProjects

Conducted a monitoring mission:

• togetherwiththeEuropeanCommission(EC)andRegionalCooperationandPro-grammes(D3)DGELARGrepresentativestoorganisationsthathavebenefittedfromgrantsfromregionalcallsforproposals-PartnershipActionsforWomen’sEmpowermentandCultural,thushelpingorganisationstocomplywithallECregulationswhileimplementingtheirprojects.

• TransparencyInternational



ProvidedassistancetoorganisationsimplementingEUfundedprojects:IPA2009na-tionalcallsforproposals,IPACBC,IPARegionalProgrammes,andEIDHR2010/2011.

Organisedteninformationsessionsfor162CSOsfromtenadministrativeregionsofAlbaniaintheframeworkoftheIPACSF2012CivicInitiativesandCapacityBuildingcallforproposalstoexplorewaystobecomepartnersorassociatesinprojectsinclud-ingPADORregistration;applicationprocedurestoestablishanorganisation;success-fullyimplementingEUfundedprojects;findingpartnersforprojectsattheregionalandcrossborderlevel;regulationsregardingreporting;eligibleinvoices;andtender-ingprocedures.

OrganisedamonitoringmissiontoCSOsthatbenefittedfromgrantsintheframeworkoftheWomen’sEmpowermentandCulturalcallforproposals.

PlannedmonitoringwiththeheadoftheEUD’sSectionforSocialDevelopment,CivilSocietyandCrossBorderCooperationinBiHandTaskManagerforCivilSocietyandEmploymentfromtheEUDelegationforawardedprojectsunderthecomponent,ProjectGuidanceandMonitoringforIPA2009.

OfferedTAtoeightissue-basednetworksgrantedunderthecall,SupporttoIssueBasedNGONetworks,fromMarch2012toJune2013.TheeightCSOsandtheir45partnershavebeencompletingtwoonlinecomprehensiveassessmentquestionnaires.Basedonthefindings,tailoredmadeworkshopswereorganised.ThepurposeoftheTAwasfortheCSOstohaveagreaterimpacttogetherandtobeabletoreachabiggercommunityandgreaterpublic.

ProvidedsupporttotwoCSOsimplementingMBprojects,WorldVisionBiHandSouthEast Europe (SEE) Change Net

Organisedtwoguidance/monitoringworkshops,WorldVisionBiHandPartnerstvozajavnozdravlje.

TenCSOsparticipatedinthetrainingonfinancialaspectsofMBIPAprojects

TworequestsforTAcamefromtheimplementersofIPAMBprojects,oneontheuseofcontingencyreservesandtheotherontheauditingofcompaniesinCroatia

DuringtheperiodSeptember-December,tenprojectsreceivedprojectguidancesupport

IncoordinationwiththeEUD,KosovohasdevelopedacapacitybuildingplanforCSOsimplementingEUfundedprojects.TrainingfocusedonfinancialmanagementandtheEU

OrganisedmentoringandguidancevisitstoallKosovoCSOs(Aureola,CenterfortheProtectionofVictimsandPreventionofTraffickinginHumanBeings(PVPT),NGOQeliza,UnionofIndependentTradeUnionsofKosova(BSPK),PartnersKosova)implementingprojectsfromtheIPAregionalgrantscheme,WomenEmpowerment.Thevisitfocusedonoverallimplementation,relationshipswithpartnersandfinancialmanagement.

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Croati a

Kosovo



AssistancewasalsoprovidedtotheInstituteforSustainabilityandDevelopmentofYouth(ISDY),whichisaregionalFPAforoverallprojectmanagementandrelationswithpartnersandArbeiter-Samariter-BundDeutschlandeV(ASB).

SupportednineCSOsimplementingregionalprojectsonseveralissueswhichincludedregistrationoftheprojectwithinthePublicRevenueOffice,theprocedureforVATexemption,fillingintheA3-PformfortheMinistryofFinance,mediatingbetweentheprojectimplementerandtheoutsourcingagencyfororganisingeventsinthecountry,andrequirementsforissuingautoinsurancecards.

InformedCSOsonthemailinglistofthefollowingcallforproposals,NationalIPA2009,SupporttoEnhancement,SustainabilityandDevelopmentofanActiveCivilSocietyandCompetitionforCSOs,announcingthatinfodaysaboutthecallswereorganised.InformationwasalsodistributedregardingthevariousEUprogrammes,suchasYouthinAction,EuropeforCitizens,PROGRESS,Culture,LifelongLearningProgramme,andNationalIPA2009

Organisedpromotionaleventsfor16nationalCSOsthatareeitherleaderorpartnerorganisationsintheimplementationoftheregionalprojectsawardedwithintheCSFpartnership programme

ProvidedsupporttoCSOsfocusedonPADORregistration,CSOapplicationsforEUfundedprojects,andfinancialreporting

Organisedathree-daytrainingonthesubject,EUProjectImplementation,for34CSOrepresentativesfocusingonthesuccessfulimplementationofEUfundedprojectsinMontenegroincludingEIDHRandIPA

Supportedsmaller,lessdevelopedCSOstoimprovetheircapacityforthepreparationofprojectproposalsforEUfunds.ThespecificobjectivewastoenhancetheknowledgeandskillsofselectedCSOrepresentativesfromMontenegroinmethods,techniques,toolsandapproaches,usingreal-casescenarios.ThisactivityincludedCSOs,mainlyfromruralareasofMontenegro,withanannualbudgetin2011ofupto30,000Euro.Supportwastargetedtowards:

• The mosteffectivedeliverymethodsandapplicableinstrumentstoachievemeasurable outcomes

• DevelopmentofanLFmatrix,preparationoftheapplicationform,preparationoftheprojectbudget

TACSOSerbiahascompletedtheReviewofLessonsLearnedandGoodPracticesinEUSponsoredProjectImplementationanddistributedittoalltheMBIPAgranteesasguidance

SupportedCSOTerrasintheimplementationofaCBCprojectandthepreparationoftenderdocumentation

Organisedaworkshopwith12CSOstodiscusschallengesintheimplementationofEUprojectsaccordingtothePRAGrulesandprocedures.

Macedonia

Montenegro

Serbia

Table 7: Types of guidelines and monitoring for the EU funded projects covered by the Help desk services during TACSO Phase Two


UnderComponent3ofphaseoneofTACSO,theobjectivewasthattheprojectwouldenhancecompetenciesofCSOs.

Bytheendofphaseone,thefollowingwasachieved:

1.6. TACSO contributed to strengthening the capacities of CSOs by developing and delivering regional and national training programmes tailored to the needs of CSOs and complemented by traditional and modern Information and Communication Technology (ICT) delivery channels.

Asaresultoftheneedsassessmentprocesstrainingprogrammes,includingcurricula,manualsandguidelineshavebeendevelopedforfivesubjectsofrelevancetoallbeneficiaries:

• EUfundraisingforpilottraining.• DevelopingandmanagingEUprojects.• CSOmanagement.• Civilparticipationinthedecision-makingprocess.• Advocacyandlobbying.

Approximately200nationalcoursesweredeliveredduringphaseoneofTACSOOne.

Inordertomaximisetheretentionofknowledgegainedduringtraining,courseswerecomprisedofface-to-facetrainingandindividualandpracticalworkdeliveredinthreemodules:

Module1:Tworegionalface-to-facethree-daytrainingsessionsdesignedandconductedonthebasisofaparticipativemethodology,“learningbydoing“.

Module2:Comprisedofindividualhome-basedpracticalassignmentswheretrainersassistedparticipantsintheirworkonindividualassignments.AssignmentswereaccessedthroughtheWebpageusingTACSOe-learningtools.Thisenabledinteractionamongthetrainersandothertraineesincludingaccesstoteachers’notes,guidelinesandvariousotherdocumentsofrelevanceforthecoursesubject.

Module3: ANationaltrainingsession,approximatelytwomonthsafterModule1regionaltraining,organisedbynationalTACSOoffices,whichwererequestedtodevelopnationaltrainingplanstoincorporatethesubjectscoveredbytheregionaltrainingandadaptedtolocalconditions.Forthepurposeofknowledgedisseminationresidentadvisersplannedthesetrainingstogetherwiththetraineesfromtheregionaltrainings.Theregionaltraineegroupsbecameresourcepersonsinthenationalprogrammes.

DuringModule3,theparticipantspresentedtheirwork,sharedtheirexperiencesandunderwentatrainingoftrainers’component,whichpreparedtheparticipantsandensuredthesustainabilityofthedisseminationofknowledgethroughsubsequentnationaltrainings.Uponcompletionofthetraining,participantswereexpectedtomakethemselvesavailableandconduct“repeatercourses”intheirowncountry/territory.

TACSO’sRegionalTrainingProgramme(RTP)wasevaluatedinJune2011,bytwoexternalevaluatorsneartheendofphaseone.Thefollowingarethefindingsoftheevaluationreport5 :

COMPONENT 3: CAPACITY DEVELOPMENTCapacity Development - Phase one of TACSO

5 ReportsfromthetrainingprogrammeshavebeenproducedandpublishedonTACSO’sWebpagehere.ThereportsfromthefourregionaltrainingsconductedduringtheperiodMarch-AugustarealsoavailableonTACSO’sWeb page.


Relevance:TheprogrammedesignaddressedtheneedsoftheCSOsinthetargetedcountriesasidentifiedthroughtheneedsassessments.Aparticipatoryapproachhasbeenadoptedensuringadequatestakeholderinvolvement.Thethree-moduletrainingdesignintwodifferentcountriesisinnovativefortheregion,whichsubstantiallycontributedtothetrainings’regionaldimension.Themainstrengthsofthetrainingprogrammewererelatedtohaving:apilottrainingthathasenabledmodificationstothetrainingmethodology;aToTelementtosupportnationaltrainings;abalancedparticipationfromruralandurbanCSOsandgenderbalanceoftheparticipants.ThedesignoftheregionalandnationaltrainingswaswellbalancedtoensuretheparticipationofruralandurbanCSOsandgenderbalance(50percent)ofparticipants.AtleastonethirdoftheselectedCSOswerefromruralareas,whichaddssignificantvaluetoruralsocieties.

Effi ciency:TheevaluationfindingsfortheimplementationduringthefourmonthsbetweenFebruaryandMay2010revealthatthefivetrainingprogrammestookplaceinasmooth,timelyfashioninsixlocationswith86participantsfromtheWesternBalkansandTurkey.

Overall,thefiveprogrammeswereefficientlyimplementedwithappropriateinputanddeliveredtheplannedoutputswithsatisfactoryquality.

Allactivitieswereimplementedasscheduled,particularly,selectionsoftopics,trainersandparticipants,announcementsanddeliveryofthetrainingprogrammes,logistics,trainingreportingandevaluation.SufficientnumbersofqualifiedstaffwereallocatedatalloftheTACSOregionalandnationalofficeswithabalancedtaskdistributionensuringthequalityandquantityofallthetrainingprogrammesabovethetargetedindicators.AnothertimelyandappropriateinputwasprovidedbytheprojectWebmasterandtheCommunicationOfficerattheTACSORegionalOfficeinorderto(i)designtheWebpage,e-learningande-coaching,(ii)uploadthenecessaryinputssuchasdescriptions,announcements,opencalls,trainingmaterials,trainingcurriculum,trainingexpertrosterandrelevantreports,and(iii)updatethenecessaryinformationwithintheWebpageanditslinks.

Visibilitywassatisfactorilyachieved.Otherinputs,suchastrainers,trainingmaterialsandon-linefacilitieswereofhighqualityandprovidedontime.Interviewsdemonstratedadequate,efficientuseofbudgets.

Relevance Stronglyagree Agree Somewhatagree Disagree Stronglydisagree

As indicated in the training needs assessmentofCSOs,theTACSORegionalTrainingProgrammehasservedtheneeds,prioritiesandmissionin enhancing capacity to develop and delivernationaltrainingactivities

Thestructureofyourparticipantgroupwasbalancedintermsofcompetences,networkingandcooperation

Thethree-moduledesignoftheRTPwasanappropriatedesignforyourpurpose

22.2%

27.8%

19.4

66.7%

41.7%

61.1

11.1%

27.8%

19.4%

0

2.8%

0

0

0

0

Table8.:OverviewoftheevaluationoftheRTPregardingitsrelevance


Effi ciency:Veryhigh/

StronglyagreeSufficient/

SomewhatagreeVerylow/

StronglydisagreeLow/

DisagreeHigh/Agree

Theextentoftimelinesforthedeliveryofthetrainingsessionsandtrainingmodules

ThecontentandusefulnessofthetrainingmodulesforthepurposeofToT

Theextentofe-learningtoolsasatimely,usefulandupdatedsourceofinformationwithsufficientcontentandformat

Thequalityofthefollow-uptrainingcourseanditscoachingintermsofusefulnessforyournationaltrainingactivities

Theappropriatenessandpracticalityoftheapplicationprocedures,includingannouncements,selection,etc.

22.9%

15.6%

8.6%

8.6%

33.3%

34.3%

28.1%

28.6%

31.4%

52.8%

40%

43.8%

40%

40%

8.3%

2.9%

12.5%

20%

20%

2.8

0

0

2.8%

0

2.8

Table9.:OverviewoftheevaluationoftheRTPregardingitsefficiency

Eff ecti veness:Theregionaltrainingprogrammeshavebeenhighlyeffective.Theyhaveachievedthegenerallyexpectedresults.Theyservedtodevelopcapacityforalmostalltheparticipants.Theycreatedaregionalplatformforcooperation,evenresultingindevelopmentandimplementationofjointprojects.

Allofthemaintrainingoutputshaveproventobebeneficialandverywidelyandeffectivelyusedbytheparticipants.

Thedesignsupportedtheeffectivenessofthethree-moduleapproach,includingapilottrainingonEUfundraising,byidentifyingtheleveloftraining(basic/advanced)aswellasbyadaptingthecontentandtrainingfacilitiesaccordingly.TheselectionofdifferentlocationsforeachtrainingprogrammesupportedtheeffectivenessofexposingtheparticipantstodifferentCSOculturesindifferentcountries.

Thethirdmoduleforfollow-uppresentationofhome-basedassignmentsisreportedtohavebeenveryeffective.Learningbydoingandsharingofexperienceswhiledevelopingpresentationskillsthroughopenlycriticisedperformanceshelpedmanyparticipants.However,thelimitedtimeforToTineachofthetrainingprogrammesprovedtobelesseffectiveforthosewithalimitedtrainingbackground.Adequatemonitoringhascontributedsubstantiallytotheeffectiveness.

Mostofthetrainerswereassessedbytheparticipantsasverystrongwithahighlevelofknowledgeandexperience.Thediversityofthetrainersasinternationalandlocalexpertsoffereddifferentaspectsofthetopicsfortheregion.Theevaluationintervieweesconfirmedthattrainersofthethreecourseswereparticularlyeffectiveinmotivatingtheparticipants,transferringinformation,coachingandfollowingupontheirassignments.

Thenationalofficeseffectivelysupported therealisationof thenational trainingcoursecommitmentsof theparticipants.Participants’highsatisfactionwiththeircommunicationwithnationalofficestaff,particularlyfor


nationaltrainings,reflectstheircontributiontoeffectiveness.

ItwasstatedduringtheinterviewsthatincreasedskillsandknowledgeofadvocacyhaveencouragedCSOstocooperatewiththemedia.Similarly,thoseinterviewedconfirmthattheRegionalTrainingProgrammeenhancedtheirknowledgevianetworkingandsharingofexperienceswithotherCSOs.

Thetrainingmaterialsandtheirtranslatedversionsensurethequalityofthereplicatednationaltrainingprogrammesinenhancingtheirroles.Videotapesrecordedduringtheregionaltrainingprogrammessupportedeffectivenessandsustainabilitybycontributingtothequalityofthenationaltrainingprogrammes.

Themainoutputsdeliveredfortheachievementofresultscoveredawiderangeoftrainingtools,suchasthetrainingmaterials,e-learningplatforms,Webpagewithwell-developeddocumentationincludingvideoclips,e-coaching,theTACSOCourseCatalogue2010-2011,andanexpertrosteralmostallofwhichprovedtobebeneficialandverywidelyandeffectivelyusedbytheparticipantsbothfortheregionalandnationaltrainingprogrammes.

Effi ciency: Veryhigh Sufficient VerylowLowHigh

TheextentthattheTACSORTPhasincreasedtheinstitutionalcapacitiesofCSOs

Theusefulnessofthetrainingmaterialsand methodologies introduced during the training sessions in the developmentandimplementationofyourpracticalassignmentandnationaltraining programme

TheextenttowhichtheTACSORTPhasservedasasuitabletoolfordevelopingyourtrainingcapacitiesforconductingnationaltrainingactivities

3%

9.1%

9.1%

48.5%

60.6%

57.6%

42.4%

21.2%

24.2%

6.1%

9.1%

6.1%

0

0

3%

Theusefulnessofthetrainingcurriculum and TACSO Course Catalogue 2010/2011fordevelopingthenationaltraining programmes

3.4% 51.7% 37.9% 6.9% 0

TheusefulnessofTACSOexpertrosteron-lineforthenationaltrainingprogrammes

6.9% 51.7% 31% 6.9% 3.4%

Thebenefitsyouwouldexpectfromtranslatingthetrainingmaterialsintoyour local language

25.8% 38.7% 29% 3.2% 3.2%

TheextentthattheTACSORTPhasserved to enhance knowledge via networkingandsharingofexperienceswith other CSOs

18.2% 33.3% 36.4% 9.1% 3


Effi ciency: Veryhigh Sufficient VerylowLowHigh

Thelevelofbenefitoftheon-linesupportand/orcoachingreceivedfromthetrainersand/orhelpdeskforyournationaltrainingactivities

9.1% 36.4% 30.3% 24.2% 0

The level that your CSO members or otherstakeholdershavebenefitedfromyournationaltrainingprogrammes

18.8% 50% 29.1% 3.1% 3

Table10.:OverviewoftheevaluationoftheRTPregardingitseffectiveness

Degree of Change/Impact:

TheregionaltrainingprogrammecreatedasignificantimpactontheparticipantsandontheCSOsthemselvesinseveralaspectssuchascapacitybuildingfordevelopingprojects,actions,etc.TheprogrammesdevelopedcooperationandpartnershipswhilecontributingtotheoverallobjectiveoftheTACSOproject,“toincreaseandimprovethecapacityandactionsofCSOsaswellastoimprovethedemocraticroleofCSOs”.

Participantsalreadyequippedwithagoodleveloftraining skills could enhance their capacity through theToTelementoftheregionaltrainingsanddelivernationaltrainingcourses.Ontheotherhand,thosewith very limited training skills could only enhance their competencetoserveasco-trainersforthenationaltrainingprogrammesaswellasfordeliveringin-housetrainings.Theinterviewswiththeparticipantsalsoconfirmedthattheimpactissignificantsincethetrainingcourse topics directly addressed the issues that they are activeinandonwhichtheyneedcapacitydevelopmentgiventhepoliticalandsocialdevelopmentsintheregion.Anotherstrongprospectforimpacthasbeenthecreationofacommunicationplatformfortheparticipants,likelytoleadtofurtherpositivechangesintheirdemocraticroleswithintheregion.Networkingamongtheparticipants’CSOshasalreadybeenbuiltinformallyandalmostalltheparticipantshavebeensufficientlysharinginformationandexperiencestocreatecooperationinthefuturetoprepareIPAfundedprojects.

Complementingtheabovedevelopments,immediatechangesinsomeoftheparticipants’experiencesintheirCSOshavealreadybeenobservedduringthetrainingprogrammes.Thedevelopmentofnewstrategiesorenhancingtheirpresentstrategiesduringtheirhome–basedassignmentsandatthefollow-upsessionshasstrengthenedtheirCSOs’democraticroles.

Turkey •Twenty-sixparticipantsintheAdvocacyandLobbyingtrainingpracticeddevelopingadvocacyplans for their own projects.

•SixteenparticipantsintheStrategicPlanningandFundraisingtrainingdevelopedafundraisingstrategyfortheirassociation.

•Twenty-sixparticipantsintheCSOLeadershipCommunicationandFundraisingcoursepreparedsampleapplicationsfordonorfunding.

Kosovo •One hundred and eighty grassroots organisationsattendedconsultativeworkshopsinfiveregionsofKosovodiscussingtheircapacitiesandhowTACSOcouldmeettheirneeds in the near future.

•Sixteen Serbian and Bosnian minority NGOs benefitedfromthetrainingcourseonPreparationandManagementoftheEUFundedProjectsorganisedinMitrovica.

•Twenty-threegrassrootsorganisationsbenefitedfrom CSO management training.

Macedonia •SixCSOspreparedadvocacyactionplans.•Sevenorganisationsdevelopednewstrategic

plans.•Twenty CSOs from across the country engaged in newpartnershipactionprojects.


Serbia •Between70to80percentofalltrainingparticipantsreportedtohavecompletedfollow-upassignments,i.e.deliverablestheparticipantsneededtoproduceintheweeksafterthetrainingperiod to ensure full transfer of knowledge and practiceofgainedskills.

•Seventy-threepercentofallparticipantsofthe CSOs as Social Service Providers training produced an advocacy and service providing plan fortheirorganisations.

•ElevenLFAmatrixfinaldraftswereproducedaftertheProjectProposalWritingandImplementationforEUFundstraining.

•EightypercentofalltheparticipatingCSOrepresentativesdidtheassignmentstheyhadtaken on.

•FiveadvocacycampaignswerecreatedbytheparticipantsafterthenationaltrainingonAdvocacy and Lobbying.

•An EU policy paper was developed for each of the four CSOs as Service Providers trainings in the area of Rural Development, Local Development and Ecology. Seventy representativesfrom70organisationsparticipatedinthesetraining

Someoftheparticipantshavepreparedrealcasestudiessuchasadvocacyandlobbyingstrategies,realprojectproposalsforobtainingEUfunds,strategiesforCSOmanagementorcivilparticipationindecision-makingintheirownlocalareas.

Furthermore,thequestionnairealsoconfirmsthatthetrainingprogrammeshavehadasignificantimpactatthelocallevel.Fromthequestionnaire,84.4percentoftheparticipantshaveadvisedotherCSOstobenefitfromtheTACSO regional training materials available on the Web pageaswellasfromtheTACSOhelpdesks,thusenablingamultipliereffectintheirsocieties.

Theresponsestothequestionnairealsorevealthat71percentoftheparticipantshavedevelopedprojects,activities,movements,etc.intheirCSOstobringpositivechangesintheirsocieties,whichareattributedtotheimpactoftheregionaltrainingcourses.

Impact Veryhigh Sufficient VerylowLowHigh

TheextenttowhichtheTACSORTPhas contributed to the empowerment ofyourCSOintermsofitsdemocraticroletomakesomedifferenceinyoursociety?

12.9% 35.5% 32.3% 12.9% 6.5%

Table11.:OverviewoftheevaluationoftheRTPregardingitsimpact

Sustainability:SustainabilitywasestimatedassomewhatvagueduetothelimitedfinancialandinstitutionalcapacityoftheCSOsinalmostalloftheeight,targetedcountries.

MostoftheparticipantswerewillingtodelivertrainingtootherCSOsonthetopictheyweretrainedastrainerson.AtleasttenpercentoftheparticipantsarewillingtoutilisetheirdevelopedcapacityinthefurtherpracticesoftheirCSOsandtodeliverin-housetraining.Theyhaveagreatneedforregionalnetworking,cooperationandpartnershiptoenhancetheirdemocraticrolesintheirsocietiesandamongthesocietieswithintheregion.

TheTACSORegionalOfficeprovidedseveraltrainingconditionstoensuresustainabilityofthenationaltrainings.TACSOmadeseveraltrainingcomponentsavailablefortheparticipantsandtheCSOs,suchas,atrainerroster,CourseCatalogueandtrainingcurriculum,trainingmaterialsandtrainingmanuals.ThesearealluploadedtotheWebsiteandareeasilyaccessiblebytheCSOsatanytime.Thequestionnaireresultsconfirmthat83.9percentoftheparticipantsexpectthattheirCSOswillbemakinguseoftheseTACSOfacilitiesfortheirfuturenationaltrainingprogrammesorforothersimilaractivities.TheinterviewsshowthattheCSOsarewillingtoestablish


cooperationandpartnershipwithotherCSOsattheregionallevel,whichislikelytocontributetosustainability.

Thelocaladvisorygroupsinalloftheeightcountrieshavebeenstronglyinfavouroftheregionaltrainingprogrammes.However,thisdependsontheavailabilityofhumanandfinancialcapacitiesoftheLAGs.Furthermore,ineachofthetargetedcountries,thereisaneedforsupportfromthegovernmentsorhigherdecision-makersatthepolicyleveltoenablesustainabilityoftheregionaltrainingprogrammes.

Sustainability Veryhigh Sufficient VerylowLowHigh

The extent that you expect your CSO willbemakinguseoftheTACSOhelpdesksupportforyourfuturenationaltrainingactivities

YourlevelofexpectationtoaccessandreceiveEUfinancingorotherresourcesinordertofurtherdevelopthedemocraticroleofyourCSO

The extent that you expect your CSOwillbemakinguseofTACSOfacilitiessuchasExpertRoster,CourseCatalogue,e-learningforyourfuturenationaltrainingprogrammeorotheractivities

Yourlevelofexpectationtobuildneworcontinueexistingpartnershipsandcooperationwithotherlocaland/orforeignCSOsinordertofurtherdevelopthedemocraticroleofyourCSO

12.5%

31.3%

12.1%

33.3%

43.8%

40.6%

54.5%

39.4%

37.5%

28.1%

27.3%

24.2%

3.1%

0

6.1%

3.0%

3.1%

0

0

0

Table12.:OverviewoftheevaluationoftheRTPregardingitssustainability

1.7. TACSO built a network of individuals in the region as a future resource of persons/trainers.

TACSOusedatransparent,participatory,inclusiveandqualitydrivenapproachwhenselectingparticipantsforthetrainings.

CSOsfromallbeneficiarycountries/territorieswereinvitedtonominateparticipantsthroughanopencallprocedurepublishedontheWebpage.Thisapproachensuredqualitydrivenselectionaswellasthebuildingofanetworkofindividualsintheregionthatcouldlaterserveasresourcepersons/trainers.

Twohundredandseventy-nineapplicationswerereceivedforthepilottrainingthatstartedinearlyFebruary2010.

Fortheremainingtrainingprogrammesparticipantswereselectedbasedonasetofdefinedcriteria.Atotalof69participantswereselectedtoparticipatewithtwoCSOrepresentativespercountryandfourfromTurkey.Intotal,theprojectreceived641applications,with24percentfromruralareas.


Insomecaseswhereatrainingprogrammeisdeliveredforaspecifictargetgroup,forexamplemembersofacertainorganisation,thetaskofnominatingtraineesisgiventothatorganisation.TosimplifytheprocessofidentifyingsuitabletrainerssomeoftheTACSOteamshaveestablishedpoolsofexpertsthatareavailableforshort-termassignments.Inthesecases,themembersofthepoolshavealsorespondedtoopencalls.Similarly,theWebpageincludesafeaturewherebyexpertscanrequesttobeincludedinaTACSOExpertRosteronline.

1.8. TACSO is positioned as a regional CSO capacity building resource point.

DuringTACSOPhaseOneawiderangeoftrainingtoolsweredeveloped,suchas:•Sixtrainingmanualssix;•Tenguidancemanuals;•E-learningplatform;•Expert rosters

almostallofwhichprovedtobebeneficialandverywidelyandeffectivelyusedbytheparticipantsbothfortheregionalandnationaltrainingprogrammes.

1.9. Organisations outside of the big cities in the region benefited from TACSO’s services.

TACSOreachedouttoorganisationsbeyondthebordersofthebigcitieswhendeliveringregionalandnationaltrainings.

For example:InBosniaandHerzegovina,approximately260peoplehavebenefittedfrom14differentcoursesconductedduringonesix-monthreportingperiod.SubjectscoveredbytheinterventionsincludeDevelopingandManagingEUProjects,CSOManagement,Citizen’sParticipationinDecision-MakingProcesses,AdvocacyandLobbying,andFundraising.WithafewexceptionsthetraininghastargetedCSOrepresentatives.Theintentionhasbeentodelivertrainingtosmaller,ruralbasedorganisations.CourseshavebeenconductedinBanjaLuka,Zenica,Livno,Bijeljina,Goražde,Doboj,Srebrenica,SarajevoandTrebinje.Threeexamplesofcoursesconductedillustratethelevelofinterestandtheapproachappliedintermsofattemptingtoreachout:

• A one-daytrainingonDevelopingandManagingEUProjects–IntroductiontoIPAandLFAdeliveredinsixtowns.ThetotalnumberofapplicationsforthiscoursefromCSOswas132ofwhich98CSOsactuallyparticipated.ThetargetgroupwasCSOsfromtheareasnearthetargetedcitiesandorganisationswithoutpriorexperienceinapplyingforEUfunds.

• one-daybasictrainingonCSOManagementinDoboj–Therewere23applicantsand19CSOsparticipated.ThetargetgroupwasinsufficientlydevelopedCSOsandnewlyestablishedorganisations,whichdidnothaveexperienceinmanagementandstrategicplanning.

• Atwo-and-a-half-daytrainingonDevelopingandManagingEUProjectsinSarajevo–Therewere64applicantsofwhich20CSOsparticipated.Targetgroupsweremid-developedCSOsfromdifferentpartsofBosniaandHerzegovinawithsomepracticalexperienceinapplyingforEUfunds,forexample,organisationsthatappliedbutdidnotreceivefinancialsupportfortheirprojects.AfurtherrequirementwasthattheyhadparticipatedinoneoftheTACSOtrainingsonPADORandLFAregistration.


InTurkey,thenationaltrainingprogrammewasadaptedtoaddresslocalneedsbyprovidingamultiplemoduletrainingthatcoveredmanyofthecomponentsofCSOneeds.Underthistailor-madeCSOleadershipprogramme,participantsattendedthreemoduleswheretheycoveredstrategicplanning,projectdevelopmentandmanagement,fundraisingandcommunication.Also,inthereportingperiodTACSOTurkeyprovidedseventrainingsinCanakkale,Balikesir,AnkaraandIstanbulreaching153participants.Inallofthesetrainings,thetargetgroupwaslocalCSOsfunctioningmainlyoutsideoflargecities.Covering24outof81cities,126outof153participantswerefromthecitiesotherthanAnkaraandIstanbul.Anaverageof80peopleappliedtoeachtraining,whichalsoincreasedTACSOvisibility.TACSOTurkeyalsoprovidedcapacitybuildingassistancetoplatformssuchasthePlatformagainstHateCrimesforcampaigningandthePlatformfortheCreationofaWorldHandicappedUnionforinternalfunctioningandpreparationofaninternationalconference.

Testimonials by participants:

“I have gained serious experience and knowledge and now I have an idea of how to transfer them to my working area.”

“I now feel ready to do many things. I raised my awareness even when we were eating or dancing with new people, sharing in joint happiness and the power of women. I am much more confident now.”

“It is very important to gather women from different areas, ideas and locations. Being together is a chance to open communication channels. We are, in a way, establishing a new communication network.”

DuringthesecondphaseofTACSO,theoverallobjectiveofComponent3remainedsimilartothefirstphase.TheonlydifferencewasthattheCSOcompetencestoaccomplishtheirmissionswereenhancednotonlyonthenationallevelbutattheregionallevelaswell.Thefollowingwasachieved:

2.7. TACSO enabled and facilitated qualitative and quantitative participation of CSOs in EU project cycle management matters.

AsacontinuationoftheTACSOcapacitybuildingprogrammefromphaseone,TACSOenabledqualitativeandquantitativeparticipationofCSOsinEUprojectcyclemanagementmattersthroughoutthesecondphase.

• TACSO Albania provided:

• AssistancetotheEUDintheprogrammingofIPACSF2012/2013ProjectFicheforAlbaniadistributingprojectfichefromitsdatabaseto850CSOsandconsolidatedinputfromCSOsforthedelegationtofollowup.

• SupporttotheEUDinTiranafortheEIDHRCountry-BasedSupportSchemes(CBSS)2010/2011includingconsultationmeetingswithCSOs,trainingsessionsforapplicantswhilethecallforproposalswasopenduringJanuary-March2011andsupportthroughthehelpdeskandcapacitybuildingforthetensuccessfulgranteesofthiscallonHowtoManageEUFundedProjects.

• AssistancetoCSOsbenefittingfromEUgrantsincludingIPAPartnershipActions’callsforproposals.

Capacity Development - Phase two of TACSO

• At least 30 percent of applicants applying for IPA and other EU funded instruments who are trained by TACSO Albania have been awarded grant contracts.

• At least five CSOs assisted by TACSO Albania entered in partnerships for EU Regional Calls for Proposals – CSF Partnership Programme for Civil Society Organisations.

• More than ten CSOs in Albania benefited from TACSO support on concrete development of EU funded projects.

• The number of small and rural CSOs in the TACSO Albania database increased by ten percent from March to May as comparison to TACSO One.

• Albanian CSOs received EU funding for the first time as a result of TACSO support: Help the Life Association and Academy of Political Studies.


• ContinuedassistancetoprevioustraineesoftheManagingEUFundedProjectstrainingtosuccessfullymanageimplementationofprojects,aswellasonhowtoimprovetheirpartnersearchcapacitytodevelopprojectproposalsforEUfunding.

• SupportinstrengtheningthedialoguebetweentheEUandCSOs,inparticularsmall,ruralandgrassrootsCSOs.InSeptember2012,ameetingwasorganisedwiththerepresentativesoftheEuropeanCommission,D3/DGELARG,MrRobertNelsonandtheProgrammeManagerfromtheDelegationoftheEuropeanUniontoAlbania,MrStefanoCalabretta.ThemeetingaimedtoincreasinginformationforCSOsontheEUSupportMechanismsthatareofferedtoCSOsbothontheregionalandnationallevels.Morethan36organisationsworkinginthefieldofeducation,vulnerablegroups,minorities,women,youth,childrenandtheenvironmentattendedtheevent.ThemeetingrepresentedauniqueopportunityforAlbanianCSOstogetaclearerviewofEUpoliciesinBrusselsandTiranaregardingcivilsociety.ItalsoservedasameansforthemtotransmitthechallengestheyencounteredintheireverydayworkwithEUprojects.ParticipantshighlightedtheirappreciationforthedynamicdialogueestablishedbetweentheEUandthemselvesandexpressedtheirconcernsregardingthepracticalproblemsandchallengestheyarefacinginthecourseofmanagingEUgrantcontracts.

• Modulesfortwo,three-daytrainingsessionsforsuccessfulcontractorsofEUfundedprojectsthathavebeenawardedEUgrantsundervariousCfP(IPACBC,IPARegionalCfP,EIDHRCBSS)basedonhighdemandfromCSOs.

• Three-daytrainingprogrammesinAlbaniafor14networkmembersfromtheAnaLindhFoundationonHowtoSuccessfullyApplyforEUFunding–ApplicationProcedures.TheoverallaimofthetrainingwastoincreasethecapacitiesofthenetworkmembersonhowtopreparesuccessfulprojectproposalsintheframeworkofIPAfunding.Participantsexpressedthatthetraininghelpedtocreateanoverviewofthestepstoundertake,theissuesofconcern,andsuggestionstoovercomedifficulties.Almostallparticipantsevaluatedtheinformationsessionsandtheapproachusedbythetrainersasveryuseful.Inparticular,theyhighlightedtheircommunicationstyleandtheclarificationofmanydetailsofapplicationprocedures.

• AccordingtoasurveyonqualityofservicesconductedbyTACSOCroatiainSeptember2012,of157whoparticipatedintrainingduringthefirstphaseonproposalwritingandmanagementoffundedprojects,93(60percent)respondedtothesurvey.Amongtherespondents79percentconsideredthatthetrainingdidhelptheminapplyingforfunding.Intheperiodofayearormorebeneficiarieshaveappliedonaverageforbetweenonetothreecalls.Almosthalfoftherespondents(47percent)succeededinobtainingfundsfortheirorganisation,mostofthemintheamountof10,001-50,000EUR(15percent),andquiteafewabove100,000EUR(15percent). ParticipantsinoneofthetrainingsonfinancialaspectsofMBIPAprojectsorganisedbyTACSOCroatiarespondedtothequestion:Whatdidyoulearnthatyouwillusemostinthefuture?Theyanswered:

‘Useful tools – cash flow, detailed cost recording and project inter-financing.’‘I will use all in order to improve project and organisational finances.’ ‘Specific tips for successful implementation of project and for successfully overcoming project implementation obstacles.’‘Useful tools.’‘Newly acquired knowledge of Croatian accounting procedures and rules.’‘Instruction for co-financing.’


Furthermore,intheevaluationsparticipantssuggestedthefollowing:

• Continue with advanced trainings, with same trainers as in this workshop, who have excellent cooperation, successfully transfer knowledge and build good group cohesion;

• Send updates to participants on the changes in project and Croatian law financial procedures;• Organise a project proposal writing training;• Organise project implementation training at the beginning of project implementation;• Organise financial aspects workshop about the impact of Croatian laws and procedures on EU project

implementation.

ECevaluatorswithconcreteexamplestopracticallyexplainandteachtheapplicationprocess.

• TACSO Kosovo organised:

• AconsultativemeetingwithCSOsforIPAprogrammingin2013withtheMinistryofEuropeanIntegration.

• Threetrainingsonthetopic“HowtogetfundsfromtheEU-PreparationoftheConceptNote”inIstog/Peje,Prishtine,ShterpceinMay-June2012withatotalof56participantsofwhom55percentwerefromruralareas.Participantswereselectedfromapplicantstothecallforproposals‘CivilSocietyFacilityforKosovo”.Theobjectiveofthetrainingwastoaddressweaknessesintheapplicationprocess.TrainingcurriculaweredesignedinclosecollaborationwithECtaskmanagers.Trainingsessionsfeaturedpracticalexamplesandsimulationofanevaluationprocess.Aseparatetrainingsession,Do’sandDon’ts,wasdirectly delivered by

The number of received applications under the EIDHR 2011 in Kosovo call was 71. Based on the feedback from the EUD in Kosovo, the number of quality proposals has increased in comparison to previous CfPs. A good number of applications lack focus and innovative approach. This weakness was directly addressed in trainings delivered after receiving this information from EUD.

As a result of the trainings and TACSO information and training assistance to CSOs in Kosovo the number of applications for EIDHR 2009-2010 has increased to approximately 80, while in the EIDHR calls of 2007 the corresponding number was 31 and in 2008 it was 32.

• October2012,twotrainingswereheldonFinancialManagementofEUFundedProjectsandEUVisibilityRules.ProjectmanagersandfinancialmanagersoftheprojectsfundedunderthenationalEIDHRgrantschemeandtheregionalCSFgrantscheme,EmpowermentofWomen,attendedthistraining.Twenty-eightparticipantsfrom16CSOsand13enterpriseswerepresent.Partnerorganisationsalsobenefitedfromthistraining.TACSOorganisedadditionaltrainingtoassistnewentrepreneursinmanagingtheirprojectsgrantedundertheruralgrantsscheme.TrainingcurriculumwasfocusedonprinciplesofoverallmanagementandspecificallyfinancialmanagementandvisibilityrulesofEUfundedprojects.Theparticipantsjointlystudiedthegeneralconditionsofthegrantcontact,PRAGrulesandcompliancewithapplicableKosovolegislation.TheEUcommunicationandvisibilitymanual,communicationstrategy,visibilityplan,publicrelationsstrategyandpromotionalmaterialswerepartofthetrainingprogramme.

• LaunchedfivewiningprojectsoftheCSFKosovonationalgrantscheme.NinetypercentofthegrantbeneficiariesattendedtheTACSOtraining,HowtoprepareanEUfundedproject,organisedatthetimewhenthecallwaslaunchedtohelpCSOsintheirapplicationprocess.TACSOengagementwithLAGandcivil society in introducing partnership as a MUST in the eligibility criteria enabled six grassroots partner organisationstowingrantsforthefirsttimeandimplementtheirprojectsinpartnershipwiththeirapplicants/partnersunderthiscall.


• FromMarchtoAugust2012theEUDelegationorganisedtwoconsultativemeetingswithCSOsregardingEIDHRprioritiesandEUcountryprogressreports.ParticipationofCSOsatthesemeetingswasmobilisedthroughtheTACSOMacedoniaWebpageandinvitationsweresentthroughtheTACSOmailinglist.ThemajorityofparticipantsattheseeventswereCSOsthatparticipatedinTACSOMacedoniaeventsandtrainings.

• DevelopmentandManagementofEUfundedprojects(twomodules)forsmallandruralwithatotalof25participants;

• Twosessionswithatotalof46participantsonDemocracyandGenderEqualityforCSOsthatdoesnotfocusongenderequalityissues.

• TACSO Montenegro organised two trainings: EUD in Montenegro was awarded a re-granting project for less developed CSOs. Among 51 CSOs that applied, 11 projects were awarded and nine of them were organisations that had participated in trainings organised by TACSO Montenegro.

! A good example of TACSO achievements and cooperation with EUD that adjusted financing schemes for less developed CSOs.

2.8. TACSO continuously has responded to the needs and demands for capacity building of CSOs in the region, which further contributed to the improvement of the organisational and fundraising capacities of CSOs.

TACSOAlbaniaorganisedathree-daynationalworkshopinNovember2012onCivilSocietyOrganisations’Sustainability-ChallengesandOpportunities.TheWorkshopgatheredover30CSOrepresentativesfromtheregionsofTirana,Durrës,Elbasan,Fier,VloraandGjirokastraworkinginthefieldsofeducation,supporttovulnerablegroups,environment,mediaandhumanrightsprotection.Theaimwastostrengthentheoverallcapacitiesofcivilsocietybyprovidinginsightsintodifferentaspectsofsustainability,tosharepositiveexperiencesandbestpracticesthatexistinthisfieldinAlbaniaandintheregion.ParticipantswereintroducedtovariousaspectsofCSOsustainability,goingbeyondfinancialsustainability,highlightingandanalysingexamplesofbestpractices.Inaddition,theparticipantshadtheopportunitytoincreaseknowledgeandassesstheaddedvalueofworkinginpartnershipwithlocalandpublicsectorinstitutionsandtheprivatesector.Followingthisnationalevent,theManualonCSOSustainabilitywaspreparedtoexploreandpresentvariousaspectsofCSOsustainabilitythatgobeyondfinancialsustainability.Italsoanalysedpossiblewaystoestablishanddeveloppartnershipsbetweencivilsocietyorganisationsandpublic/localinstitutions,includingbusinessorganisations.

TACSOBiHorganisedthefirsteducationalcycleforapproximately150participantrepresenting77CSOswithtwoparticipantsperorganisationfromruralareaswhoseprojectproposalshadbeenrejectedbytheEU.Participantswereselectedthroughanopencall.TheeducationprogrammewastailoredtotheneedsoftheparticipantsbasedonthefindingsoftheTACSONeedsAssessmentandthefindingsoftheLODproject.Itconsistedofthreeparts:1)mentorship,2)atwo-dayworkshopfortworepresentativesperorganisation,3)afinaljointworkshopwithallCSOs.Uponcompletionoftheeducationcycleparticipantswereableto:

• Diagnoseproblemswiththeirproposals.• Redesignprojectproposalsfor77CSOsbyre-examiningaccompanyingproblemstatementsandlogframes.• Developaninternalmonitoringsystemforredesignedprojectproposals.• Thistrainingcyclewasfollowedbyasecondeducationcyclefocusingonprojectcyclemanagement/project

proposalwritingandtowardsdomesticsourcesoffundinginvolvingCSOsfromthefirsteducationalcycle.

TACSO BiHhassupportedcapacitydevelopmentthroughinnovativecollaborationarrangements. InFebruary2013,theprojectprovidedsupporttosixnetworkssupportedundertheIPA2009call,SupporttoIssue-basedNGONetworks.Priortothetraining,participantscompletedanonline,comprehensiveassessmentquestionnaire,onedesignedforapplicantorganisationsandanotherdesignedforpartnerorganisations.Basedonthefindings,


tailored-made workshops were designed and organised for25participants.Theworkshopenabledparticipantstoexplorethedifferencesinperceptionsaboutmanagerialpractices,structuresandpoliciesaimedtoenhancetheefficiencyofnetworksandadvocacyprojects.Theworkshopsstartedwithanintroductionfollowedbyaself-evaluativesection.Participantswereguidedtofurtherexploreinternalpracticesandpolicieswithintheirnetworks.Theworkshopswereinteractiveandenabledthenetworks’memberstopresenttheirkeyconclusionsandconcernstotheconsultant.Participantswere introduced by the consultant to numerous concepts andnotionsrelevanttotheadvocacyconceptand/ornetworkingcapabilitiesandfeatures.

The TACSO KosovoteamhasofferedcapacitybuildingsupporttotheCiviKosPlatforminenhancingCiviKos’internalcapacitiesandstrengtheningtheorganisation’spositioninthesector,i.e.theircommunicationwithstakeholders,anddevelopmentofefficientservicesfortheirmembers.TheeffortsincludethepreparationoftheinternalRulesofProcedure,theestablishmentofthemechanismforpositionbuilding,thepreparationofthemechanismsforrepresentationandinformationsharing,andthereviewofthestatuteoftheCiviKosPlatformtoensureconsistencywithotherrulesandprocedures.TheassistancehasalsoincludedinterventionsaimedatdevelopingCiviKos’financialmanagementcapacity.

• The tested model of having two participants per CSO at the training proved to be successful because: a) Project proposals were improved at the workshop through a dialogue of the participants. b) Capacity of the human resource nucleus of CSOs’ staff was improved.

• All participants stated that they will apply either for domestic or EU CfP with redesigned project proposals.

• One rural based CSO reported that their revised project proposal was accepted to be financed by a local foundation and the World Bank.

STE observations and recommendations: • The group dynamic was good. Most

participants had a similar level of prior experience.

• Participants could easily follow the training agenda and felt free to ask questions.

• The only topics that were referred more often than planned were financial aspects of project partner agreements and relations and communication between project partners.

• Financial training for multi-beneficiary funds was not as complex as financial training for decentralised funds.

TACSO MacedoniahasdevelopedtheMethodologyforCapacityBuildingProgrammethroughaparticipatoryprocesswiththeLAGgroupandbasedonthelessonslearnedduringthefirstphaseofTACSOsummarisedintheEvaluationoftheTrainingProgramme.Themethodologyfocusedonstrengtheningthecapacitiesofwholeorganisations.Theprogrammewastailoredforindividualorganisationsbasedontheirneedsandrepresentslong-term,continuousandcombinedsupport.Theprogrammecoveredmoresegmentsoftheworkoforganisationsandorganisationaldevelopmentandwasrealisedbymentorship,coaching,consultativesupport,workshopsandtrainings.Inaddition,theprogrammeprovidedfornetworkingandpartnershipbuildingbyengagementofmentorsfromCSOs.

Intotal,84CSOsparticipatedintheprogramme.CSOswereselectedonopencallandweregroupedaccordingtotheirprofileinthreegroups:1)grassrootsorganisations,2)organisationsactingonanationalorlocallevelbutabletoinfluencecommunities,and3)young,newlyestablishedorganisations.

Twenty-twolocalandgrassrootsorganisations,21well-developedCSOs,27newandyoungCSOsconductedtheself-assessmentprocessandpreparedcapacitybuildingplansinaccordancewiththeguidelinesforself-assessmentdevelopedbyTACSOMacedonia,ofwhich:

• SixlocalandgrassrootsCSOsimprovedorganisationalmanagementandstrategicplanning.• EightlocalandgrassrootsCSOsimprovedprojectcyclemanagement.• NinelocalandgrassrootsCSOsimprovedadvocacyandlobbying.


• Three local and grassroots CSOs improved public relations.

• EightlocalandgrassrootsCSOsimprovedmobilisationofresourcesandfundraising.

• Two local and grassroots CSOs developed their volunteerbase.

• Sevenwell-developedCSOsstartedaprocessofdevelopingneworrevisingexistingorganisationalstrategies.

• Tenwell-developedCSOsstartedtheprocessof restructuring and developing policies and procedures forinternalorganisationandmanagement.

• SevennewandyoungCSOsdraftedand/orfinalisedtheirstrategicplans.

• TennewandyoungCSOsdevelopedprojectproposalsorprojectideas.

• FournewandyoungCSOsdevelopedpublicrelationsstrategiesandpublicrelationsmessagesfortheirorganisations.

• ElevennewandyoungCSOsimprovedtheirknowledgeofadvocacyandlobbying.• ElevennewandyoungCSOsraisedtheirawarenessandunderstandingabouttheadministrativeand

financialobligationsoftheirorganisations.• ThirteennewandyoungCSOsimprovedtheirknowledgeandskillsinorganisationalmanagement.• TwelvenewandyoungCSOsimprovedtheirknowledgeandskillsinprojectmanagement.• ThirteennewandyoungCSOsgainedknowledgeandskillsinthemobilisationofresourcesfortheirCSOs.

Testimonials from the participants:• I think that this technical assistance came at

the right time because we jointly recognise the importance of teamwork. Identifying our weaknesses in planning and managing an advocacy campaign, we have defined several steps that are significant and where we need assistance.

• This TA is excellent and assisted us in the reflection of what we have done and what our next steps are. It should be organised at the beginning of the project and in the middle of the implementation course.

• I received a useful tool/guide for self-evaluation of networks and campaigns. This is a good basis for conducting a dialogue with the partners about the activities, further planning and necessary changes, which can be utilised in all phases.

TACSO Turkey organised:

• A training/workshopincampaigndesignandadvocacycarriedoutbytheYouthNetworkagainstCommercialSexualExploitationofChildren(CTCS)platformfor24youthmembersoftheCTCSnetworkwhohavesubsequentlycarriedoutacampaignagainstchildbrides.Theactionplanfortheadvocacycampaignwascreatedduringthetraining.

• BudgetplanningandactivityandagendaplanningfortheSoldiers’RightsPlatform,aswellassupportforproducingadvocacydocumentswhichhelpedthemstreamlinetheirwork.

• Asocialmediaworkshopforone-on-oneassistancetoover20CSOs.AllCSOsassistedhaveeitherconcretely expanded their media outreach or consider that their capacity has indeed increased in this regard.

Atotalof40CSOleadershaveattendedspeciallydesignedtwo-moduletrainingprogrammespresentedbyTACSO Serbiacoveringstrategicplanning,organisationaldevelopmental,CSOmanagement,fundraisingandprojectdevelopment.Evaluationsshowedthattheaveragescoregivenbyparticipantswas4.54outoffive.Onehundredandtwenty-sevenparticipantsfrom32townsinCacakandBorattendedtrainingonCapacityBuildingforLeadersinNewlyEstablishedCSOs.


• VolunteerManagementTrainingfortheBursaWomenCSOswith20participantsfromdifferentWomenCSOsinBursa.ParticipatingCSOsrepresenteddifferentworkingmethodologiesandbackgroundssuchaswomen’sshelters,women’scouncilsofmunicipalities,womenlabourintheworkingmarket,womenandchildren’sorganisations,internationalwomen’sorganisationsandcharityorganisations.Thespecificobjectiveofthe training was to enhance the understanding and knowledgeofselectedCSOrepresentativesaboutvolunteering,volunteermanagementandhumanresources,andtoequipthemwiththemethods,techniquesandtoolsforrecruitment,trainingandmanagementofvolunteers.Thetrainingteamusednon-formaltrainingmethodssuchasgamesandgroupwork.Accordingtotheevaluationforms,theaveragescoregivenwas8.95outoften,whichindicates that the training was perceived as highly successful.

Recipients of TACSO Turkey services testified that, due to support, they were able to:

• Reach constituencies in cities that they otherwise would not have been able to reach

• Carry out an emergency campaign. • Get together face-to-face members of a

platform who then became more effective in planning.

• Organise a planning meeting.• Include youth and expand their network.• Develop content and design campaign

materials.• Communicate with constituencies at the local

level and strengthen advocacy campaigns. • Increase media outreach and contacts with

well-known journalists.• Enhance actions on promoting the initiative

by developing a strategic approach and deploying new means of communicating with a wider audience through a monthly newsletter.

• Increase communication capacity and start to develop a network.

2.9. TACSO facilitated the processes of linking individual interests of CSOs into the wider frameworks of their operations, such as national and regional networks, thus creating a stronger driving force for national and regional breakthrough.

TACSO BiH supported:

• The Women’sNetworkinBiHtoorganiseandimplementaconferenceontheprocessofstrategicdialogue,TogetherweareStronger,inJune2012inSarajevo.Thispartnershipevent/conferencewasattendedby56participantsfrom43women’sorganisationscomingfrom20differentmunicipalitiesinBosniaandHerzegovina.TheWomen’sNetworkisaninformalnetworkof112CSOs,women’sgroupsandindividualswhodeclarethemselvesaspartofcivilsocietyorganisationsinthefieldofpromotingandprotectingwomen’shumanrights.TheWomen’sNetworksupportsandassistsallwomenregardlessoftheirpoliticalaffiliation,religion,age,educationlevel,sexualorientationorabilitiesand,throughpartnershipaction,dialogueandcooperation,informs,educatesandrepresentsallcitizensofBiH.TheconferenceservedasanopportunitytofindwaystoimprovetheprocessofexchangingexperiencesandresponsibilitiesamongallmembersoftheBiHWomen’sNetwork.Additionally,theobjectivewastoenhancethemotivationofmembershiporganisationsinactiveparticipationintheworkofthenetwork.Participantsattheconferencediscussed:anti-nationalismandconfrontationwiththepast;homophobia;violenceagainstwomenandgirlsandnon-gender-basedviolence;secularismineducationinpublicschools;therighttochoose:abortion,adoption,artificialinsemination;aconsensusaboutconstitutionalchange;talkingaboutviolenceagainstwomenandnon-gender-basedviolence.

• TheNetworkforPeaceBuildingfacilitatedathree-daystrategicplanwhereapproximately40participantsrepresentingdifferentCSOsdevelopedanoperationalplanservingasbothacommunicationandpositioningpaperforthenetwork.


• ThedesignoftheCivilSocietyManifesto-Platformforfutureactionduringthepartnershipevent,BringingCivilSocietytotheWesternBalkanCivilSociety,whichrepresentedafirststepinthelong-termexchangeofimportantcivilsocietyrelatedtopicsintheregion.The whole process was conceptualised as a living debateandplatformforcontinuousexchangeamongcivilsocietyorganisationsandrepresentativesintheregion.Themanifestoaddressed:

• Theneedforasectoralapproachinordertoprovidequality,efficientandeffectivecontributionstoEUintegration.

• FivelocalCSOsgatheredinacoalitionofCSOswithpersonswithdisabilitiestoa)initiateadvocacyactivitieswithintheirmission,b)improvetheircommunicationandc)developpolicypapersatthelocallevel,suchaslocalcoalitionsofCSOswithpersonswithdisabilitiesfromSarajevo,Tuzla,Doboj,MostarandBijeljina.

• TheneedforopeningadirectdialoguewithauthoritiestoidentifyprioritiesforworkandtosupporttheprocessofEUreformsinspecificfieldslikeagriculture,ruraldevelopment,energyandenvironmentalissues.

• TheroleofcivilsocietyintheEUintegrationprocessinworkingtowardsbetterandmoreefficientstrategiesforinformingthepublicandcitizensabouttheEUandeducatingyouthabouttheEUintheformalandinformaleducationsector.

• TheneedforapplyingthebestpossiblemonitoringandevaluationcriteriainordertoincreasethetransparencyandefficiencyofCSOs.FinancialtransparencyofCSOsshouldbedevelopedaccordingtobestpracticesmodeswithintheEU.

Creation of a regional network around this Manifesto gives momentum for further inclusion of other organisations, initiatives and groups. The partnership event gathered a strong critical mass of leaders to advocate for and bring about necessary social changes. It is necessary to further extend this network and include other groups and leaders that promote and work towards the values of inclusive and environmentally aware development and full EU integration of the region.

TACSO Serbia provided:

• TrainingforatotalofsevenCSOs/networksonstrategicplanning,afterwhichfiveoftheminitiatedastrategicplanningprocesswithTACSOSerbia’sassistance.

• Supporttothenationalthenetwork,SectorCivilSocietyOrganisations(SEKO),forruleoflaw.Thenetworkhadpreviouslyfinisheditsactivitiesonstrategicplanning.

• Twotwo-daytrainingsincooperationwiththeOfficeoftheCommissionerforEqualityProtectiononsituationaltestingfor34participants.Thisgroupoforganisations,fromKragujevacandNisarewellconnectedwitheachotherandclosetoestablishinganetworkoforganisationsthatwillbemorefocusedonequalityprotection.

TACSO Turkey:

• SupportedEdirneRomaAssociation(EDROM)-ARomaorganisationtoparticipateatameetinginBelgradewhere,togetherwithothercounterpartsfromHungary,Turkey,MacedoniaandSerbia,theycreatedanetworktorepresenttherightsofRomaintheirrespectivecountries.AnumberoftheparticipantshadalreadyestablishedtheTurkeyRomaYouthNetwork(TRY).Theydidnotestablishajointnetworkasaresultofattendingtheeventbutagreedtocommunicate/collaboratewherenecessaryevenifworkingseparately.

• ProvidedTAtotheTurkishKAOSGLmemberoftheRegionalNetworkAgainstHomophobiafortheLGBTattheKAOSGLZagrebmeeting.

TACSO Turkey supported the establishment, and the first two meetings of, the Regional Network against Homophobia in 2011.


• Assisted in the establishment of a partnership/network by Youth for Positive Change, the Edirne RomaAssociation,andTheEuropeanRomaRightsCentre(EDROM-ERRC),whichappliedfortheregionalpartnershipcallissuedbytheECinthescopeofCSF.Itsupportedthenetworkingevent,RomaYouthStrategyNetwork,with45participants,organisedbytheRomanAnkaraAssociationandRomaYouthProgramme(FYRP)whodevelopedtheagendaoftheeventandsupportedtheparticipationofkeyRomayouthorganisationssuchasDomAssociationfromHatayandTRYRomaYouthNetworkfromEdirne.

2.10. TACSO contributed to the sustainability of CSOs by motivating and encouraging them to introduce quality assurance standards.

TACSO AlbaniasupportedpreparationoftheplatformfortargetingqualityassuranceissuestogetherwiththeCSOsthatparticipatedinthequalityassuranceregionalconferenceduringthefirstphaseofTACSO.TheTACSOAlbaniaOfficeorganisedathree-daynationalworkshoponCivilSocietyOrganisationsSustainability-ChallengesandOpportunitiesfrom30October-1November2012.Thisactivitywasheldasafollow-uptoaregionalconferenceduringthefirstphaseofTACSO.Theworkshopgatheredover30CSOrepresentativesfromtheregionsofTirana,Durrës,Elbasan,Fier,VloraandGjirokastraworkinginthefieldsofeducation,supporttovulnerablegroups,environment,mediaandhumanrightsprotection.ItsaimwastostrengthentheoverallcapacitiesofsustainabilityofCSOsforthefuture,provideinsightintodifferentaspectsofsustainability,andsharepositiveexperiencesandbestpracticesthatexistinthisfieldinAlbaniaandintheregion.Inaddition,theparticipantshadtheopportunitytoincreaseknowledgeandassesstheaddedvalueofworkinginpartnershipwithlocalandpublicsectorinstitutionsandtheprivatesector.

The TACSO Kosovoofficeorganisedthenationalconference,QualityAssuranceStandards-Whatarethey?andWhydoweneedthem?InMay2012inPristina.Theobjectiveofthisconferencewastodiscussdifferentmodelsofqualityassurancestandards(QAS)forcivilsocietyorganisationsandtheimpactontheirsustainability.Theconferencebroughttogether33representativesofKosovocivilsocietyorganisations,regionalandnationalexperts.ItservedasadiscussionplatformtolearnaboutcontemporarytrendsforqualityassurancestandardsofCSOsintheWesternBalkanregion,theirimpactonsustainabilityandpossibleapplicationinKosovocivilsociety.AdvantagesandchallengesofdifferentQASmodelsforCSOsandQASsfromKosovo’sperspectivewerepresented.Inaddition,TACSOKosovopreparedaguidethatwillsupportKosovoCSOstostarttheprocessofadoptingspecificQASstandards.

AsafollowuptotheregionalconferenceheldinthefirstphaseofTACSO,TACSOMontenegro organised theconference,CSOResultsandQualityAssuranceSystemsforCSOs,inOctober2011.TheobjectivewastointroduceCSOsandpublicauthoritiestousefultoolsandmechanismsforfurtherdevelopmentofCSOsintheregion.Asanoutcomeoftheconference,45CSOsaskedTACSOtocontinuewithresearchonqualityassurancesystemsinMontenegro.Theyexpressedtheirwillingnesstointroducesuchsystemsintheirownorganisations.

TACSO TurkeycommencedthedevelopmentofareportthatintroducedqualityassurancesystemstocivilsocietyinTurkeytoenhancegoodgovernance,transparencyandaccountabilityofthecivilsocietysector.ThiswasafollowupofaQASregionalconferenceorganisedin2011.ThereportrecommendedthedevelopmentandadoptionofsuchsystemstopromotecivilsocietyandstatefundingtoCSOsintheBalkansandEUmembercountries.Inaddition,thereportpresentedvarioussystemsadoptedbygroupswithindifferentregionsaswellasdetailedinformationaboutSOKNO,PracticalQualityAssuranceSystemforSmallOrganisations(PQASSO)andInternationalOrganisationforStandardization(ISO)9000(Slovenia)indetailasannexes.ThereportalsosuggestsexamplesfromU.S.andCanada,EUcountries,theWesternBalkansandsomesignificantexamplesfromotherregionsofworld.AsurveythatrevealedtheawarenesslevelamongCSOsofqualityassuranceissueswasanadditionalvalueaddedtothereport.Thesurveywasdisseminatedviae-lettertoanetworkof5,000CSOsatthelocalandnationallevels.


ADDITIONAL OBSERAVTIONSDuringthisreportingperiod,itwaspossibletoobservethegrowingpathofthoseCSOsthathavebenefitedfromTACSO’ssupportonacontinuousbasis.

The Albanian Blind Associati on (ABA)wasoneofthefirstorganisationsinAlbania,foundedin1991.Sinceitsfoundation,itsfocushasbeenontheinclusionofblindpersonsinallspheresoflife.ABAstandsamongthefirstbeneficiariesofTACSOAlbaniaandoneoftheprimecontactandreferencepointsregardingEUfundingopportunities.QualityoflifeandtheinclusionofblindpeopleinAlbaniahasbeenelevatedatthelevelofEUstandards.ABAhasobtaineddirectsupportsincethebeginningoftheTACSOprojectwithcapacitybuildingactions.IthasparticipatedinnationaltrainingsonhowtopreparesuccessfulprojectproposalsintheframeworkofIPAfundingandinnationalandregionalconferencesandexchangeevents.IthasassistedinpartnersearchesandsuccessfulthemanagementofEUfundedprojects.ABAmanagedtoutiliseitsnetworksandpartnershipsthroughTACSOsupportforEUfundingandtostrengthenandinstitutionaliseitslinksattheEuropeanlevel.CooperationbetweenTACSOAlbaniaandABAendedwithanEUgrantawardedtotheABAfortheregionalproject,BlindPeopleNetworkforRepresentationintheWesternBalkans2010-2012,financedwithintheframeworkofIPA/CSFpartnershipactions.

The Gjirokastra Conservati on and Development Organisati on (GCDO),establishedin2001,managedwiththesupportofTACSO,todeterminetheGjirokastraregion,southofAlbania,asanimportantdestinationofEUfundingthroughECfundedprojects.ItsrepresentativesparticipatedinthefirstregionaltrainingorganisedbytheTACSOprojectonEUfundraisinginIstanbulwithafollow-upinBelgradeon2-3February2010.TheGCDOwasassisted by TACSO Albania to enter into partnership agreementsandapplyforIPA2009under,SupporttoPartnershipActionsbetweenCulturalOrganisations.TheGCDOparticipatedintrainingsonhowtoapplyforIPAfunding,managingEUfundedprojectsandvariousregionalevents,suchasP2PorganisedbyTACSO.TACSOAlbaniaassisteditinfindingpartnersfordifferentEUCfP.GCDOstrengthenedsomuchthatitgoesasaleadpartnerwhenapplyingforregionalfundsincludingthePartnershipFrameworkAgreements.

TACSO TRANSFORMATION IN ENHANCING COMPETENCIES OF THE CSOs

TACSO Phase One

Trained providers and positioned itself as a CSOcapacity building resource centre To

ContinuedwiththeprovisionoftrainingforCSOcapacitybuildingFacilitatedEUprojectmanagementcyclemattersBrokered,facilitatedandsupportedCSOnetworkingLeaderandsupporterofQAS

A small Albanian associati on, First Step, working with vulnerable groups of society in rural and remote areas of Albania stated:“Even if we shall not be successful in this applicati on, we are profoundly grateful to TACSO for support that has granted the opportunity to open the horizon towards EU funding.”

TACSO Phase Two


UnderComponent4ofphaseoneofTACSO,theobjectivewastostrengthencooperationamongCSOs,thegovernment,theprivatesectorandthepublic.

Activitiesunderthiscomponentincludedprojectlaunchings/kick-offevents,informationandpartnershipeventsstrengtheningthedialoguebetweendifferentstakeholders,aswellasinterventionsaimedatstrengtheningthecapacityofgovernmentsandgovernmentofficestocooperatewithNGOs.Thefollowingwas achieved:

1.10. TACSO entered into the civil society sector on participatory and demand-motivated grounds.

Kick-offeventsgeneratedavastamountofinformationregardingthefunctioningofcivilsocietyaswellastheexpectationsofTACSO.

Intotal,26kick-offeventswithapproximately1,800participatingCSOrepresentativeswereorganisedandimplemented.

Theaimofthekick-offeventswastolaunchtheprojectaswellastodisseminateinformationaboutplannedactivities.Organisationofthekick-offeventsvariedfromonemajoreventwithnation-widecoveragetoaseriesofactivitiesorganisedinordertoreachurbanaswellasruralbasedorganisations.Duringtheeventseffortsweremadetocollectinformationandgeneratefeedbackfromtheorganisationsconcerningtheirneedforfurtherpolicyreformatthesectorlevelaswellastheirperceivedchallengesandtheshort-comingstheyexperiencedattheorganisationallevel.Thematicfocuseshavebeenusedasameasuretogetadditionalattentionandunderlinetheproject’sambitiontoengageinandsupportpolicydevelopmentprocessesofrelevanceforCSOs.Ingeneral,thekick-offshavebeenhighlyappreciatedbytheparticipants.Incaseswhereformaleventevaluationshavebeenconductedthescoresgivenhavebeenhigh.Forexample,inSerbia190participants,60percentofthoseattending,returnedevaluationsheets,and85percentstatedthattheinformationreceivedwasveryusefulforthemandtheremaining15percentsaidthattheinformationwasuseful.Insomecases,theevaluationswerealsousedasatooltoobtaininformationaboutperceivedneeds,suchastheprioritisationoftrainingsubjects.InlinewiththeapproachappliedandtheneedsandexpectationsfromtheCSOs,arangeofactivitiesincludinginformationandpartnershipeventsfollowedthekick-offs.TACSOorganisedover100informationeventswithapproximately4,500participantsduringTACSOOne,PhaseOne.

Theinterventionshave,inmanycases,beenplannedinconsultationswiththeEUdelegationsandLAGsandwithotherdevelopmentpartners.Ingeneral,theaimwastodisseminateinformation,exchangeexperiencesandpromotecollaborationbetweeninstitutionsandorganisations.

ThefollowingareexamplesoftherangeofinformationeventsorganisedbyTACSOduringthefirstphase:

COMPONENT 4: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CSOS AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERSCSOs and External Stakeholders - Phase one of TACSO


Informationevents

EU/IPA• InformationsessiononIA2008call,SupporttoParticipationoftheCSinDecision-makingandProvisionof

SocialServices.• InformationdaysforIPA2009.• EU-NGOdialoguemeetingwiththeEUJointParliamentCommitteewhereEuropeanacquisewasdiscussed.• ElementsoftheEUPCM.• ConsultationswithCSOstodiscusstheEIDHRCountry-BasedSupportScheme.• IPAInformationdaysforIPA2008CfP,SupporttoParticipationofCivilSocietyinDecision-MakingandProvi-

sionofSocialServices,rulesandproceduresforapplying.• ConsultationsforIPAmulti-beneficiaryprogramme2011.• IPA2IPACSOstudyvisitscall.• AnnouncementofP2Psandpre-selectionofparticipants6.• WorkshoponHowtoAccessEUFunds.

• PartnershipeventforsustainableCSOs.• Explanationoftheimplementationofthenewlawforassociation.• Monitoringoftheimplementationofstrategicplansinlocalcommunities.• IstraCSOopendaysinPula2010.• StrongpartnershipforsustainableCSOs.• Organisedregionalconference,QualityAssuranceSystem,asafollowuponnationalQAS.• Croatiatowards2011-EuropeanYearofVolunteering:theRoleandImportanceofVolunteerCoordinators.


Funding• InformationseminaronthepossibilityforfinancingandsupportforCSOs.• Possibilitiesforprojectsubmission.• Workshopforthelocalself-governmentcommitteeforfinancingofNGOprojects.• Presentationofthepublication,PublicfundingforCSOs-goodpracticeintheEUandtheWesternBalkans.

Cooperationwithgovernment• RegionalconferenceoncooperationbetweenCSOsandlocalself-governance.• WorkshopwiththeSectorforCSontheconsultationprocessregardingtheMB.• SupportedanalysisandparticipatedingovernmentworkinggroupforthenewlawonNGOs.• ConferencerelatedtocreationoftheGovernmentCouncilforCooperationwithNGOs.• ValuationofvolunteerworkinthehighereducationsysteminCroatia.• ConsultativemeetingonthetransparentallocationofpublicbudgetfundstoCSOsinordertogathersugges-

tionsandopinionsrelatedtothedevelopmentoftheregulationfortransparentfundingtobeadoptedbytheMinistryofPublicAdministrationandLocalSelf-Government.

• OrganisedthefirstworkshopbringingtogethertheDepartmentofAssociationsProvincialDirectorsandCSrepresentativeswhojointlyrecommendedmechanismsforimprovingcommunication.

• OrganisedaconferencerelatedtothecreationoftheGovernmentCouncilforCooperationwithNGOs.

PromotionofTACSO

CSOsandthebusinesssector

TACSOinformationsharing.

FacilitateddevelopmentofmodelsandprinciplesforCSO/privatesectorcollaboration.

Table13.:RangeofinformationeventsorganisedbyTACSOduringthefirstphase


6 TopicareascoveredbyP2Pwere:Respectofhumanrights,healthanddignityinprison.HowcantheCScontribute?,BuildingNatura2000inWBandTurkey:theroleofCS.

Duringthelistedevents,TACSO:

1.11. Strengthened the role of CSOs in the democratisation process in the WBT.

TACSOsteeredtheinvolvementofCSOsandtheirroleindemocratisationprocessesintheWBTbycreatingopportunitiesforCSOsto:

• ParticipateinadebateamongCSOs,donorandotherpossibleinterestedactorsthusempoweringtheknowledgeandstrengtheningthevoiceofCSOs.

• Participateinroundtablesonthesubject,MediaandCSOs-ChallengesandOpportunities,withhigh-levelrepresentativesfromstrong,relevantlocalandnationalmedia.CSOsparticipatingdevelopedacompilationofconcreteproposalsandrecommendationsfromparticipants.

• FormthenetworkoflocalNGOsworkingintheareaoflocalcommunitydevelopment,whichstartedwithpreparationofjointprojects.

• ParticipateinaconferenceonInternationalWomen’sDay,theseminarpresentationofprojectsfundedwithinthePhare2006SchemeforYouth,andNGODays2010.

• ContributetothedevelopmentoftheAlmanacofCSOAchievementtitled,CSOs-ThePowerofBiHCitizensintheEUIntegrationProcess,byparticipatinginaninformationeventofCSOachievementsaswellasaninformationeventbasedontherecommendationsfromthekick-offevents.

• CreatethePlatformonPartnershipActionwhichconsistedof26CSOsand16governmentalinstitutionsincludingstateandentitylevelgenderagenciesthusstrengtheningtheCSOvoiceandrepresentationinthedialogueonjuveniledelinquencyandmoreefficientassistancetovictimsofviolence.

• SerbianurbanandgrassrootscivilsocietyorganisationsactiveinNorthernKosovowereincludedintheprocessofcapacitybuildinginapplicationprocesses.

• LearnmoreandexchangeexperiencesonvoluntaryprogrammeimplementationinpublicinstitutionsandCSOsthroughtheworkofvolunteercoordinatorsbyparticipatingintheconference,CroatiaTowards2011-EuropeanYearofVolunteering:TheRoleandImportanceofVolunteerCoordinators,andintheroundtable,EvaluationofVolunteerWorkintheHigherEducationSysteminCroatia.

• LearnaboutthephilanthropichistoryofIstriabyparticipatingin,IstriaCSOOpenDays:Pula2010.• ParticipateintheinformationandpartnershipeventsplannedbytheCSOsworkingonwomen,peoplewith

disabilities,children,marginalisedanddisadvantagedgroups,suchas,PinkLife,intheirorganisationofaweek-longeventagainsthatecrimesagainstLGBTindividualsandtheEuropeanMovementInternational(EMI)conference.

• ParticipatedinthePlacesintheHeartawardswherehigh-profilecompaniessupportingcorporatephilanthropyinSerbiaawardedcashprizestotalling11,500EuroaswellasanumberofcommodityawardsforBestLocalInitiativeandBestLocalPartnership.

• Commentonastudyontheavailabilityoftechnicalassistance.

1.12. Facilitated donor coordination/better donor coordination.

TherehasbeenconsiderabledemandinAlbaniaforTACSOtocontributetothecreationofsynergies,avoidingoverlappingandmakingtheprocessastransparentandopenaspossibleforallstakeholdersanddonors.TheEUDelegationtoAlbaniaconsideredthepossibilitythatTACSOAlbaniaactastheSecretariatofDonorWorkingGroupsmanagingadatabaseoftheactivitiesfundedbyvariousdonorssupportingtheCSOs.


1.13. Improved structures for dialogue in EU Integration, IPA programming and consultation matters.

TACSOfacilitatedtheprocessofEUintegration,IPAprogrammingandconsultationsbyproviding:

• SupporttotheEuropeanCommissionorganisingthefirstStabilisationandAssociationProcess(SAP)CivilSocietyDialogueinPristina.TheconsultationswerechairedbyPierreMirel,DirectorfortheWesternBalkansintheDGEnlargementoftheEuropeanCommissionandMetkaRoksandic,HeadoftheEuropeanEconomicandSocialCommittee’s(ECOSOC)WorkingGroupontheWesternBalkans.TACSOprovidedsupportindevelopingtheagendaandidentifyingbestrepresentativesandpresentationscomingfromthecivilsocietyofKosovo.Themeetingwascomposedofsevensessionsdiscussingthematicissuessuchas:thereviewofthelawonFreedomofAssociationofNGOs,freedomofspeech,women’sempowermentandprotection,centralisedanddecentralisedinstitutionsmanagingweakresources,thefightagainstcorruption,challengesfortheprivatesectorandenvironmentalchallenges.

• FourteenKosovoNGOsoperatinginnorthernMitrovicaparticipatedinastudytour,NGOsinEuropeanPoliticalArena,heldinBrusselsandStrasbourg.TheyandmetwithEUMPsDorisPack,JelkoKacinandCommissionerFulewhohighlightedtheimportanceofcivilsocietydialogueandtheroleofcivilsocietyinthere-integrationprocess.MeetingswiththeKosovodeskduringthisvisitenableddirectcommunicationaboutcontributionsofcivilsocietyinthepreparationoftheKosovoprogressreport.ThisactivitywasfollowedbyanothermeetingheldinMitrovicainFebruary2011withtheEUKosovodeskand15NGOs.

• FacilitationforthematicconsultationsbetweencivilsocietyandtheEuropeanCommissionLiaisonOfficeconcerningthestabilisationandassociationprocessinareassuchas:StabilisationAssociationProcessDialogue(SAPD)Infrastructure–Transport,Environment,EnergyandRegionalDevelopment;andSAPDInternalMarket–FreeMovementofGoods,PropertyRights,MovementofCapitalandCompanyLaw.

• Support,togetherwiththeSerbianOfficeforEUIntegrations(SEIO),fortheestablishmentofaconsultativemechanismforinvolvingCSOsintheprocessofprogrammingIPAfunds.

• PromotionandinformationdisseminationaboutP2P,aswellassupportintheselectionofparticipantsforP2Peventsandfollow-upactivities.

• OpportunityforCSOstoreflectonEUFinancialRegulations.• Supportforpartnermatchingincross-bordercooperationbetweenCSOsandanincreasethecapacities

neededtoapplyforthesefunds.• DevelopmentoftheGuidetoEUCSONetworks.


1.14. Promoted change and improvement of the legal framework for CSOs.

TACSOpromotedthechangeandimprovementoftheinstitutionalframeworkbysupportingorganisationsand/orenablingCSOstoparticipateineventsthat:

• ContributedtomakingpublicfinancingofCSOsmoreeffectiveandefficienttakingintoconsideration:planning,institutionsresponsibleforfinancing,transparencyoftheprocess,scopeofbeneficiaries,decision-makingcriteria,decision-makingprocess,reporting,monitoringandevaluation.

• Influencedthecreationofconcretegovernmentbodiessuchas,forexample,theAgencyforSupportofCivilSocietyinAlbania,theNationalOfficeforCooperationwithCSOsinSerbiaandanincreaseintheliaisonroleoftheOfficeforCooperationwithNGOsinKosovo.

• FacilitatedtheprocessresultinginamendmentsofthelegalframeworkandtaxationlegislationforCSOs.• Promotedthepublication,PublicFundingforCivilSocietyOrganisations-GoodPracticesintheEuropean

UnionandWesternBalkans,thusincreasingawarenessandknowledgeaboutCSOfundingopportunitiesincludingdevelopingcapacitiesofthelocalself-governmentcommitteesforfinancingNGOprojects.

• SteereddiscussionontheutilisationoftheCivikosPlatform.ThestrategywasdraftedincoordinationwiththeLAGandotherdonors.TACSOfocusedonprovisionofsupporttocivilparticipationinlegislationandthedecision-makingprocess.

• GatheredCSOopinionsandsuggestionsinrelationtothedevelopmentoftheRegulationsforTransparentfundingtobeadoptedbytheMinistryofPublicAdministrationandLocalSelf-Government.TACSOSerbia’smeetingonTransparentAllocationofPublicBudgetFundstoCivilSocietyOrganisationsresultedinproposalsforuniquemechanismsandclearcriteriaandproceduresforallocatingstatesubsidiestonon-governmentalorganisationswithinthedraftregulation.

1.15. Initiated policy-oriented change processes.

TACSOprovidedopportunitiesforanexchangeoflessonslearntandkick-startedchangeprocessesbybringingkeystakeholderstogetherforafewdaysofdiscussionandreflectionatregionalconferences.Subsequently,thestakeholdersshouldcontinuetodevelopactionplansandimplementthematthenationallevelwithsupportfromTACSO.DuringthefirstphaseofTACSOOne,threemajorpolicy-orientedprocesseswereinitiatedbytheregionalofficeincollaborationwiththeTACSOnationalteams:

• CSOQualityAssuranceSystems.• CSO-LocalGovernmentCooperation.supporttonetworking,platforms,initiatives• CSOSustainability.

Agoodexampleoffollow-uponthenationallevelisanactiontakeninBosniaandHerzegovina.Aftertheregionalconference,anationalconferenceonQASwasorganisedincooperationwiththeMinistryofJusticeSectorforCivilSocietyandwiththreeBosnianCSOsparticipatingintheregionalevent.Inadditiontothequalityassurancesystemsreviewedattheregionalconference(PQASSO,SOKNO,andISO),afourthqualitytool,QualityAssuranceofYouthWorkintheCommunity(OKORUZ),aself-assessmenttoolforCSOyouthworkers,wasintroducedatthenationalconference.Asanexampleofthepracticalapplicationsthatareexpectedtocomeoutoftheinitiative,TACSOBosniaandHerzegovinawasapproachedbyayouthorganisationrequestingassistancetointroducetheOKORUZself-assessmenttoolforcommunityyouthworkers.ApartfromBiH,QASnationaleventswereorganisedinotherTACSOcountriesaswellduringTACSOPhaseTwo.


1.16. Contributed to strengthening the capacity of governments to cooperate with CSOs.

1.16.1. SupportedestablishmentandcapacitybuildingfortheGovernmentAgencyforSupportingCivil Society.

TACSOAlbaniacollaboratedwithaGermanAgencyforTechnicalCooperation(GTZ)fundedprojectthatsupportedtheestablishmentoftheGovernmentAgencyforSupportingCivilSociety(CSSA)inAlbaniaandwiththeDepartmentforDonorCoordinationattheCouncilofMinisterstoestablishadialogueandmechanismsofcooperationbetweenthegovernmentandcivilsocietyinAlbania.IncollaborationwiththeEUDelegationandtheOrganizationforSecurityandCo-operationinEurope(OSCE)PresenceinAlbania,TACSOAlbaniaorganisedanationalconference,QuoVadisCivilSociety.Partofthisconferenceagendawastheintroductionoftherolesandresponsibilitiesoftheagency.Onthisoccasion,TACSOalsoprovidedcommentsandsuggestionsregardingtheefficientdisbursementofthegovernmentgrantschemetoAlbanianCSOs.TwoconsultativemeetingswerealsoheldbetweenTACSOandtheagencyonthenecessityofundertakingopenforumswithNGOstodiscusstheVATexemptionandissuesofconcernregardingthelawonNGOs.Inordertostrengthentheadministrativecapacitiesofthegovernmenttocooperatewithcivilsociety,inOctober2010TACSOAlbaniaorganisedastudytourtoRomaniafortheexecutivestaffofCSSA.FruitfulmeetingswereorganisedwithrepresentativesoftheRomaniangovernmentandcivilsocietybenefitingfromthebestpracticesofthirdsectordevelopmentsinthatcountry.ThesharingofexperiencesincludedmeetingswithrepresentativesoftheRomanianGovernmentOfficeforCooperationPolicieswiththeAssociativeStructures,forPublicCommunicationandforInstitutionalTransparency.IngeneralrepresentativesoftheagencyareregularlyinvitedtoTACSOregionalandnationalevents.

1.16.2. HelpedinpreparationofanannualplanofactivitiesfortheGovernmentalOfficefor CooperationwithNGOs.

InCroatia,theTACSOteamprovidedassistancetotheGovernmentalOfficeforCooperationwithNGOs(GOfCNGOs)throughfacilitationofanannualoperationalplanningevent/process.Themainpurposeoftheone-dayeventwastoprepareaplanofactivitiesfortheGOfCNGOsin2010andharmoniseitwithTACSOnationalandregionalworkplans.Asaresultofthisinitiative:GOfCNGOsOperativePlanfor2010,GOfCNGOsCalendarofActivitiesfor2010andabriefoverviewofcooperationbetweentheGOfCNGOsandTACSOweredeveloped.TACSOCroatiasupportedastrategicplanningprocessconductedbytheCouncilforCivilSocietyDevelopment(CCSD)thatisacknowledgedbyCSOsasthelegitimateforumforCSOsandgovernmentcooperationsinceitisinvolvedinmakingalldecisionsrelevantforcivilsocietydevelopment.SeveralmembersofCCSDparticipatedintheTACSOCroatiaLAGplanningworkshopheldinOctober2010andthepresidentoftheCCSDparticipatedonbehalfofTACSOCroatiaLAGintheDonorCoordinationmeetinginBrusselsduringthesecondhalfofOctober2010.

1.16.3. EnsuredgreatercivicparticipationinthereviewoftheLawonFreedomofAssociationofNGOsandincreasedtheliaisonroleoftheCooperationwithNGOs.

TheTACSOKosovoresidentadvisorparticipatedintheworkinggroupforLawonFreedomofAssociationofNGOsasanobserver.Theintentionsweretoassistintheprocessofreviewingthelaw,toensurecivilparticipationandanincreaseintheliaisonroleoftheOfficeforCooperationwithNGOs.InthiscontextTACSOorganisedandsponsoredastudyvisittoCroatiaforagroupoffiveparticipants,threegovernmentrepresentativesandtwocivilsocietyrepresentatives,andsupportedtheconsultationprocesswithcivilsocietytoensuregreatercivicparticipationintheprocess.Also,TACSOhasprovideditsresourcestostrengthentheprocessbysupportingthedevelopmentof:1)StudyontheCivilSocietyInvolvementintheLegislationDraftingProcess,whichexploredthelegislativecycleinKosovoandcivilsocietyinvolvementinit;and2)Study on InstitutionalArrangementsforCooperationwithCivilSocietywhichidentifiedtheunitsresponsibleforcivildialoguewithinKosovoinstitutionswithaparticularemphasisontheKosovogovernment.


ThemandateandfunctionalityoftheOfficeforGoodGovernancewithintheOfficeofthePrimeMinisterwasthefocalpointofthestudybutotherofficeswillbeincludedaswell.

1.16.4. SharedexperiencesbetweentheGovernmentUnitforCooperationwithNGOsfromMacedonia anditsCroatiancounterpartaboutDecentralisedSystemofImplementation(DIS)andtheroles andresponsibilitiesofdifferentinstitutionsinthiscontext.

TheTACSOMacedoniateamorganisedastudyvisitfortheGovernmentUnitforCooperationwithNGOsoftheRepublicofMacedoniawithitscounterpartinCroatia,theOfficeforCooperationwithNGOsoftheGovernmentofRepublicofCroatia.Thepurposeofthevisitwastostudycivilsocietygrantschemesmanagement.ThestudyvisithelpedtheparticipantstounderstandthedecentralisedsystemofimplementationofEUfundedprojectsforCSOs,andcontributedtocloseracquaintancewiththeactivitiesandroleoftheinstitutionsinvolvedintheprocessoftheimplementationoftheseprojects.Theparticipantsprepared reports based on the visit that were circulated within the government and they presented their findingstothemembersoftheLAG.

1.16.5. SupportedthereviewofthelegalframeworkforCSOs.

InMontenegro,aTACSOrepresentativeparticipatedinagovernmentworkinggroupsetuptoreviewthelegalframeworkforCSOs.

1.16.6. SupportedNationalOfficeforCooperationwithCSOs

TACSOSerbiadevelopedplanstosupportthefunctioningoftheNationalOfficeforCooperationwithCSOsassoonasitstarteditsoperations.

1.16.7. ImprovedcommunicationbetweentheDepartmentofAssociationsProvincialDirectorsand CivilSocietyRepresentatives.

InTurkey,attheendofNovember2010TACSO,incollaborationwiththeCSDCandtheDoA,heldthefirstworkshopbringingtogethertheDepartmentofAssociationsProvincialDirectorsandcivilsocietyrepresentatives.Participantsworkedtogethertorecommendmechanismsforimprovingcommunications.Afollow-upseminarwith81provincialdirectorstosharetheoutputoftheworkshopfollowedaswellassimilarworkshopsonthelocallevel.

1.16.8. EnhancedcollaborationbetweenthecentraladministrationandlocalgovernmentsaswellasmutualcontributionsregardingEUrelatedoperationsandinterventions.

TACSOTurkeyprovidedtechnicalassistancetotheSecretariatGeneralforEUAffairs(EUSG)fortheimplementationofaprovincialcommunicationstrategy.Theprovincialcommunicationstrategysetupathree-pillarstructureattheprovinciallevelcoveringEUPermanentContactPoints.TheEUanticipatedresultsthatensureasolidcollaborationbetweencentraladministrationandlocalgovernmentsaswellasmutualcontributionregardingEUrelatedoperationsandinterventionsbetweenthem.TechnicalanalysisfromTACSOTurkeyfocusedontheimprovementoftheskillsofnewlyrecruitedexpertsinEUSGthroughatrainingoftrainersthusenablingthemtodelivertrainingstotheCSOsonprojectdevelopmentandmanagement.

At the regional level,opportunitiestoexchangeexperiencesbetweencountriesonthemethodsandapproachesforcooperationbetweengovernmentsandcivilsocietywasprovidedattheConference on Cooperation between CSOs and Local Self-governmentwhichwasheldinMontenegroinFebruary2011.Bestpracticeexamplesfromtheparticipatingcountrieswerereviewedanddiscussedduringtwodays.Thesehave


TheresultsoftheinteractiveevaluationfromthefirstworkshopbroughtthegovernmentandCSOrepresen-tativesinTurkeytogether:

-Manyprejudicesandstereotypestowardseachotherwerebrokendown.-ManyparticipantsstressedthattheydidnothavemuchhopethattherewouldbedialoguebetweenCSOsandthegovernment.However,theyfelthopefulattheendoftheworkshopandtheybelievedthatdialoguecouldbeestablished.

-GovernmentrepresentativesmentionedthattheyhadseenthegovernmentmakedecisionsinthenameofCSOswithoutconsultingthem.TheyhavebecomeawareofitnowandtheywillworktoinvolveCSOsinthedecision-makingprocess.

-Theyallhadthefeelingthattheywerenot“others”;theywereactuallyallworkingforthesamegoal:abettersociety.-ManygovernmentrepresentativesalsomentionedthattheywillorganisesimilarworkshopsintheircitiesandthattheyarealwaysopentoreceivetheproposalsandideasofCSOs.Somecommentsoftheparticipantsoftheworkshop:

“IrealisedthepossibilityofgettingdirectinformationfromCSOrepresentativesabouttheirneedsandex-pectations,andIunderstoodtheirexpectationsfromthegovernment.”“IunderstoodthatCSOshavepositivelydevelopedfurtherinthelastfiveyears.”“Iunderstoodthatthegovernmentshouldalsorenewitself.”“MybeliefaboutrealisingcommonprojectswithCSOshasbeenstrengthened.”“Iamleavingwithtwoprojectsinmind:1)toreshapetheservicepoliciesoftheDepartmentofAssociations(DoA)togetherwithCSOs;2)variousprojectstoshapeacommonfuturetogetherwithCSOs.”“IhaveseenthecapacityofCSOsandthattheyshouldinternalisetherights-basedapproach.”“IhavehadthechancetocomparethecivilsocietystructureinTurkeyandGermany.”

1.17. TACSO ensured its adaptability to the needs of the CSOs and to a participative approach.

TheestablishmentofLAGswasanimportantinstrumenttoensureneutrallinksbetweengovernmentinstitutions/unitsinchargeofcooperationwithCSOsandgovernments.LAGshaveprovidedadvisoryinputtoprojectsconcerningthedesignofeventsandactivitiesoftargetgroups,methodologiesandmaterials,monitoringofperformanceandensuringthatprojectservicesareinlinewiththeneedsofthebeneficiaryCSOs.LAGshavealsotailoredcapacitybuildingservicessinceeachLAGmemberisanexperiencedtrainer/facilitatorofrelevantprocesses(policy-making,strategicplanning,advocacyandneedsassessment)whoestablishestwo-waycommunicationchannelbetweenprojectsandCSOs.

TheLAGsconsistofrepresentativesoftheCSOcommunity,governments,donorsandotherkeystakeholders.Intotal,approximately100stakeholderrepresentativesareengagedintheworkofLAGs.LAGmeetingsareorganisedonaregularbasis,onaverageonceineverysixweeks.

RangeofdiscussionsduringtheLAGmeetingsareasfollows:

alsobeendocumentedaspartoftheproceedingsfromtheevent.Aspartoftheconferenceprogrammeallcountrydelegationswererequestedtopreparenationalactionsplansforintensifiedcooperation.ThesearesupposedtobefolloweduponatthenationallevelinordertopromoteactionandtodiscussnationalissuessuchastherefinementofthepublicbenefitstatusofCSOs,financialreportingfromtheseorganisationsandrelatedquestions.


TACSO approach and operati ons:

• TACSOreportingonprogress.• SpecificationofTACSOprioritiesfortheperiod2011-2013.• ApprovaloftheAnnualWorkPlan.• ApprovaloftheNationalTrainingPlan.• ApprovalofTACSOsupporttotheEIDHRcall.• ApprovalofdonorcoordinationbetweentheU.S.AgencyforInternationalDevelopment(USAID),theInstitutefor

SustainableCommunities(ISC)andTACSO.• ProjectplansandTACSOPhaseTwo,whichtookintoconsiderationtheneedsofgrassrootsorganisations,reviewed

lessonslearntanddiscussedrecommendationsforimprovementsinpriorityfieldsofTACSOoperations.• SpecificationoftheroleoftheAdvisoryGroupandnextsteps.

Cooperati on with government

• RecommendationsregardingthestrategicframeworkforestablishmentofrelationsbetweentheGovernmentandCSOsinBosniaandHerzegovina.

• ConferenceandTACSOrelatedquestionsontheroleofLAGintheprocessofestablishingagovernmentofficeforcooperationwiththecivilsector.

• DiscussionsaboutandpreparationfortheCivilSociety-GovernmentDialogueWorkshopandcreatingawarenessoftheCivilConstitution.

• PlanningsupporttotheGovernmentOfficeforCooperationwithCivilSociety.

EU/CSF related matt ers

• RecommendationsfortheEUCivilFacilityProgrammewithspecialfocusontheneedsofsmallorganisationsfromruralcommunitiestostrengthentheuseofEUfunds.

• PreparationofLAGrepresentativesforparticipationattheconference,NextStepsofTACSOandtheCivilSocietyFacility.

Capacity building

• EstablishmentoftheLAGtrainingcommittee.• DiscussionsabouttheNationalTrainingProgrammeandcapacitybuildingforCSOsproposedbyTACSO.• Possibilitiesforpublicandprivatepartnership.• Media,civilsocietyandregionalconferenceworkshoptopics.

Table14.:RangeoftopicsofbyTACSOduringLAGmeetingsduringthefirstphase


DuringthesecondphaseofTACSO,theoverallobjectiveofComponent4remainedsimilartothefirstphase.TheonlydifferenceswerethatcooperationanddialoguebetweenCSOs,governmentandtheprivatesectorwasstrengthenednotonlyonthenationalandlocallevelsbutalsoattheregionallevel.

Duringthesecondphase,TACSOcontinuedcontributingtotheimprovedqualityofdialogueandcooperationamongdifferentstakeholdersrelevanttothesectorofcivilsociety,andfollowinghasbeenachieved:

2.11. TACSO continued assisting in strengthening the democratic role of civil society.

Thiswasachievedthroughacombinationofmeasuresandinitiativesatdifferentlevelstoraiseawarenessandfacilitatedevelopmentprocessesthatresultedinnewformalandinformalpatternsofcommunicationanddecision-making.ManyTACSOinterventionsareimplementedascontributionstowardsthedeepeningofrelationshipsandstrengtheningoftiesbetweenmembersofcivilsociety.Thisappliesbothtosectorsandnationalcontextcooperationaswellasfacilitationofcross-bordercooperation.

2.11.1. CSOs,activeinareaofgenderequalityandhumanrightsprotection,visitedCroatianCSOsto learnaboutCroatia’sexperiencesconcerningCSOparticipationintheprocessofthepreparationand adoptionoflegalregulationsandinthecreationofpublicpolicies.

TACSOCroatiaorganisedastudyvisittoCroatiabyTurkishCSOsactiveintheareaofgenderequalityandhumanrightsprotection,especiallytherightsofchildrenanddisabledpersons.TheyvisitedZagrebinApril2011.OneoftheobjectivesoftheirvisitwastolearnaboutCroatianexperiencesconcerningCSOparticipationinprocessesofthepreparationandadoptionoflegalregulationsandthecreationofpublicpolicies.AnotherobjectivewastoassesstowhatextentCroatianpracticesmaybeapplicabletoparticipationofCSOsintheprocessesofadoptionofthenewTurkishconstitution.Furthermore,TACSOCroatiaco-organisedtheNGODays2012inJuneinpartnershipwiththeGovernmentOfficeforCooperationwithNGOsandtheNationalFoundationforCivilSocietyDevelopment.DuringtheNGODays,discussionwasstructuredaround:strategicprioritiesforcivilsocietydevelopmentsupportintheRepublicofCroatiainthecontextofadoptingthenewNationalStrategyforCreatinganEnablingEnvironmentforCivilSocietyDevelopment;youthparticipationinshapingpublicpolicyonthelocallevel,modelsofeffectivelyadvocatingpositivesocialchange;newfinancialopportunitiesforCSOsintheRepublicofCroatia;networkingforchanges;socialcohesionofcitizensandyouthintheareaofpovertyandyouthdelinquencysuppression;theroleofCSOsinsocialentrepreneurshipdevelopmentinCroatia;andthecriteriaforprovidingNGOswiththerightofuseofstateandcityownedproperty.ThefinaldayoftheconferencewasdedicatedtoanNGOOpenDoorDayinwhichNGOsfromalloverCroatiatookpart.Theaimofthiseventwastogivemoreinformationtocitizensandthewiderpublicabouttheprogrammesandprojects,whichareforthecommongoodandareimplementedbyNGOsinCroatia.Morethan120NGOsparticipatedintheOpenDoorDayfromalloverCroatia.ReportsfromNGODaysareavailablein English on the TACSO Web site and here.

2.11.2. OrganisationsfromAlbania,Croatia,Bulgaria,Kosovo,SerbiaandSloveniaestablishedthe BalkanRegionalEarlySupportNetwork(BRESN).

TACSOKosovoimplementedaneventincollaborationwithDownSyndromeKosovaaimedatconsolidatingtheBRESNregionalnetwork,whichwasestablishedinOctober2010inPristine.BRESNisanetworkof11activeorganisationsfromAlbania,Croatia,Bulgaria,Kosovo,SerbiaandSlovenia.TACSOsupportedtheconsolidationoftheBRESNnetworkthroughaworkshopthattookplaceinPristineinNovember2011.Activitiesincluded:definitionofthemissionandgoalsoftheBRESNnetwork,coordination,mandate,decision-makingsystemofthenetwork,aswellasthepreparationoftheBRESNnetworkactionplan.

CSOs and External Stakeholders - Phase two of TACSO


2.11.3. CapacitybuildingmeasuresfortheCivikosPlatformweredeveloped.

DuringthereportingperiodTACSOKosovo,inclosecooperationwithEUDKosovoandtheCivikosPlatform,developedcapacitybuildingmeasurestostrengthenCivikoscapacitieswithitsinternaldecision-makingmechanism,theCodeofConductforCivikosmembersandselectionmechanismsforCSOstoparticipateindifferentdecision-makingprocesses.ThesemeasureshavebeenfinalisedandstartbeingimplementedinJanuary-March2013.

2.11.4. CSOsparticipatedinaworkshopdiscussingissuesrelatedtotransitionaljusticeandtheimpact ofthepoliticsonyouthanddividedcommunities.

TACSOKosovohostedandorganisedapartnershipeventwithNGOCommunityBuildingMitrovica(CBM)for40studentsoftheRegionalHumanRightsSchoolcomingfromtheWesternBalkancountries.Theworkshopwasfocusedontransitionaljustice,theimpactofpoliticsonyouthanddividedcommunities.TACSOResidentAdvisorsgaveapresentationontheroleofcivilsocietyintransitionaljustice.CSOsfromKosovoalsogavepresentationsduringthisworkshopforthesestudents.

2.11.5. CooperationbetweentradeunionsandCSOsbecameanewthemeontheagendaofTACSO.

TACSOMontenegroorganisedaroundtableoncooperationbetweentradeunionsandCSOstherebybringinganewthemetotheagendaforTACSO.Theevent,CooperationbetweentradeunionsandCSOsinMontenegro,aimedtosupportcooperationbetweencivilsocietyorganisationsandtradeunionsandtodefineareasandmodelsofcooperationbetweentradeunionsandcivilsociety.Basedontheconclusionsoftheconference,theestablishmentofacoordinatingbody,WorkingGroupforCoordinationbetweenTradeUnionsandNGOswasproposed.TheworkinggroupwillberesponsibleforimprovingcoordinationbetweenunionsandCSOsaswellasformonitoringprogressinthisrespect.TheTACSOteamwillprovidelogisticsupporttotheworkinggroup.

2.11.6. RegionalInitiativeforIndependentLivingofPersonswithDisabilitieswasestablished.

TACSOSerbiafacilitatedtheprocessofestablishingaregionaldialoguebetweenorganisationsinMacedonia,BosniaandHerzegovina,SerbiaandBulgariawithintheframeworkoftheRegionalInitiativeforIndependentLivingofPersonswithDisabilities.

2.11.7. TurkishCSOscontributedtotheprocessofdevelopinganewconstitution.

TACSOTurkeyfacilitatedcivilsocietycontributionstotheprocessofdevelopinganewconstitution.TheNewConstitutionalPlatformwasinvitedtoahearingwiththeParliamentaryCompromiseCommissionontheConstitution.Theywereinvitedtosharetheirfindingsfrommeetingswithcitizens,anumberofwhichhavebeensupportedbyTACSOinphaseoneandtwo.Theypresentedtheirreportandtheirviewsontheprocessofconstitutionmaking.Similarly,theCommunityVolunteersFoundationmetwiththecommissiontopresenttheirpaperonyouthissueswithregardtotheconstitution,whichwaspartiallyformulatedbasedonthefindingsoftheRegionalYouthVolunteeringConferencesupportedbyTACSO.ManyotherTACSOpartnersinTurkeyhavealsomadetheircontributions,forexample,thePinkLifeAssociationwhichmetwithMPsonseveraloccasionstocommunicatetheneedsoftransgenderindividualswithregardtotheconstitution.Theyhavesubmittedpolicypaperstothecommissiontoincludetransgenderrightsinthenewconstitutionandtheyhavesubmittedfourpolicypapersontransgenderrightstorelevantministries.KaosGLhasalsotakensimilaractions.


2.11.8. Supportedexaminationofbroadtrendsinthereformprocess,whicharenecessaryfora participatorydemocracyandasustainablecivilsociety.

TACSOwasapartnerwithEuropeanCitizenActionService(ECAS)andotherkeypartnerstoorganiseaRegionalCivilSocietyConferenceheldinZadarinSeptember2012.Theconferencegatheredapproximately120participantsfromtheWesternBalkansandTurkey,representativesfromthecivilsociety,governmentandEU,toexaminebroadtrendsinthereformprocess.Thesetrendsarenecessaryforaparticipatorydemocracyandasustainablecivilsociety.Thebackgroundtothiseventwastheten-pointLjubljanadeclaration.Theobjectivesoftheconferencestemmedfromaprocess,launchedbyECASandotherorganisationsintheregionin2008,whichcreatedsustainablepartnershiprelationsbetweencivilsocietyactors,theEUandnationalauthorities.Thereportfromtheconference,thedraftofthenewdeclarationandtheevaluationresultscanbefoundonthe ECAS Web site.

2.12. TACSO became an integral part of the CSF.

TACSOcontinuedimprovingstructuresfordialogueinEUIntegration,IPAprogrammingandconsultationrelatedmattersandbecameandanintegralpartoftheCSF.

CooperationwiththeEUDshasgraduallyincreased.TACSOfacilitatedthedialoguebetweentheEUandcivilsociety,forexample,inconjunctionwiththedonorcoordinationmeetinginDecemberinBrusselswhereLAGmembersparticipated.ManyinformationandtrainingeventsareundertakeninsupportofcallslaunchedbyDGEnlargementandthedelegations.TheexamplesbelowillustratethewiderangeofservicesprovidedbyTACSO to the CFS:

2.12.1. CSOsfromAlbaniaandKosovowereinpositiontolookforpossibilitiesformutualpartnering andnetworkingandbecamefamiliarwithEUfinancialinstrumentssupportingthecivilsocietyinIPA countries and territories.

Based on the growing demand by CSOs to have the opportunity to enter into partnerships and networks with counterpartsfromKosovoCSOs,theTACSOAlbaniaOffice,incoordinationwiththeTACSOKosovoOffice,organisedaPartnershipDayonIncreasingParticipationinPlanningandImplementationofIPAfundedProjectsinAugust2012intheKukesregion.ThepurposeofthisactivitywastofacilitatepartnershipandnetworkingbetweenCSOsofbothcountriesasameanforbuildingpotentialcoalitionsforapplyingforIPAregionalandcrossbordercooperationprogrammes.ParticipantsgotacquaintedwithEUfinancialinstrumentssupportingcivilsocietyinIPAcountriesandterritoriesandthebenefitsforenteringintoandoperatingpartnershipagreementswithotherorganisations.Onehundredandthreeparticipantsinthiseventwereactiveinthefieldsofeconomicdevelopment,environmentprotection,genderequality,culture,supporttovulnerablegroups,etc.

2.12.2. SupportinpreparationoftheCSFpartnershipactionsopeningconferences.

TACSOCroatiaprovidedlogisticsandvisibilitysupportinthepreparationoftheCSFPartnershipActions-WomenEmpowerment-OpeningConferenceinFebruary2012inZagreb.

2.12.3. ProvidedassistanceinCfPpromotion.

TheTACSOROassistedinpromotingtheonlinestreamingoftheinformationsessionregardingtheCallforProposalsEuropeAid/132438/C/ACT/MultiheldinFebruary2012.Morethan50percentoftheonlineparticipantsoriginatedfromtheTACSOWebsite.SixhundredandtwelveparticipantsviewedviatheEC’sDirectorateGeneralforInterpretation(SCIC)streaming,654viaTACSOand60wereintheroom.


2.12.4. Organisedpartnership-matchingeventsforCBCprogrammes.

ApartnershipdaywasjointlyorganisedbytheAlbanianandtheMacedonianTACSOofficesinFebruary2012topromoteEUfundingopportunitiesinparticularthecallforcross-bordercooperationbetweenMacedoniaandAlbania.

2.12.5. ActastheextensionserviceforP2P.

TACSOsupportedtheP2Pprogrammethroughdisseminationofinformation,selectionandbriefingofparticipantsandthroughvariousfollow-upactivitiesoncedelegationsreturnedtotheirhomecountries.TACSOMacedoniawaschosenasanexampleoftheservicesofferedinrelationtofollow-upactivities.Theinformationevent,SharingExperiencefromthePeopletoPeopleprogramme,wasorganisedinSkopjeinNovember2011byTACSOandtheEUD.Participantsinpreviousprogrammeshadtheopportunitytosharetheirexperienceswithrepresentativesofcivilsociety.Participantsdiscussedgoodpracticesandcameupwithrecommendationsfortheprogramme.TACSOMacedoniaalsoofferedsupportfortheorganisationofasinglebeneficiaryP2Peventonthetopic,FunctionalSystem(s)forInvolvingCivilSocietyinthePolicyDevelopmentandDecision-makingProcess,whereparticipantshadtheopportunitytotalkaboutthepotentialcontributionofcivilsocietyduringthedecision-makingprocess.ExperiencesfromSloveniaandtheSlovakRepublicwerepresentedattheevent.TACSOsupportconsistedofapre-selectionofparticipantsfortheevent,theissuingofinvitationstoparticipantsandlocalspeakersandfacilitatorsoftheconference,registrationofapplications,andmoderationofthepaneldebateonHowtoTargetSuccessfullytheIssueofCivicParticipation.Subsequently,intheframeworkoftheP2Pprogramme,TACSOAlbaniaandtheEUDconductedaconclusiveseminaronEnsuringanEnablingEnvironmentforCivilSocietyOrganisations.ThepurposewastogiveparticipantstheopportunitytoreviewthesituationinAlbaniaandtolookatexperiencesfromothercountries.High-rankingrepresentativesofAlbanianpublicadministration,localauthoritiesandinternationalorganisationshaveattendedthisevent.

2.12.6. TakefollowupactionsbasedonthefindingsfromtheP2Pevents.

TACSOAlbania,followingtheP2Psinglebeneficiaryevent,EnsuringanEnablingEnvironmentforCSOs,hascontinuedtolobbyatthecentrallevelwiththerepresentativesoftheMinistryofFinanceofAlbaniatoprovideinformationregardingthefiscalandlegalframeworkforCSOsandpotentialsolutionsbasedonsuccessstoriesofothercountriesintheregion.TACSOAlbania’sResidentAdvisormetthreetimeswithMrsArjanaDyrmishi,theFiscalandMacroeconomicDirectoroftheMinistryofFinance.TheydiscussedfindingasolutionforVATreimbursementofEUgrants.TherepresentativefromtheMinistryofFinancepreparedamemorandumtobeapprovedbytheMinisterofFinanceofAlbaniaforfurthernegotiationswiththeAlbanianGovernment.ThesolutionproposedisbasedonCroatianexperiences.ThisprocesshasbeencoordinatedwiththeEUDinTirana.TACSOAlbaniaprovidedassistancetotheEUDelegationandCSOsfortheprogrammingofIPACSF2012/2013ProjectFicheforAlbania.TheTACSOteamenabledthedelegationtodistributetheprojectficheto850CSOsandgetconsolidatedinputsfromtheCSOsforthedelegationtofollowupon.TACSOAlbaniaprovidedsupporttothedelegationfortheEIDHRCBSS2010/2011includingconsultationmeetingswithCSOsandtrainingsessionsforapplicantswhilethecallforproposalswasopen.Finally,theteamprovidedhelpdeskandcapacitybuildingsupporttosuccessfulgranteesofthiscallonHowtoManageEUFundedProjects.

2.12.7. LookingforsolutionsformoresystematicinvolvementofCSOsintheprogrammingprocess

TACSOBiHcontinuedtofacilitatetheprocessofinvolvementofCSOsinIPAprogramming.TheTACSOBiH/LAGorganisedatwo-dayworkshopasaforumforrepresentativesofthesixbiggestnetworks,JusticeNetwork,NetworkAgreementPlus,Iamvolunteering,PeaceBuildingNetwork,BiHNGOCouncilandWomen’sNetworkBiH,tomeetanddiscussoptionsforCSOinvolvementinIPAprogrammingwithbothTACSOLAGmembersandrepresentativesoftheDirectorateforEUIntegration(DEI).


PriortothismeetingtheLAGmemberswerefamiliarisedwiththeDepartmentforplanning,programming,monitoringandreportingonEUfundsanddevelopmentassistanceoftheOfficefortheEUintegrationofSerbia(DACU)andSEKOmechanismsforprogrammingconsultationsthatwereestablishedinSerbiathroughastudyvisitorganisedbyTACSO.Basedontheobservationsmadeduringthestudytrip,theTACSOteamdevelopedaroadmapforIPAprogrammingwherethestartingpointwastheLAGmeeting/workshopwithmembersandresponsibleSeniorProjectOfficers(SPO)tobuildcommongroundforapermanentandfunctionalconsultationprocessbasedontheproposalofCSOs,CSOnetworksandtheDepartmentforEuropeanIntegration.Inaddition,theLAGmembersgaveclearrecommendationsconcerningthefurtherdevelopmentofmechanismsformoreefficientinvolvementofCSOsintheIPAprogrammingprocess.

TACSOKosovo’sorganisationofinformationsessionsinsupportofCSOsapplyingfortheEIDHR2011callforproposalswasusedtodemonstratehowsubstantialresourcesareallocatedforthistask.ActivitiestookplaceduringtheperiodOctober-November2011.TheTACSOKosovoofficesupportedtheMinistryofEuropeanIntegrationwhenholdingitsfirstconsultativemeetingwithcivilsocietyorganisationsontheannualprogrammeforIPA2013.ThepurposeofthismeetingwastogettheinputandexpertisefromCSOsondifferentprojectideasandprojectfichesbeforetheyweresubmittedtotheEuropeanCommission.ThepackagesofprojectficheswerebasedontheprioritiesoftheKosovoinstitutionsandthoseidentifiedintheMulti-AnnualIndicativePlanningDocument.Thisinitiativewaswelcomedbycivilsociety.Itwasconcludedthatsectorial-basedmeetingsshouldbeorganisedinthefuturetoensuremorefocuseddiscussions.Duringthismeeting,officialsfromtheconcernedministriesandagenciespresented27projectideaswithatotalamountof92.68millionEuros.Furthermore,TACSO,incooperationwithEUDKosovo,involvedLAGsandCSOsintheprogrammingprocessoftheEIDHR2012andKosovoCSF2012and2013.TACSOMacedoniaorganisedtwoconsultativemeetingswithCSOsregardingEIDHRprioritiesandtheEUcountryprogressreport.ParticipationofCSOsatthesemeetingswasmobilisedthroughtheTACSOMacedoniaWebpageandinvitationssentthroughtheTACSOmailinglist.ThemajorityofparticipantsattheseeventsareCSOsthatparticipatedinTACSOMacedoniaeventsandtrainings.

2.13. TACSO assisted in improving the legal framework for civil society.

NumerousactivitieswereundertakenbyTACSOinanefforttoimproveconditionsforcivilsocietyactivitiesintheregion.

Inadditiontothestudytour,previouslymentionedfortheMacedoniandelegationinDecember2011,TACSOCroatia alsohostedstudytoursfromBosniaandHerzegovinainFebruary2012andinTurkeyinMay2012.

2.13.1. TurkishgovernmentrepresentativeslearntabouttheCroatianmodelofmethodsforthe promotionofcivilsocietydevelopmentthatcouldpossiblybeappliedintheTurkishmodelfor thecreationofanenablingenvironmentforcivilsocietydevelopment.

ThedelegationoftheTurkishDepartmentofAssociationsoftheMinistryofInteriorandrepresentativesoftheCentreforCivilSocietyDevelopment(STGM)andtheThirdSectorFoundation(TÜSEV)ofTurkeyvisitedZagrebinMay2012.TheirvisitwasorganisedwithinthecontextofcollectinginformationonmethodsforthepromotionofcivilsocietydevelopmentinsevenEuropeancountriestobeusedbytheTurkishadministrationindevelopingtheirownmodelforthecreationofanenablingenvironmentforcivilsocietydevelopment.TheCroatianmodelwasrecognisedasparticularlyinterestingforTurkey.ThedelegationwasalsoreceivedbytheTurkishAmbassadortoCroatia,MrBurakÖzügergin,whoiteratedtheTurkishEmbassy’sreadinesstosupportfutureexchangesofexperiencesconcerningcivilsocietyorganisedbyTACSO.UponreturnfromthestudyvisitTACSOTurkeypreparedareportthatwaspresentedtotheDoAaswellastorepresentativesfromtheMinistryofEUAffairs.TheDoAiscurrentlyworkingonanewlegislationforCSOsandhasincorporatedpositiveaspectsoftheirobservationsfromCroatiainthelegislationdraftsuchas,theabilitytoformanassociationwiththreepeople.


TheDoAhasalsopresentedtheresultsofthestudyvisittotheMinisterofInteriorwithaplantocreateastructuresimilartotheCooperationOffice.

InJuly2012,theGovernmentadoptedtheNationalStrategyforCreatinganEnablingEnvironmentforCivilSocietyDevelopment2012-2016.TACSOassistedtheGovernmentOfficeforCooperationwithNGOsinconductingtheconsultativeprocessthatwascrucialfordraftingthestrategy.

2.13.2. CSOsparticipatedinanonlinepublicconsultationconcerningthelegalandtaxationframework inMacedonia.

Updatinglegislationrequiredinformationdisseminationasthebasisfordiscussionsandconsultations.Forexample,TACSOMacedoniamadefiveannouncementsconcerningthelegalandtaxationframeworkforCSOs,whichweresenttotheorganisationsonthemailinglist.

Theannouncements,andconsequentcollectionofcommentsandquestions,wererelatedtothefollowingtopics:callforexpressinginterestinparticipatingwiththeCommitteeforOrganisationswithStatusofPublicInterest(PBO);invitationsfortheSectorialForumforLawonDonationsandSponsorshiporganisedbyKonekt;draftStrategyforCooperationoftheGovernmentwithCSOs;informationaboutconsultativemeetingsfortheStrategyforCooperationbetweenCSOsandtheGovernment;andclarificationfromtheDataVerificationCommissionregardingtheCSOs’obligationstosubmitanotarised,signedstatement.

2.13.3. TheCouncilforCooperationbetweentheGovernmentandCivilSocietyOrganisationstogether withrelevantstakeholdersdiscussedtheimprovementofregulationsrelatedtofinancingof CSOsandsettingprioritiesforfundingCSOs.

TACSOMontenegroorganisedtheconference,PublicFinancingofCivilSocietyOrganisations,inMontenegroincooperationwiththeCouncilforCooperationbetweentheGovernmentandCivilSocietyOrganisationsinMontenegro,inBečići(Budva)inMay2012.Theaimoftheconferencewastosupporttheprocessofimprovementandimplementationofregulationsconcerningthefinancingofcivilsocietyorganisationsfrompublicfunds.TheconferencepresentedcurrentlegislationthatprovidedfundingofCSOprojectsandusefulrecommendationsforthedevelopmentofnewregulationsintheareaoffinancingCSOs.TheconferenceaimedtoprovideassistancetotheCouncilforCooperationbetweentheGovernmentandcivilsocietyorganisationsinMontenegroinsettingprioritiesforfundingin2012.Participantsexpressedtheirpositions,ideasandconcernsaroundthreemaintopics:prioritiesinfinancingprojectsofNGOs,theprocessofallocatingfundsforNGOprojects,andtheCommissionfortheAllocationofFundstoNGOs”.

2.13.4. CouncilforCooperationbetweentheGovernmentofMontenegroandCSOsadoptedthedraft agreementforcooperationbetweentheTACSOcountries,whichrepresentedthestartingpoint intheprocessoffurtherharmonisationintheregion.

TheCouncilforCooperationbetweentheGovernmentofMontenegroandCSOsacceptedtheinitiativeoftheTACSOofficesentinJune2012suggestingthatthecounciladdresstheGovernmentofMontenegrowiththerecommendationtolaunchregionalinitiativesrelatedtosigningtheagreementofcooperationbetweenthegovernmentsofMontenegro,Serbia,BosniaandHerzegovina,Macedonia,Albania,Croatia,KosovoandTurkeyinthefieldofpromotionofcooperationwithcivilsociety.Thisinitiativeaimstoestablishdirectcommunicationamonggovernmentsoftheregioninordertoexchangebestpracticesinaqualitymanner.Signingtheagreementwoulddemonstratethewillingnessofgovernmentsintheregiontobeheldresponsibleforqualitymanagement.Theagreementwouldpromotecooperationbetweengovernmentandcivilsocietyorganisations,whichwouldbetreatedinasystematicandsustainablemanner.


TheneedforclosercooperationinthefieldofgovernmentcooperationwithNGOshasbeenrecognisedintheconclusionsoftheregionalconferenceonLocalGovernmentandCivilSocietyorganisedbyTACSOinBudvain2011.AdraftagreementpreparedbytheTACSOofficewasadoptedbytheCouncilforCooperationanditrepresentsthestartingpointintheprocessoffurtherharmonisationintheregion.

2.13.5. Enhancedtransparenciesindistributionofpublicfunds.

Inordertoenhancetransparencyinthedistributionofpublicfunds,TACSOSerbiasupportedtheOfficeforCooperationwithCivilSocietyoftheGovernmentoftheRepublicofSerbia.TheydevelopedanonlinequestionnaireforthecreationoftheAnnualSummaryReportonbudgetaryexpenditures.Thereportwasprovidedtoassociationsandothercivilsocietyorganisationstosupportprogrammeactivities.UponcompletionofthesummaryreportlocalactionswereinitiatedbyTACSOwherethefollowingwerepresented:1)existingmodelsforfinancingCSOsfromlocalbudgets,2)TACSOresearchonspendingonCSOsfromlocalbudgetand3)anationalreportonspendingforCSOsfromnationalinstitutionsandministries.

2.14. Initiated policy-oriented change processes.

2.14.1. CSOsadvocatedanddevelopedapolicydocument.

TACSOSerbiaselectedthreeCSOnetworks/platformsfromSerbiathatwillbeassistedbyTACSOtogoforwardwithadvocacyactivitiesandtodefinepolicydocumentsandnewlegislationproposalsinthefieldsofmigrationsandasylum;citizens’forcedreplacementandintroducingmediationinthelegalsystem.

TheSEKOconsultativemechanismhascontinuedtobeoperationalcoveringsevenareasandincluding318CSOs.TheSerbiaEuropeanIntegrationofficeandtheGovernmentalOfficeforCooperationwithCivilSociety,supportedbyTACSOandthedomesticfoundationBalkanCommunityInitiativesFund(BCIF),heldseveralconsultativemeetingsduringthespring2012todefinefurtherdevelopmentofSEKOmechanisms.SEKOcouldgobeyonditsbasicfunction,whichisconsultationonIPAassistanceandotherdevelopmentaid,andbecomeanactorinthefieldofCSOsinfluencingnationalpolicies.ThisapproachisbeingundertakenbySEKOforruleoflaw.TACSOhasbeenprovidingTAforthestrategicplansoSEKOcanbecomemoreefficientininfluencingpolicy.TACSOSerbiapartneredwiththeCommissionerforProtectionofEquality(CPE)oftheRepublicofSerbiatostrengthenthecapacitiesofCSOsandtodiscoverandprovediscriminationthusbecomingamoreimportantfactorinfightingdiscrimination. 2.14.2. QualityAssuranceStandardsfurtherpromotedatthenationallevel.

AsafollowuptotheregionalconferenceheldinthefirstphaseofTACSO,TACSOAlbania,Kosovo,MontenegroandTurkeyhaveorganisednationaleventsrelatedtotheQASasdescribedpreviouslyinparagraph2.10ofComponent3.

2.14.3. NationalYouthStrategyandNationalYouthLawontheagendaoftheAlbanianGovernment.

TheTACSOAlbaniaOfficeconductedregularmeetingswiththenewlyestablishedForumofSocialEnterpriseandtheAlbanianYouthNetwork.ThemeetingswereheldtoincreasethecapacitiesofthenetworkandputforwardeffortstoadoptalawonsocialenterprisesandtoadoptthenewYouthNationalStrategy2013-2020andtostartthepreparationoftheAlbanianYouthLaw.InlinewiththisTACSOAlbania,incollaborationwithMinistryofTourism,CultureYouthandSports(MTCYS);MinistryofEducationandScienceandtheMinistryofLabour,SocialAffairsandEqualRights,supportedtheinitiativeoftheAlbanianYouthCouncilandtheNationalStudentCouncil.TheyorganisedtheNationalConference,EvaluationoftheNeedsandtheRoleofYouthOrganisationsinLocalYouthPolicy-MappingLocalYouthActors.Thisconferencewasorganisedtosupportthe


draftingprocessoftheNationalYouthActionPlan2013-2020withinsightsfromyouthCSOsandtoendorsetheoutputstopublicinstitutions.

Thepurposeoftheactionplanwastocreatenewbridgesforjointinitiativesandcollaborationbetweencivilsocietyactors,tofinaliselocalstrategiesandtocreateanationalstrategyasaresponsetotheneedsfordevelopingyouthpoliciesinAlbania.Theconferenceproceedings,togetherwithitsfindings,willbefurtherreflectedintherevisedYouthStrategyfor2013-2020andwillbeincorporatedinthepoliciesoftheMinistryofTourism,CultureYouthandSportsaswellasincross-sectorinitiativesandstrategiesoftheMinistryofEducationandScienceandtheMinistryofLabour,SocialAffairsandEqualOpportunities.

TheresultsoftheyouthconferencearealreadyincorporatedastheactionplanresultingfromtheregionalconferenceinSkopje,KeepinguptheMomentum.TheywereprovidedtotheRegionalConferenceinSkopjeandtoTACSOAlbaniaasamongthefourcommitmentsregardingyouthpolicies.Thereisalreadysupportforonestrategy,enablingthedialoguebetweenyouthCSOsandtheMTCYStoreviewtheactualNationalYouthStrategyanddraftthenewonefortheyears2013-2020andpreparingthegroundsforthepreparationoftheNationalYouthLaw.

2.14.4. Follow-uponSocialEntrepreneurship.

TheSocialEntrepreneurshipForuminAlbaniasupportedtheAssessmentReportofSocialEntrepreneurshipinBiHandaconferenceinMontenegrothatincludedAlbania,BiHandMontenegrowasorganisedtodiscussandraiseawarenessoftheneedforsocialentrepreneurship.

TACSO Albaniaprovidedpolicysupportthroughacombinationofmeasuresincludingtheorganisationofregionalconferences,thecommissioningofcasestudiesandreports,andtheorganisationofstudytours.Oneactionwastosupportthedevelopmentofsocialenterprises(SE)inAlbaniaasanalternativeandindependentinstrumenttoboostthefinancialautonomyofCSOs.Since2000,inanattempttostrengthentheirfinancialsituations,effortstooperatesocialenterpriseshavebeenmadebyvariousAlbanianCSOs.During2012morethan100CSOsmetandlaidthefoundationsfortheAlbanianSocialEnterprises(ASE)Forumtoenforcetheunderlyingparticipationandthedemocratisationprocesses.TheASEForumisaimedatdevelopingsocialservicesandwelfarebypromotingtheactivitiesofoperatingsocialenterprisesandgivingbirthtonewones.Inlate2012,morethan140differentcivilandinstitutionalactorshadformallyjoinedtheforum.

InordertofollowupwiththeprocessofinstitutionalisationoftheSEForumasamechanismforinformation,counsellingontheestablishmentofsocialenterprisesandservicedeliveryinAlbania,TACSOAlbaniaorganisedafollow-upmeetingoftheASEForumtoelectthesteeringstructuresanddiscussfurtherstepstobeundertakeninthenextfewmonths.Duringthemeetingtheparticipating86civilsocietyorganisationscommittedtocontinuedsocialentrepreneurshipdevelopmentinAlbania.Issuesdiscussedincludedthemodalitiesofthecommittee,suggestionsforfurtherinstitutionalisingtheforumcommittee,andtheworkoftheforumonadailybasis.AreportontheAlbaniansocialeconomyhasbeencommissionedbyTACSO.

TheAssessmentReportonSocialEntrepreneurshipwascompletedbytheCentreforCivilSocietyPromotion.TACSO Bosnia and Herzegovinaorganisedthreeworkshops/roundtablesinBanjaLuka,SarajevoandTuzlawithparticipantsfromallthreesectors(CSO,governmentandbusiness)topresenttheAssessmentReportonSEtointerestedCSOs,governmentbodiesandprivatebusinessrepresentatives.Thepurposeoftheassessmentreportistoserveasabaselinedocumentfordiscussion.TACSOBiH’sintentionwastocreateanenablingandcreativeenvironmentforallinterestedCSOstosharetheiropinionsandexperiencesonsocialentrepreneurshipinBosniaandHerzegovina.Theresultsoftheworkshopsweresystematisedinaccordancetothelegislativeframework,institutionalframework,educationandpromotion.


TACSOMontenegroandtheBritishCouncilincooperationwiththeCentreforDevelopmentofNon-GovernmentalOrganisationsandtheNetworkofKnowledgeorganisedaconferenceforSocialEntrepreneurship-BusinesswithSocialResponsibility,inPodgoricainMarch2012withtheobjectivesto:

• ImprovetheunderstandingofparticipatingCSOsandpublicsectororganisationsforsocialentrepreneurshipasamechanismofsustainablecommunitydevelopment.

• Createbasicpre-conditionsforfurthersystemicdevelopmentofsocialenterprisesinMontenegro.• Encouragedevelopmentofpartnershipsintheareaofsocialentrepreneurship.

Conference conclusions:

• It is necessary to examine whether the Law on Social Cooperati ves or the Law on Social Enterprises is the best soluti on - Government.

• It is necessary to initi ate the establishment of social enterprises - NGOs and social partners

• It is necessary to initi ate the establishment of a fund to fi nance social enterprises.

ParticipantswereintroducedtothemodelsandwaysoffunctioningofsocialenterprisesintheregionandEurope.ExamplesoflegalframeworksinEuropeancountriesandtheregionandexamplesofmarketcompetitivenesswerepresentedattheconference.

2.14.5. CSOsandKosovoinstitutionsdevelopedmechanismsforcooperationanddialoguebetweenthe two sectors.

WiththeearliersupportofTACSO,theKosovoParliamentapprovedtheamendmentstotheLawonFreedomofAssociationinNGOsandtheKosovogovernmentamendedinternalrulesofprocedureregulatingcivilsocietyinvolvementindecision-makingandthedraftingprocess.Later,TACSOsupportedboththegovernmentandtheCiviKosPlatformintheimplementationofthisprovisionbyprovidinginformationaboutCSOsinvolvedintheseprocesses.TheKosovogovernmenthadlistedasoneofitsprioritiesfor2012thestrategyforcooperationwithcivilsociety.TACSOhaspreparedacomprehensiveplanandprovideddirectsupporttotheCivikosPlatformandGovernmentInstitutions(OfficeofthePrimeMinister(OPM)/OfficeofGoodGovernance(OGG))indraftingthisstrategyandensuringimplementingmechanisms.Thesupportincludedorganisingandfacilitatingmulti-stakeholders’workshops,consultationswithcivilsocietyandtheorganisationofathree-daysstudyvisittoPoland.TheCivikosPlatformismandatedtohavealeadingroleinthedraftingofthisstrategyandensuressubstantialparticipationofcivilsociety.TheTACSOKosovoofficehasfocuseditsdeliverablesonsupportingtheCivikosPlatformandKosovoinstitutionsinordertodevelopnecessarymechanismsforcooperationanddialoguebetweenbothsectorsandtopreparethisstrategyandtostrengthentheircapacities.

2.14.6. GovernmentdepartmentsandCSOsfromBiHandMontenegrosharedexperiencesrelatedto theirdifferentandinnovativeapproachestodialoguebetweenthegovernmentandCSOs.

TACSOBiHorganisedameetingtosupportexperienceandbestpracticesharingtopromoteinnovativeapproachestodialoguebetweenthegovernmentandcivilsociety.AtthemeetingwererepresentativesfromtheGovernmentofMontenegro;TACSOMontenegroLAGRepresentative,MsDankaLatkovic,theHeadoftheOfficeforCooperationwithNGOs;andTACSOMontenegroteammember,MrStavoMuk.TheysharedMontenegrinexperienceandlessonslearntontheprocessofestablishingaCouncilforCivilSocietytoBiH.TheideawasoriginatedbyTACSOBiHLAGmemberswhoparticipatedattheBelgradeConference,PartnershipforChange,heldinMarchthisyear.ThemeetingwasextremelyusefulandtimelysincetheSectorforCivilSocietyattheMinistryofJusticeBiHhasbeenintheprocessofpreparingtheStrategyforCSOs.Montenegro’sexperienceandlessonslearntwerefoundtoberelevantsinceMontenegroisastepaheadofBiHintheCSOenvironment.

Duringtheaforementionedpartnershipevent,BringingCivilSocietytotheWesternBalkans,heldinSarajevoandsupportedbyTACSOBiH,somecentralelementsweretheinclusionofcivilsocietyandcitizensofthe


WesternBalkancountriesindecision-makingprocessesandthepromotionofprogressivesocialforcesincomparisontoideasandapproachesintheUSandtheEU.Conferenceparticipantsdiscussedthepos¬sibilityofstartingaseriesofcivilsocietyactivismprojects.ThepartnershipeventproducedtheCivilSocietyManifesto.Theaimsofthemanifestowastoincreaseknowledgeandawarenessofdemocracyandpoliticalandeconomicproblemsintheregion,increasethecapacitiesofcivilsocietyorganisationstobecomeactiveagentsforchange,andtopromotetheregioninWashingtonDC,Brussels,NewYork,Berlin,andVienna.

2.14.7. Offeredevidencebasedresourcesoncorporatesocialresponsibility(CSR)totheCSOand business sectors.

TACSOMontenegroconductedresearchoncorporatesocialresponsibilityinMontenegroinOctober2012.ThespecificobjectivesoftheassignmentweretoenhancetheknowledgeofCSOsandtheprofitsectorregardingtheCSRconceptandtocontributetothedevelopmentofafavourableenvironmentforCSRimprovement.TheresearchoffereddifferentperspectivesabouttheCSRbusinesssector,theobstaclesfordevelopmentoftheCSR,andthepotentialrolesofgovernment,mediaandCSOsinpromotionanddevelopmentoftheCSR,available here.

2.14.8. Followed-upontheimpactandresultsofthenationalactivityplansagreeduponduringthe conference,CooperationbetweenLocalSelf-GovernmentandCSOsintheWesternBalkansand Turkey.

Asafollow-uptotheregionalconferenceaboutcooperationbetweentheCSOsandlocalself-governments,theTACSORegionalOfficecoordinateddevelopmentoftheBečićiProgressReport.TheBečićiProgressReportevaluatedtheimpactandresultsofnationalactivityplansagreeduponduringtheBečićiConferenceonCooperationbetweenLocalSelf-GovernmentandCSOsintheWesternBalkansandTurkeyin2011.Thereportprovidedanupdateontheprogresssincetheinitialconferenceanddiscussesthemainconstraintsandopportunitiestopromotegoodpractices.Itprovidedrecommendationsforallstakeholdersinrelationtofurtherinstitutionaldevelopment,communicationinruralandremoteareas,availablehere.

2.15. Enhanced capacities of government to cooperate with CSOs.

Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina showed that:

• MostoftheorganisationsbelievethatTACSOishelpfulinimprovingcooperationwithgovernmentinstitutions.

• Morethan64percentareawarethatTACSOisactingtostrengthencooperationbetweenthegovernmentandCSOs.

• WhenaskediftheyknowthatTACSO’ssupportstrengthenscollaborationbetweencivilsocietyorganisationsandgovernmentinstitutions,70percentofCSOrepresentativessaid,“yes”,asdid86percentofsurveyedstateorganisations.

7 ThestudyvisittoPolandwasforamixeddelegationcomprisedofrepresentativesoftheKosovoParliament,Governmentandcivilsocietyanditprovidedanexchangeofexperiencesandlessonslearntoncooperationbetweengovernmentandcivilsocietyorganisations.TheoverallobjectiveofthestudytourwastocontributetothestrategyofcooperationbetweenthegovernmentandCSOscurrentlybeingdevelopedandplannedtobeapprovedbythegovernmentofKosovoinJune2012.


2.15.1. TACSOLAGmemberswereintroducedtoCroatianexperiencesinincorporatingCSO/ government dialogue into the Strategy for the Development of the Enabling Environment for Civil Society.

TACSOBosniaandHerzegovinaLAGmembersvisitedCroatia.TACSOCroatiaofferedlogisticalsupport,organisedameetingwiththeGovernmentalOfficeforCooperationwithNGOsandapresentationontheCouncilforCivilSocietyDevelopment.ThisstudyvisittookplaceaspartoftheprocessfordraftingtheStrategyfortheDevelopmentofanEnablingEnvironmentforCivilSocietyleadbytheMinistryofJusticeinBosniaandHerzegovina.ThisprocesswillfurtherstrengthentheroleofcivilsocietyintheEuropeanintegrationprocess.TheworkinggroupfordraftingthestrategycommencedpreparationsthatincludeananalysisoftheexistinglegalframeworkinfluencingtheworkofCSOsinthecountryandtheregion.TACSOsupportedthegroupbyprovidingconsultancyservicesaimedatproducingaframeworkdocumentforthestrategy.Asthenextstepintheprocess,thestudyvisittoCroatiawascarriedout.SubjectscoveredweretheconceptofNGOdayswithactiveinvolvementoftheOfficeforCooperationwithNGOs,andcooperationbetweenCSOsandthegovernmentthroughtheCouncilforCivilSocietyDevelopment.

2.15.2. CSOsinMontenegrocommendedachievements,obstaclesandlessonslearntfromtheStrategy forCooperationoftheGovernmentandNGOs2009-2011,andprovidedinputsforafuture strategyandanaccompanyingactionplan.

TheTACSOMontenegroOffice,incooperationwiththeMinistryoftheInteriorandOfficeforCooperationwithNGOs,organisedameetingwithnon-governmentalorganisations.ThesubjectofthemeetingwasthestructureandcontentofthefutureStrategyofCooperationoftheGovernmentofMontenegroandNon-governmentalOrganisationsfortheperiodof2013-2015.ThemeetingwasheldinPodgoricainNovember2012.Theaimofthemeetingwastoenablenon-governmentalorganisationsfromallpartsofMontenegrotocommentabouttheachievements,obstaclesandlessonslearntintheimplementationoftheStrategyforCooperationoftheGovernmentandNGOs2009-2011.Anotheraimofthemeetingwastoidentifyelementsoftheproposedstructureforthefuturestrategyofcooperationandactionplan.AthirdaimwastoidentifykeyproblemsinthefunctioningofNGOsandsuggestmeasurestoaddressthem.

2.15.3. Providedaregionalplatformfortheimprovementofcooperationandcreatedaforumforthe presentationofthecurrentregionalinitiativesbetweencivilsocietyandpublicinstitutions.

TheTACSORegionalOfficeorganisedtheregional conference,KeepinguptheMomentum:ImprovingCooperationbetweenPublicInstitutionsandCivilSocietyintheWesternBalkansandTurkey,inNovemberinSkopje.Withover100representativesofpublicinstitutions,civilsociety,themediaandthedonorcommunity,thisconferencewasthefirstofitskindtoprovideaplatformfortheimprovementofcooperationandtocreateaforumforthepresentationofthecurrentregionalinitiativesbetweencivilsocietyandpublicinstitutions.

Thedraftreport,KeepinguptheMomentum:ImprovingCooperationbetweenPublicInstitutionsandCivilSocietyintheWesternBalkanandTurkey,waspresentedduringtheconferenceinordertosummarisewherewestandtodayandtostimulateallconferenceparticipantstogivemoreinput,commentsandsuggestionsinordertoimprovethequalityofthefinalreport.

TheconferencealsogavetheparticipantstheopportunitytoidentifytheSpecific,Measurable,Achievable,Realistic,Timeframed(SMART)commitmentsandactionplans.Italsogaveparticipantstheopportunitytorecogniseandcommittothenextstepstheywilltaketoimprovecooperationbetweenpublicinstitutionsduringthenextyearonthenationalandregionallevelsandtoimproveandcommittofuture,goodcross-bordercooperation.Thosecommitmentsandtheannexesfromtheconferencereportarepresentedasapartofthereport.Participantswerepleasedtohaveanopportunityforexchangingandnetworking.


TACSO’sKeepinguptheMomentumregionalconferencemotivatedtheDepartmentofAssociationsinTurkeytohostameetingbringingtogetherrepresentativesofvariousgovernmentbodiestodiscussfundingforCSOs,todialoguewithcivilsocietyandtocontributetotheconferencereport.Asafollowuptotheconference,Turkishparticipantsdrewupanactionplanthatincludedholdingpublicconsultationswithcivilsocietyonthefollowingtopics:thecreationofaCSOofficeintheParliament,thenewlegislationconcerningCSOs-includingtheissueofacivilsocietycouncilandcivilsocietyboard,andcivilsociety/governmentcooperationmechanismsingeneral.

2.16. LAG proved to be a useful and powerful tool in ensuring that TACSO responded to the needs of the CSOs.

SomeoftheexamplesofLAGsinfluenceonthecourseoftheoperationofTACSOare:

• TACSOTurkeyLAGmeetingorganisedinMarchwiththeparticipationofnineLAGmembersinİstanbul,whichbroughttogetherCSOsandgovernmentrepresentatives.ThestrategyandconceptofcivilsocietyandgovernmentcooperationforTurkeywasdiscussedindepth.

• ThefinalpartoftheTACSOBiHLAGworkshopwasheldonMay31-June1andfocusedonmodelsforefficientparticipationofCSOsinEUfundedprogramming(IPAprogramming)andonrecommendationsforTACSOBiH’sroleinfacilitatingsuchprocesses.

• LAGmemberswereconsultedbyTACSOandtheEUofficeinKosovoduringtheprocessofthepreparationofguidelinesforthenationalIPAcall,CivilSocietyFacilityforKosovo,whichwaslaunchedinApril2012.LAGmembersagreedthatobjectivesofanationalCSFcallshouldinclude:supporttodialoguebetweengovernmentandcivilsociety,incentivesforcooperationbetweenurbanandgrassrootsorganisationsandsupporttoyouthorganisations.MostoftheLAGrecommendationswereincludedintheobjectivesofthiscall.IttookalmosttwoyearstoacknowledgethecontributionsofLAG,andspecificallyCSOmembers,inthisprocessthatmarksahugestepforward.Currently,thecallisopen.

• TACSOKosovoestablishedaminiLAGworkinggroupthatwasengagedinpreparingthenationalreport,CooperationbetweenCivilSocietyandLocalGovernanceinKosovo.TheminiworkinggroupinvolvedtheDirectoroftheLegalOffice,theLAGmemberMinistryoftheLocalGovernance,theDirectoroftheCivikosPlatformandtheDirectorandLAGmembersoftheNGO,SyriIVisionit.Thereportwillserveasatooltoimpactadvancing/changingpoliciesandtostrengthenthecooperationbetweenbothsectors.

TACSOtransformation:

TACSO’s position has changed from one where it facilitated the processes related to EU integration and IPA programming to one where it is an integral part of the CSF. TACSO is now a partner to the government institutions working with CSOs rather than an agency developing relationship with government representatives.


Unliketheotherprojectcomponentsdescribedinthisreport,whereinformationwaspresentedseparatelyforphaseoneandphasetwoofTACSO,thiscomponentwilloffersummativeinformationontheregionalachievementsofTACSO.ReasonsforthisarethatactivitiesattheregionallevelareplannednotonlytosupporttheCSOsandenablingenvironmentfortheCSOs,butalsotomanageandstandardiseservicesofTACSOacrosstheregion.TheTACSORegionalOfficeplannedregionaleventsforallcountriesoftheregion.TherewerealsoseveraladditionalCSOseventsthatoccurred.Therewerebilateralandtrilateralevents,whichhavebeenmadepossiblebecauseoftheregionaldimensionofTACSObuttheywerenotplannedbytheregionaloffice.

TheWesternBalkansandTurkeyhaveacomplexregionalhistorysotheguidingprinciplesofTACSO’sprojectsintheregionalweretoencouragesocialandeconomicdevelopmentandtoinitiatethedemocratisationprocess.ThiscouldonlybedoneifCSwasdevelopinginafluidenvironmentthatenabledittoflowbeyondnationalborders.Inordertorespondtothisguidingprinciple,TACSOmanagedtomaintainaflexibleregionalperspectivetakingintoaccountthenationalcontexts,andtosupportandmatchtheneedsofregionalcivilsociety.

Thefollowingwasachievedunderthiscomponent:

5.1 Strengthened regional cooperation among CSOs, government representatives of units responsible for cooperating with CSOs and other stakeholders relevant to the civil society sector.

Outofatotalof61eventsorganisedbytheregionalofficeinphasetwoofTACSO,17ofthemofferedbothinformationandtrainingtoCSOsandrelevantstakeholderswithatotalof500TACSOsupportedparticipants.Compositionofparticipantswasasfollows:

• A totalof16.2percentwerelocalLAGrepresentatives.• Atotalof4.6percentweregovernmentrepresentatives.• Atotalof3.2percentweremediarepresentatives.• Atotalof33.2percentwereCSOrepresentativesfromtheWBT.• AtotalofthreepercentwereCSOrepresentativesfromtheEU.• Atotalof1.4percentwereEUrepresentatives.• Atotalofthreepercentweredonorrepresentatives.

Inadditionduringthesecondphase,TACSOalsoparticipatedineightregionalCSOeventsorganisedbyotherorganisationsandfiveregionaleventsorganisedbytheEUorincooperationwiththeEU.

WiththeseeventsTACSOcontributedtotheintroductionofnewpoliciesandbestpractices.Theeventssupportedexperiencesharing,partnerships,networking,theplanningofCSFsupport,thetransferofnewtrendsintheregion,etc.

Forexample,74.4percentofthosepolledintheSurveyonQualityofServicesAssessmentconductedinCroatiainOctober2012statedthatparticipationinregionalinitiativesorganisedbyTACSOdidcontributetostrengtheningthecooperationoftheirorganisationwithorganisationsfromothercountries.

OnehundredpercentofthemembersoftheCivilSocietyManifesto-PlatformforFutureActions,whichencompasses45leaders/representativesofCSOsfromtheWesternBalkans,haverecognisedthecrucialroleTACSOplayedincommunicating,coordinating,promotingandadvisingthenetworksassembledaroundtheCSManifesto.

COMPONENT 5: REGIONAL DIMENSION


5.2 Specifically promoted and contributed to the establishment of partnerships and networks at the regional level, enabling CSOs to become a stronger driving force for societies in policy-making, democratisation processes and development of governments in the WBT.

InalleventsorganisedbyTACSOanimportantaspectwascreatingopportunitiesforpartnershipandnetworking.SomeeventsattheregionallevelwerespecificallydesignedtosupportpartnershipsandnetworkingofCSOsactiveintheregionoramongIPAandEUCSOs.

TheTACSORegionalOfficedevelopedtheReportonRegionalCSONetworks(RCSONs)intheIPARegion,whereregionalnetworksandtheircapacitiesweremappedforthefirsttimeintheWBT.Thereportofferedrecommendationsonhowfurtherregionalnetworkingcouldbesupportedandstrengthened.

FollowingtheRCSONs,theTACSOROorganisedtheconferenceforidentifiedregionalCSOnetworksfromtheWesternBalkansandTurkeytoexaminepossibilitiesfortheirsupport,mainlyfromtheEU,anddiscusstheirneedsinawider,face-to-faceforum8.

Aftersummarisingtheissues,recommendationsandopenquestionsidentifiedbytheparticipantsattheconference,TACSOconcludedthattherewasanevidentneedforfurthersupporttotheRCSONs.Inordertofurthersteerregionalnetworks,TACSOpublishedanopencallforsupportofregionalCSOsinundertakingspecificactionstargetedatregionalCSOnetworkdevelopment.

Expectedresultsofsuchsupportwere• IncreasedcapacitiesoftheRCSONs.• IncreasednumberofqualityregionalCSOnetworksintheIPAregion.• PromotionofpartnershipsandnetworkingamongCSOsintheIPAregion.

Supportincludedprovisionoftechnicalassistancetoregionalnetworksin:• Organisingmeetingsofnetworkmembersto:• Developconcreteactionplans,strategicplans.• PlantheCivilSocietyFacility’sCallforProposal-IPA/CSFPartnershipProgrammesforCSOs,available

here.• FacilitationofcontactwithEUorganisations.• Provisionoftraining/coachingservicesinstrategicplanning,communicationplanning,andothertopicsof

interesttoCSOs.• MeetingsofCSOsplanningtodevelopanetwork.

Inordertocreateopportunityforasmanyregionalnetworksaspossible,supportwasplannedforbothinformalandformallyregisterednetworksandbilateralorganisations,whichcomefromatleasttwocountriesintheWBT.

AsaresultofthisinitiativetheTACSOROhasreceivedanumberofgoodqualityproposalswithatotalamountof550,800Euros.Duetolimitedresources,TACSOwasabletosupportonlysevenproposals,asfollows:

1.Disabledandmarginalisedgroups

a. NetworkofLowHIVPrevalenceCountries(NeLP).b. RegionalLGBTNetwork.c. BalkanDis/AbilityNetwork.


2.Policyresearchandpolicydevelopment

a. SoutheastEuropeanPolicyResearchAssociation(SEEPRA).b. MonitoringChapter23.

3.Environment,energyefficiencyandwastemanagement

a. Balkane-WasteManagementNetwork(BeWMAN).

4.GeneralCSOcapacitybuilding

a. BalkanCivilSocietyDevelopmentNetwork(BCSDN).

Outputofthesupporttothenetworks:

• Networksimprovedtheirlong-termplanningbydevelopingstrategicandactionplanstoensureeffectiveadvocacyintheregion(on-goinghumanimmunodeficiencyvirus(HIV)).

• DevelopedcapacitiesandknowledgeformonitoringnegotiationsandtheEUaccessionprocess,particularlyinthefieldofreformofjudiciary,fundamentalrights,socialpoliciesandmedia.

• ImprovedcollaborationbetweenCroatianandMontenegrinNGOsinmonitoringnegotiationsandimplementingEUstandards.

• DevelopedthefirstshadowreportonthestateofreformsrelatedtoChapters23,19and10forMontenegro.

• LGBTactivistsfromtheWBThadanopportunitytomeetwithLGBTactivistsfromtheMediterraneanregion.TheyhadtimeforefficientandcreativeplanningandprojectdevelopmentandtimetocomparetheachievementsanddifferencesinLGBTmovementsintheBalkans,theArabworldandtheCaucasus.

• LGBTnetworkmembershadanopportunitytoseeindepthhowtheQueerZagrebFestivalfunctionedandwhatthefestivalimpacthasbeenontheimprovementofLGBTrightsinCroatiaandtheBalkanregioninthelast10years.

• LGBTnetworkmembershadanopportunitytodefinethescopeofcollaborationamongthemselvesandfocustheirworktofindsimilarLGBTorganisations/initiativesintheMediterraneanregionwithaspecialfocusonEgypt,Tunisia,Libya,AlgeriaandSyria.

• StrengthenthecapacitiesoftheBEWMANnetworkforefficientusageofnewmediainlobbyingandadvocacyeffortsintheareaofenvironmentalprotectionbyprovidingthenetworkmemberswithtoolsandskillsforadvocacy,anopportunitytosharecomplementarycompetenciesandtoenablethemtoinitiatechangesandimprovementsoftheexistinglegalandinstitutionalframeworkrelatedtoenvironmentalprotectionwithintheircountries,particularlyinthefieldofelectronicandelectricwastemanagement.

• TACSOprovidedassistancetotheBCSDNinputtingitsmid-termstrategyintolong-termperspectiveandtodiscuss,withitsmembersandotherexternalstakeholdersandnon-memberCSOs,thestateofcivilsocietydevelopment(CSDev)beyondaccession.Thefocuswasonthedevelopmentofanenablingenvironmentforlong-termsustainabilityandeffectivenessofcivilsocietyintheBalkancountriesinlinewiththeBCSDNvision,missionandmid-termgoalsandtheincorporationoftheseaspectsintoasound,realisticandeffectiveBCSDNmid-termstrategy.

• ProvidedassistancetotheBalkanDis/AbilityNetworkwiththeobjectiveofinfluencingregionalandnationalpoliciesandlegislationbyworkingtogetherandnetworkingwiththeEUandregionalcounterpartstowardsadvancinghumanrightsofpeoplewithdisabilities.

• Exploredtheoptionofintroducingstandardsforresearchworkintheregion.

It can be concluded that not only did the initi al needs assessment, represented in the Report on Regional CSO Networks developed in August 2011, demonstrate the need to support regional CSO networks, but also more importantly, once TACSO commenced with its support to the regional network, the need and possibiliti es for supporti ng regional CSO networks only grows.


Throughitsnationaloffices,TACSOalsosupported:

The EdirneRomaAssociation,includingtheEuropeanRomaRightsCentreHungary,EDROMTurkey,YouthforPositiveChangeKosovo,RegionalRomaAssociationMacedoniaandtheMinorityRightsCentreSerbiainBelgrade,andmarginalisedgroups.TheTACSOnationalofficeinTurkeyprovidedsupportforprojectproposalsfortheCSFCfPtoestablisharegionalnetworktofocusoneducationforRomaintheirrespectivecountries.

TheBalkanOrganicNetwork(BON),withparticipationfromtheorganicfarmers’associationfromAlbania,BiH,Kosovo,Montenegro,Macedonia,SerbiaandCroatia.TACSOofficescreatedopportunitiesfororganisationsthathaveinitiatedtheirP2Pnetworkeventstofollowuponinitiativesandtofurtherdeveloptheircooperation.Forexample,IPACBCMacedoniaandAlbaniasubmittedanapplicationinFebruary2012toorganisetheInternationalAgriculturalFairinNoviSad,SerbiainMay2012throughtheBONnetworkand.

Thiseventcreatedthespaceforexchangesandjointwork,forbuildingstrongertiesbetweenorganisations,forfuturejointinitiativesandprojects,andthusbroughtaboutregionalcooperationandsocialcohesion.

TACSOorganisedtwostudytripstoPolandandRomaniatocreateopportunitiesforCSOsfromIPAcountriestoconnectandnetworkwithEUCSOs.Thetwostudytripswereorganisedwithatotalof31representativesfromtheWBT.FifteenWBTparticipantsonastudytriptoPolandmetwith16PolishCSOs.SixteenparticipantsfromtheWBTwenttoRomaniatomeet11RomanianCSOs.ThetripscontributedtocapacitydevelopmentandnetworkingofCSOsintheWBTandtoanexchangeofexperiencesandlessonslearntwithPolishandRomanianCSOs.Thepolicyissuesaddressedincluded:

• DevelopingacommonunderstandingofthecurrentroleofCSOsinPolandandRomaniabyaddressingpolicyandcapacitydevelopmentissues.

• Gaininganin-depthunderstandingofthemainchallengesfacedbyPolish/RomanianCSOsintheprocessoftransitionandoftheexistingmechanismsforengagementbetweencivilsocietyandthegovernment.

• IdentifyinghowtheapproachesandexperiencesofPolish/RomaniaCSOsinselectedareascanbeusedinothercountries.

Asaresult,CSOsestablishedcontactsandcooperationagreements.Themulti-dimensionalInternationalFairhosted270,000people.Approximately20,000peoplecametothefairinorganisedgroups.ThissupportcontributedtotheincreaseofcapacitiesandthestrengtheningofcooperationamongCSOswhoworkedtogetherandtoabsorbEUfunding.TheInternationalFairofferedauniqueopportunityfortheAlbanianCSOstogettoknowhowtheircounterpartsworked,sharedexperiencesandexpertise.TACSOBiHcontributedtothedevelopmentoftheCivilSocietyManifesto-PlatformforFutureAction.Forty-fiveleaders/representativesofCSOsfromtheWesternBalkanssupportedapartnershipevent.

The TACSO project, with its regional dimension, was perceived as an excellent opportunity for the manifesto to be communicated as a platf orm for future acti on with civil society in the region. Subsequent debates around the Civil Society Manifesto should be conti nued throughout the next year within the EU, in Brussels and major EU capitals as well as in the Western Balkans and should result in the further development of the manifesto’s content and objecti ves as well as in extending the number of CSOs assembled around the manifesto.


5.3 The regional dimension of TACSO enabled benchmarking in the region because of the regional dimension of the project.

TheregionaldimensionofTACSOisaninvaluableassetthatenablesbenchmarkingintheregion.Forexample:• BiHisintheprocessofdesigningandestablishingamechanismsimilartoSEKOinSerbiaforthe

engagementofCSOsinIPAprogramming.• BiHLAGrepresentativesexploredtheCroatianconceptofNGOdayswithactiveinvolvementoftheOffice

forCooperationwithCSOsandcooperationbetweenCSOsandtheGovernmentthroughtheCouncilforCivilSocietyDevelopmentinthecontextofdraftingtheframeworkfortheStrategyforDevelopmentoftheEnablingEnvironmentfortheCivilSocietyinBiH.

• ExchangeofexperiencesrelatedtothedifferentandinnovativeapproachestodialoguebetweengovernmentandCSOsinBiHandMontenegro.

• ProcessofimprovementusingtheTurkishmodelforthecreationofanenablingenvironmentforcivilsocietydevelopmentencompassingthelessonslearntfromtheCroatianmodel.

• GovernmentUnitforCooperationwithNGOSoftheRepublicofMacedonia9,basedonCroatianexperiences,exploredtheinstitutionalinvolvementoftheCivilSocietyGrantSchemeManagementundertheDISofEUfunds.

• TurkishCSOsinthefieldofgenderequality,humanrightsprotectionandprotectionoftherightsofchildrenanddisabledpersonslearntaboutCroatianexperiencesconcerningCSOparticipationintheprocessofthepreparationandadoptionoflegalregulationsandthecreationofpublicpolicies.TheyassessedtheextenttowhichCroatianpracticesmightbeapplicabletoparticipationofCSOsintheprocessofadoptionofthenewTurkishconstitution.

• TheGovernmentofMontenegroinitiatedtheAgreementofCooperationamongGovernmentsintheTACSOCountriesinthefieldofpromotionofcooperationwithgovernmentstoexchangebestpracticesinaqualitativemanner.

• MontenegrinCSOsbroadenedtheircapacitiesandknowledgeformonitoringnegotiationsandtheEUaccessionprocess,particularlyinthefieldofthereformofthejudiciary,fundamentalrights,socialpoliciesandmedia,asaresultofanexchangeofexperienceswithanon-formalnetworkof15CroatianCSOs-MonitoringChapter23.

• MembersfromtheRegionalLGBTNetworkhadanopportunitytoseehowtheQueerZagrebfestivalfunctionedandtheimpactofthefestivalontheimprovementofLGBTrightsinCroatiaandtheBalkanregion in the last ten years

5.4. When operating throughout the region, TACSO standardised its approach to operations, to capacity development of CSOs and to enabling the CSO environment.

BecauseofTACSOstandardisation:1.TheAdministrationandFinancialAssistants(AFA)andCommunicationContactPoints(COM)meetings

havebeenstandardisedandreviewedforoperationalissuesrelatedtoadministrativeandfinancialprocedures,communicationstrategyandvisibility.TheAFAandCOMmeetingsareoftenorganisedseparately,onceperyear.

2.Thereison-goingreviewandreflectiononthestrategicapproachtoconsultativemeetingsforallTACSOresidentadvisorsandmanagementstaffandforplanningmeetingsforspecificTACSOregionalevents.Duringthefourteenconsultativemeetings,sixmeetingsforTACSOPhaseOneandeightforTACSOPhaseTwo,strategiesforservicedeliverywerereviewedandplanned.Thebestoptionsforintroducingnewpolicies,enhancingdialoguebetweengovernmentandCSOsandsupportingcapacitybuildingofCSOswereexplored.AminimumofoneplanningmeetingprecededeachTACSOregionalevent.Meetingswerecarriedoutbytheworkinggroup.Thismeansthatforeachregionaleventaworkinggroupwas

9 FormerYugoslavRepublicofMacedonia,hereinafterreferredtoasMacedonia.


5.5. Introduced policy changes at regional events to foster the adoption of the same changes at national events.

WiththeorganisationofTACSOregionalevents,TACSOintroducedpoliciesorraisedawarenessintheregionoverthefollowingconcepts:• CSOQualityAssuranceSystem-TheRegionalConferenceonQualityAssuranceSystemsforCSOswasheld

Zagreb,CroatiainOctober2010andgathered74peoplefromtheWesternBalkansandTurkeyincludingspeakers,presenters,organisersandguests.Participantsrepresentedleadingnationalresource/capacitydevelopmentCSOs.TheconferenceonQASwasaresultoflocallyformulatedneeds.DuringtheregionalconferenceactionplansweredevelopedthatservedasroadmapsfortheimplementationofsimilareventsineachofthepresentCSOrepresentatives’homecountries.ThisensuredfurtherdisseminationofknowledgewithineachoftheTACSOcountries,availablehere.

• CSO-LocalGovernmentCooperationinBecići,MontenegroinFebruary2011-ThepurposeofthisregionalconferenceoncooperationbetweenCSOsandlocalgovernmentalinstitutionsprovidedaforumtosharetopicrelatedknowledge,informationandexperienceamongstakeholdersfromIPAcountries.ItwasorganisedbytheTACSOofficesinMontenegro,BosniaandHerzegovinaandtheTACSORegionalOffice.Thefocusoftheconferencewasonthetransparencyandaccountabilityoflocalself-governmentsandtherolethatCSOscanplayinthisregard.Theconferencealsocoveredparticipationmechanismsfordecision-makingprocessesatthelocallevel,cooperationoflocalself-governmentswithCSOsandfinancingofCSOprogrammes/projectsatthelocallevel.Duringtheconferenceparticipantswereabletoshareexperiences,challenges,goodpracticesintheregionandexamples,experiencesandgoodpracticesfromtheEUcountries.TheconferenceofferedacomparativeoverviewofmechanismsthatexistwithinCSO/localself-governmentrelationsandexperienceintheregion;explorationofhowcooperationcanbeimproved,orhowgoodpracticescanbesharedanddeveloped;greaterunderstandingofthenatureofCSOsindifferentcountries;networkinganddialogueopportunitiesforCSOandgovernmentmembersthroughworkshopsessionsdedicatedtospecificcapacitybuildingtopics;discussionoflawsgoverningCSO/governmentrelationsanddevelopingideasonhowthesecanbeimproved/transformed,availablehere.

• Theconferencewasfollowedbyanupdatedreport,CooperationbetweenLocalSelf-GovernmentsandCSOsintheWesternBalkansandTurkey,availablehereandaninternationalconferenceinPrishtina,KosovoinMay2013wherethereportwasofficiallylaunched.Theobjectiveofthisconferencewastoprovideaforumtodiscussthereport’sconclusionsandrecommendations.Eachcountrywasrepresentedwithparticipantscomingfromtheirrespectivegovernmentstructuresandcivilsociety.ThisconferencealsogatheredrelevantkeyactorsworkinginthisareasuchastheAssociationsofMunicipalities,EUrepresentatives,theCouncilofEuropeandotherstakeholders.TheconferencewasorganisedbytheTACSOKosovoofficeincooperationwithotherTACSOoffices.ThestrategicpartnersoftheconferenceweretheKosovoMinistryofLocalGovernmentAdministrationandtheCouncilofEuropeofficeinPrishtina,availablehere.

• CSOSustainabilityinBelgrade,SerbiainMarch2011-TheoverallobjectiveofthisregionalconferencewastoaddressrelevantissueswhichimpactanddeterminethesustainabilityofCSOs,andtosharetheexperiencesofCSOsustainabilityamongtheIPAcountries.Workingsessionsoftheconferenceweredirectedtowardsanexchangeofperspectivesandidentifyingrecommendationsforcountryspecific

establishedoftencomposedoftwotothreeresidentadvisors,additionalexpertsandsupportstaffprovidedbytheTACSORO.Therewere18planningmeetingsduringthesecondphaseofTACSO.

3.Standardisationofservicedeliverybydevelopinginternalguidanceforprovisionofservicesrelatedto:•GuidanceandmonitoringofEUfundedprojects.•Partnershipandnetworking.•CooperationbetweendevelopedandlessdevelopedCSOs.•PADOR.


actionstobeundertakentosupportthesustainabilityofCSOsintheWBT.• Thepurposeofthisconferencewastoreviewthecommonissuesandconcernsaffectingoverall

functioningandsustainabilityoftheCSOsinIPAcountries.Conclusionsandrecommendationsdrawnprovidedthebasisforfollow-upactionstobeundertakenintheindividualcountriesand,ifapplicable,regionally.Theconferencefocusedon:• ExploringandunderstandingdifferentaspectsotherthanfinancialsustainabilityofCSOs.Itfeaturedbest

practiceexamplestoprovideinsightintothedifferentaspectsofsustainability.• FeaturingthebestpracticeexamplestoprovideinsightintotheexperiencesofCSOsustainabilityinthe

IPAcountriesandinthenewEUmemberstates.• DevelopingnationalCSOSustainabilityActionPointsasabasisforacountryspecificfollow-up,and

activitiestofurtherdiscussionsandcontributionstowardssustainabilityofCSOs.• ExploringdifferentwaysforCSOstofurtherpartnershipswiththegovernmentandcreatepartnerships

withtheprivatesector,availablehere.• SocialEntrepreneurshipinIstanbul,TurkeyinMarch2012–Thisconferencewaspromotedasanew

long-termsolutiontohelpovercomethecrisisandcreatebetterandfairersocietiesinwhichtolive.Inordertodiscussthisfurther,IstanbulhostedtheInternationalSocialEntrepreneurshipConference.Theconference,initiatedbytheBritishCouncil’sglobalprojectonsocialentrepreneurship,wasorganisedbytheBritishCouncil,TACSOandTÜSEVattheKadirHasUniversitywiththestrategicpartnershipoftheVodafoneTurkeyFoundation.Theconferencewasthefirstofitskind.Itoccurredbecauseofitscontentandthestrongpartnershipsthatwereinplace.TheconferencewasattendedbyexperiencedsocialentrepreneursandsupportersofitsconceptfromtheWesternBalkans,Ukraine,Georgia,Germany,theUnitedKingdom,TurkeyandEastAsia.Approximately150peoplefrom18countrieswhowereeagertolearnfromtheircollectiveexperiences,starttheirownsocialenterprises,orpavethewayfortheirintroductionordevelopmentintheirowncountriespopulatedthevividcorridorsandroomsoftheuniversityfortwodays.Thedefinitionofsocialentrepreneurshipwasalsothesubjectofmuchdiscussionduringtheconference.Thecreatorsoftheconferencedescribedsocialentrepreneursaswomenandmenwhopossessthevision,creativityandextraordinarydeterminationofthetypicalbusinessentrepreneur,butwhodevotethesequalitiestofindinginnovativesolutionstosystemicsocialproblems.Theyoftenworkattheintersectionbetweenthepublic,privateandsocialsectorsusingwhateverorganisationalstructuresaremostappropriateforsolvingthesocialproblemstheyarefocusingon.Themainquestionsfrommanyparticipantsfromcountrieswheresocialentrepreneurshipisinitsinfancywere:“Howcanitallgetstarted?”“Howcanthegovernmentbepersuadedtogivesupport?”“Howcantheysurvivealongsidebigcorporatebusinesses,whichoftencreatemonopolies?”Thegeneralagreementwasthatchangeinthisregardisnotgoingtohappenovernight,butwillprobablytakegenerations.However,itwillnothappenunlesspeopletakethefirststeptowardsit,availablehere.

• CSOs–PublicInstitutionsCooperationinSkopje,MacedoniainNovember2012-Over100representativesofpublicinstitutions,civilsociety,themediaandthedonorcommunityfromtheWesternBalkansandTurkeygatheredinSkopjetoparticipateinthetwo-dayregionalconference,KeepinguptheMomentum:ImprovingCooperationBetweenPublicInstitutionsandCivilSocietyintheWesternBalkansandTurkey,available here.ThefocusoftheconferencewasonthecurrentregionalandEuropeaninitiativestoimprovecivilsocietycooperationwithpublicinstitutionsinthecontextofEuropeanaccession.

• Theconferencewasorganisedasaplatformforexperienceexchangeandopendiscussion,toprovideaforumforpresentingcurrentregionalandEuropeaninitiativesandtoimprovecivilsocietycooperationwithpublicinstitutions.Atthesametime,participantsfromeachcountrywereabletoidentifythenextstepstheywilltaketoimprovecivilsocietycooperationwithpublicinstitutionsduringthenextyear.Theconferencealsoprovidedanexcellentopportunityforparticipantsfromdifferentcountriestoexchangetheirknowledgeandexperiences,availablehere.

• CivilSocietyTransformationsontheWaytotheEuropeanUnioninZagreb,CroatiainApril2013-ThepurposeoftheconferencewastopresenttheexperiencesandchallengeswhichtheCSOsfaceinthecountriesoftheWesternBalkansandTurkeyduringtheEUaccessionprocess.Theconferencegatheredinterestingspeakerswithexperienceinthecivilsectorwhoguaranteedtobroachdiscussionsontopicsthat


hadnotbeenbroachedbefore.Someoftheissuespresentedanddiscussedrelatedto:

• TheinfluenceofdonorsonCSOs’developmentandtheheritagethatdonorsleaveinthecountriestheyoperate.

• InsightintoparticularexperiencesofCroatianCSOsintheEUaccessionprocess,answeringquestionssuchas:“HowdidCroatianCSOsparticipateintheaccessionprocess?”“Inwhatwayshastheirparticipationintheaccessionprocessinfluencedtheircapacities?”“HowdidtheyusetheopportunitiescreatedbytheaccessionprocesstoinfluencepublicpoliciesinCroatia?”“Howdidtheaccessionprocessinfluencenetworkingorpartnershipcapacities?”and“Howdidtheaccessionprocessinfluencetherelationshipbetweenstateandnon-stateactors?”

• TheEU’sroleinthepromotionofminorityrightsandcultureinTurkey.• DevelopmentofCroatianactivisminthelast20years.• TheroleofCSOsintheEUpre-accessionprocess,andtheinteractionofcivilsocietyandEUactorsin

Brussels.• Therolesofenvironmentalnon-governmentalorganisations(ENGOs)ingoverningTurkey’s

Europeanisationprocess.• ExpertexperiencesfromPolandandRomania.• PossibilitiesofinternationaldevelopmentcooperationinconnectingthecountriesoftheWestern

BalkansandTurkeywiththeEUcountries.• TheroleandcapacitiesofCSOsinCroatia,withanemphasisontheopportunitiescreatedbythe

accessionprocesstoinfluencepublicpolicyinCroatia,andalsoonthechallengestheCSOsfacedandthechangesexpectedintherolesofCSOsafteraccession,availablehere.

• CSOsandMediaCooperation-RegionalWorkshop:ConnectingtheLinks-CapacitiesandRelationsbetweenCSOsandtheMediainPrishtina,KosovoinJune2013-RecentfindingsintheregionshowthatrelationsbetweenCSOsandthemediaarenotverystrong.ThemediadoesnotseeCSOsasaidsinbuildingdemocracyandreachingcitizens,whileCSOsdonotseethemediaasindependentactorstowardscivilsocietyanditscitizens.Neitherhavestrategiestoworktogether.Thisregionalworkshopwasanattempttomakethefirststeptobringthesetwoopposingpolesclosertogether.Theresultsoftheworkshopprovidedinitialplansforshortandlong-termperspectivesfordevelopingthecapacitiesofCSOsandthemediainregardtoprocedures,standardsandstrategiesinthelocalcontextwithaspecificfocusonCSOs,availablehere. Allofthesepoliciesandconceptswereinitiatedfromaregionalperspectiveandwerefollowedbyconcretenationalactionplansallowingadaptationtothelocalcontext.Insomecases,aspecificpolicyorconceptattheregionallevelwasprecededbynationalresearchonthetopic.


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