National Resource Centre for Civil Society in Albania
Partners Albania for Change and Development (Lead)
Albanian Centre for Population and Development (Partner)
European Movement in Albania (Partner)
Beneficiaries: The target group that will benefit directly from the project includes:
– Civil Society Organizations and CSOs Networks;
– Public institutions at central/local level;
– Media;
– Albanian citizens;
– Policy-makers in the government at local and central level and also at the Albanian Assembly.
07.01.2022 - 06.01.2025
Overall Objective
The global objective of this action is to support the existence of the National Resource Centre for civil society in Albania (NRC) – a platform for civil society at the local, national, and regional level, contributing to the development of civil society and the creation of an environment that is conducive to civil society, participatory democracy and the EU integration process in Albania.
Summary of the Project
The action is a continuation of the already established NRC implemented during 2019-2021 and aims to support centres` existence, as a platform for civil society at the local, national, and regional level, contributing to the development of civil society and the creation of an environment that is conducive to civil society, participatory democracy and the EU integration process in Albania. The action’s main objectives are:
– Enhance CSOs capacity to be professional, credible, effective and accountable independent actors through training, mentoring, awareness and information to CSOs in a wide variety of areas, such as participation to policymaking, cost- effective service provision, fundraising and diversification of funding, communication, transparency, effectiveness, accountability, self- governance;
– Increase collaborating, networking, and advocating at local/national level and ensure effective outreach to the state
institutions and visibility in media and public at large, to improve state of civil society and empower it to participate in all reform processes, including the implementation of Road Map for the Government policy towards a more enabling environment for civil society development. The Centre main office is in Tirana and has two other regional offices in Shkodra and Vlora, to ensure wider territorial coverage of the country with its activities and services. The centers` main functions and services are: (1) provision of help desk services and networking; (2) building of capacities of civil society organizations in Albania; (3) improving good governance of CSOs and increase public trust; and (4) facilitating advocacy and policy dialogue.
Activities
The main activities of the National Resource Centre for Civil Society in Albania are:
– Help desk services;
– Provision of research-based information and individual assistance to CSOs;
– Networking and matching with other CSOs and relevant stakeholders in Albania, region and EU;
– Info sessions, contact making and consultative meetings CSOs Academy;
– Capacity building needs assessment of CSOs;
– Training programs on demand;
– Capacity building program for CSO on Grants management and monitoring”;
– Capacity building program for CSOs financial sustainably;
– “Revenue generation model for CSOs from fee-for service activities, products and assets”.
– Training workshops with CSOs on their engagement in consultation process/monitoring on most important chapters of EU acquis in the negotiations process;
– Capacity building on volunteering programs;
– Facilitation and coordination for the implementation of the Code of Conduct for CSOs in Albania;
– Organizing the Civil Society Week;
– Preparation publication of the Monitoring Matrix (MM) on Enabling Environment for CSOs Development in Albania;
– Initiation and facilitation of advocacy initiatives to improve the
enabling environment for CSOs;
– Preparation of policy recommendations and research papers;
– Preparation of Scorecards on key chapters of EU Acquis;
– Provision of Technical assistance to CSOs networks.
Results
National Resource Centre for Civil Society expected results are:
– Increased awareness and research-based information of CSOs on key development issues of the enabling environment for CSOs development, and networking at partnership building with all stakeholders at national and regional level, through close collaboration with other platforms and mechanisms that contribute to CSOs development and not only, as TACSO 3 and other national, regional and EU projects;
– Empowered CSOs with capacities and competences on organisational development, project and grants management and monitoring, and diversification of funding/revenue generation models for a greater financial sustainability;
– Improved public image of CSOs and stakeholders’ trust as result of enhanced CSOs transparency, accountability and improved governance, based on a shared standard designed through an open and transparent consultative process;
– Improved enabling environment for CSOs, as a result of joint advocacy efforts and increased policy dialogue with the government, provides for an increased role and contribution of CSOs in the EU integration process and other key reform processes in the country.
