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PARTNERS FOUNDATION FOR LOCAL DEVELOPMENT - FPDL

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2014

Ana Vasilache, FPDL Board President

Anca Harasim, AMCHAM – American Chamber of

Commerce, Director

Kristina Creosteanu, the Association “Together for

the Community Development”, Brasov, consultant

Julia Roig, PDC – Partners for Democratic Change,

USA, President

Ronald Henry MacLean Abaroa, World Bank,

consultant

Tomasz Leopold Sudra, UN – HABITAT, Consultant

and Local Government Initiative Steering Committee,

Consultant and Member

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PARTNERS FOUNDATION FOR LOCAL DEVELOPMENT - FPDL

Nicole Rata Former Deputy Director, Consultant and Trainer

STAFF 2014

Management Team

Olivia Baciu Carmen Marin

Executive Director, Consultant and Trainer

Financial and Office Manager

Operational Team

Program Managers, Consultants and Trainers

Doru Cristian Bularda Daniela Plugaru Andreea Buzec Adina Maria Calafateanu

Administrative Support Team

Maria Dumitru Marcela Nistor

Accountant Administrative Assistant

IT Assistance: Digitronix Company

Webmaster: Claudiu Nistor

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PARTNERS FOUNDATION FOR LOCAL DEVELOPMENT - FPDL

2014 ANNUAL REPORT CONTENTS

PART 1:

FPDL GENERAL PRESENTATION

PART 2:

2014 ANNUAL REPORT

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PARTNERS FOUNDATION FOR LOCAL DEVELOPMENT – FPDL

FPDL GENERAL PRESENTATION

WHO ARE WE

MISSION

BELIEVES AND VALUES

FPDL FIELDS OF EXPERTISE

FPDL CLIENTS

FPDL PROGRAMS

TRAINING OF TRAINERS PROGRAMS

TRAINING PROGRAMS

FACILITATION OF PARTICIPATORY PROBLEM-SOLVING (PLANNING) PROCESSES

TRAINING MANUALS

RESEARCH AND STUDIES

NETWORKING AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION

MANAGING SMALL GRANTS

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WHO ARE WE?

We are Partners Foundation for Local Development – FPDL, a Romanian Non Governmental

Organization operating since 1994.

We established our organization under the name “Foundation for Local Development and Public

Service”. We wanted to use our energy, knowledge and skills to change the world in which we live

and work, into a better place. We believed we could contribute, in the wave of democratic

changes, to the public administration reform and to civil society empowerment.

In 1998 after 4 years of successful activity, based on common mission, values and fields of

activity, we made an alliance with the prestigious international Non – Governmental organization

Partners for Democratic Change – PDC from USA and changed our name into Partners Foundation

for Local Development – FPDL.

We are members of Partners for Democratic Change International Association of non-

governmental organizations from CEE/SEE, Caucasus and Latin American countries established by

Partners for Democratic Change.

MISSION

We have as mission:

To enhance the democratic processes of governance and support local development

To strengthen the civil society

To promote a new culture of change and conflict management

in Romania and worldwide, through Capacity Building Activities targeting Public Administration

and NGOs representatives in order to be more effective, efficient and accountable, as well as to

work better together.

BELIEVES AND VALUES

In the foundation of our Foundation lies our shared belief, so wonderfully expressed by

Margaret Mead:

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,

Committed citizens can change the world.

Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.

We think that:

Having an effective, efficient and accountable public administration, having a strong and

accountable civil society and building bridges between them are crucial for enhancing the

democratic processes of governance

Building the capacity of public administration and civil society representatives is crucial for

promoting effectiveness, efficiency and accountability

Training is an effective capacity building tool to improve public administration and civil society

representatives knowledge and skills, to change their attitudes and stimulate their initiative at

local level

We value:

Professionalism and quality of our work

Openness to share knowledge and skills, to learn from each other

Human relations that are built through working together

Participatory and interactive processes that allow people to express freely themselves, to

solve common problems and prevent conflicts escalation

Margaret Mead (1901 – 1978) was an American cultural anthropologist, a champion of broadened sexual morals within

a context of traditional western religious life.

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FPDL FIELDS OF EXPERTISE

Our organization was established by a group of experts in public administration, urban

management and community development, in order to achieve the mission by using their

knowledge, experience and skills, acquired in national and international education and training

programs.

FPDL trainers and consultants have expertise in one or more of the following fields:

o General Management and Leadership

o Citizen Participation and Community Development

o Conflict Management, including Ethnic Conflicts

o Communication, Negotiation, Mediation

o Facilitation of Meetings, Problem-solving, Strategic planning processes

o Anticorruption strategies at local level

o Consulting for Organizational Development

o Public Finance Management

o Economic Development and Urban Planning

o Training Manuals Development

o Consulting and Training Skills

We are working project based, with more than 20 collaborators, trainers and experts.

Over 250 International and National Organizations, provided FPDL with financial

support, knowledge and skills, used our services or collaborated with us as partners.

International organizations: Local Government Initiative LGI, United Nations Program for

Human Settlements – UN HABITAT, United Nations Development Program – UNDP, United

States Agency for International Development, World Bank Institute

USA and European Professional organizations - over 30 with whom FPDL worked as a

partner, among them: International Development Institute for Organization and Management

IDIOM, Partners for Democratic Change USA, Urban Institute, Development Alternatives Inc –

DAI, City County Management Association ICMA, American Bar Association CEE Law Initiative

– ABA CEELI, Local Government Initiative Development- LGID, National Democratic Institute,

NDI USA, Conflict Management Group USA, Alliance for Conflict Transformation -ACT, IMC

Consulting UK, International Institute on Governance, Barcelona - Spain, Contact Center -

Republic of Moldova, Kettering Foundation, American Society for Training and Development

ASTD, Trialog, EU Enlargement and European NGDOs, Austria, USA Partners Centers from

Albania, Argentina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Kosova, Lithuania, Poland

and Slovakia

Main Founders and Collaborators

Prestigious international organizations and programs support our work financially or through

sharing with us their expertise:

- Local Government Initiative, LGI, Open Society Institute

- United Nations Program for Human Settlements UN HABITAT

- European Union Programs

- Partners for Democratic Change – USA

- UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Global Opportunities Fund

- United Nations Development Program – UNDP Romania, Moldova

- United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs – UNDESA New York

- United States Agency for International Development USAID through World Learning, PADCO,

RTI, Chemonix, Urban Institute, ICMA

- US Department of State and Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs

- GTZ

- Charles Stewart Mott Foundation

- World Bank

- National Soros Foundations in Romania, Moldova, Macedonia

- Harvard University, Center for Urban Development Studies, USA

- New York University, Robert Wagner Scholl for Public Service, USA

- Pearson Peace Keeping Center, Canada

- VNG – International Cooperation Agency of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities

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FPDL CLIENTS

25634 participants, 18881 from Romania and 6753 from other 50 countries from our

region and beyond (West and East Africa, South Asia, Middle East, Latin America) attended

through our Programs more than 962 learning events.

The Target Client at International Level

Trainers, Consultants and Facilitators: 3870 participants in TOTs from 55 countries and

four continents: Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America,

Local Governments and NGOs representatives: participants from our region as well as

from Sudan, Ethiopia and USA in direct Training Programs and Trainers Working Meetings

Training Organizations and NGOs involved in Capacity Building for Local

Governments and local development received technical assistance for organizational

development, small grants to translate / adapt the training manuals or to conduct National

Training Programs, as a follow-up of the TOTs,

Communities from Romania Republic of Moldova and 15 Serbian municipalities

received support for local development through technical assistance in data collection for local

development, workshops for strategy development, or through the activities performed by the

trainers and facilitators we have work with.

Over 120 Local governments and Mayors from CEE- SEE Countries reached through

awareness raising workshops on curing and preventing corruption at local level

Over 20 Local Governments from 9 countries (Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia,

Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia) elaborated Anticorruption strategies through participatory processes

The Target Clients at National Level

Trainers and Facilitators - working with FPDL or other training and consulting organizations

Public and NGO sector representatives - participants in our training events, elected and

appointed officials, managers and technical staff working in Central and Local Government,

public sector, professional association and NGOs, students from graduate and post graduate

studies

Public Sector Organizations and Professional Associations: City Halls, County Councils,

Romanian Federation of Local Authorities, University of Architecture and Urban Planning,

Central Government structures such as Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Public Information,

Office for Roma minority, National Agency for Civil Servants, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

Ministry of Justice, National Council for Fighting Discrimination, Law University from Bucuresti

and Iasi Associations Association of Urban Planners, Association of Architects,

Local NGOs: organizations such as Roma NGOs and associative structures, Youth NGOs or

other local or national NGOs involved in partnership programs with local authorities

Over 300 Rural and urban Communities received support for local development through

technical assistance in data collection for local development, workshops for strategy

development, or through the activities performed by the trainers and facilitators we have work

with.

FPDL Programs

FPDL Programs are implemented for International clients in English and French and for National clients in Romanian.

Our Capacity Building Activities developed at International and National levels include:

• Training of Trainers

• Training

• Consulting and Facilitation

• Research and Studies

• Training Manuals Development

• Grants

• Networking and Information Dissemination

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The quality of our Programs

We believe we succeed to keep over time the high quality of our programs, due to:

Client - centered, Demand - driven and Creative approaches

Clear, simple and attractive Training Manuals, Reports and Studies

Competent Trainers and Consultants

Thorough organization of activities

Other people evaluation is providing arguments for the quality of our programs:

Letter received from one of our trainee:

Letter received from one of the board member:

Letter receive from one of our partners

As a confirmation of the successful effort of Partners Foundation for Local

Development – FPDL team in building the capacity of the Regional Network

of trainers and training institutions, Ana Vasilache, Director was selected by

UN Habitat among 34 entries to receive one of the nine “Habitat Scroll of

Honor” 2000 for her dedication in improving urban governance in Romania

and Central and Eastern Europe.

Over the past couple of years that I have worked with you, I can see and

feel the progress in my own work, understanding and self-awareness that

happens every time I come back from your training.

They give me strength, they give my tools, they give me

encouragements, and more importantly, nurture trust in myself. I have

been doing a lot of more training lately than I used to be, and I’m sure

that this is the impact that you have on my professional development.

Thank you very much for your work! The seeds are growing

Anastasia Leukhina, Center for Media Reform, Kiev-Mohyla Academy Ukraine, 2006

As the Chief of the UN-HABITAT’s Training and Capacity Building Branch,

until my retirement in 2003, responsible for training programs of our

agency around the world, I can say with full confidence that I have not

met in any region a more professional, innovative, dynamic and effective

non-governmental training organization in the fields of local governance

and local development

Tomasz Sudra, FPDL Board Member Senior Training and Capacity Building Advisor, UN-HABITAT, 2006

I think that you do an impressive work in structuring a program of

training around some principles and ideas, that of course I find them very

valid and pertinent for preventing corruption, and giving health to the

organizations. I was very encouraged to read the mayors’ reaction to the

activity, and happy to learn that they were inspired to work for the

change of their organizations.

Ronald MacLean-Abaroa, Senior Governance & Decentralization Specialist, Urban & City Management, World Bank Institute , 2006

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PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION

TRAINING OF TRAINERS (TOTs)

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The Training of Trainers activity is one of the most important components of our capacity building

effort.

Through this TOT Programs we develop trainers’ and facilitators knowledge and skills in the

design and conduct of interactive, participatory training events in different fields of interest for

public administration and civil society sectors.

Through this TOT Programs we disseminate high quality training materials to be used in national

programs, supporting the multiplying effect of our effort.

Through this TOT Programs we build common understanding on the main concepts the

democratic, efficient and effective governance is relying on.

We have conducted 153 TOTs in multicultural environments, in English, French or Romanian,

which took place in Romania and in our region (Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Hungary, Serbia &

Montenegro - including Kosovo, Macedonia, Republic of Moldova, Poland, Russia,) as well as in

other parts of the world (India, Kenya, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Jordan, Indonesia, Senegal)

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International TOTs for CEE &SEE Countries International TOTs for Africa, Asia, ME National TOTs

Around 3870 participants attended our Training of Trainers Programs

They are trainers, facilitators, consultants and experts representing training organizations

working for local government and /or civil society capacity building from 50 countries and 4

continents.

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We offered them, in 5 to 10 days, new methodologies for adult learning, knowledge and skills in

different fields and high quality training manuals in English language, or Romanian, available for

free to be translated and adapted into national languages, as well grants, to support national

programs multiplication.

Our TOTs focused on specific contents, such as:

Elected Leadership

Local Government General Management

Local Government Financial Management

Public Service Management

Consulting Skills

Conflict Management, Negotiation and Mediation Skills

Ethnic Diversity and Conflict Management

Participatory Planning, Local Government – NGO Cooperation

NGO Management

Advanced Training of Trainers:

o Needs Assessment,

o Impact Evaluation

o Training Design

Time Management

Local Economic Development

Preventing and curing corruption in organizations through participatory processes

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International Training of Trainers (TOT) Programs

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International Training of Trainers activity 1995-2014

Our trainers initiated or conducted 153 international TOTs attended by 3870 trainers and

facilitators from more than 50 countries from 4 Continents: Austria, Albania, Armenia,

Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Brasil, Croatia, Chile, Czech

Republic, Estonia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Georgia, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, India, Indonesia, Jordan,

Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgystan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Madagascar, Maldives, Nepal,

Poland, Pakistan, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro

(including Kosovo), Somalia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sri-Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Turkey,

Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe.

TOTs in CEE/SEE Countries

114 TOTs organized for participants from CEE and SEE Countries, from which 30 were initiated

through the Regional Program “Working Together” and the support of LGI-OSI, and the other at

the initiative of our partners from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Hungary,

Macedonia, Moldova, Serbia and Montenegro (including Kosovo), Russia, Slovakia, Turkey or by

UN HABITAT SIRP Program in Serbia and by Managing Multiethnic Communities program of LGI.

TOTs for CEE & SEE COuntries

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Regional Program Working Together In-countries programs

The Regional Program “Working Together” is a program initiated by us in 1998 with the financial

support of Local Government and Public Service Reform Initiative of the Open Society Institute,

LGI.

The Regional Program goal is to create a sustainable network of training institutions and trainers

from Central, East (CEE) and Southeast (SEE) European countries, in order to develop their

training capacity, to exchange information and experience.

The Regional Support Center, located in Bucuresti, Romania, managed by FPDL, is the

organizational structure that coordinates and implements the Regional Program activities.

Starting with 1998, FPDL succeeded to attract more funding agencies to support the Regional

Program activities, such as Un-HABITAT, USAID, GTZ, ICMA, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

through ALDA, US Department of States and Dutch Government through Partners for Democratic

Change.

TOTs in other parts of the world Due to our experience in conducting TOTs in Central and East Europe, FPDL trainers were invited

to design and conduct 15 international TOTs, as UN-HABITAT consultants, for participants from

the following African and Asian Countries:

Asia and Middle East: India, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh,

Africa: Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania Zimbabwe, Senegal, Somalia, Uganda, Madagascar

In these TOTs they trained a total number of 264 trainers in:

Elected Leadership

Environmental Management

Strategic Planning

Conflict Management

Participatory Planning

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National Training of Trainers Programs

FPDL organized and conducted in the period 1995-2013:

39 National TOT / TOF Programs, training a total of 853 trainers / facilitators in:

Leadership

Conflict Management

Participatory Planning / Community participation / Facilitation skills

Mediation

Local Public Finance

Environmental Management

Project Management

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TRAINING PROGRAMS

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Our Training Programs are targeted toward public administration and civil society representatives

in order to build their leadership and managerial capacity as well as to facilitate the way they

work together in order to solve critical problems and promote local development and change at

local level.

Since 1995, our trainers initiated and conducted over 565 training events, involving for 2026

training days with 11964 participants, elected officials, civil servants, community leaders, NGOs

representatives from Romania as well as form other countries from our region, such as Bulgaria,

Greece, Germany, Hungary, Malta, Macedonia, Republic of Moldova, Serbia, Slovenia, Sweden,

Turkey.

1995-2014 Number of Training

477

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National Programs International Programs

1995-2014 Participants

10096

1868

National Training International Training

We offered them training in fields of interest for enhancing the democratic processes of

governance, for improving the quality of local leadership and management, for making

organizations accountable and transparent. We offered also training manuals, to support the

continuing learning process after the training events.

International Training Programs

1995-2014, 88 Training events for international audience, totalizing 518 training days and

attended by 1868 participants, were organized and/or conducted by FPDL in collaboration with

other organizations.

National Training Programs

FPDL Training activity in Romania is illustrated by 477 training events attended by

10096 participants, during 1508 training days elected and appointed officials, as well as NGOs

community representatives, students and ethnic minority representatives.

The field of national training programs focused on the same topics as those conducted at

international level. Actually FPDL strategy was to multiply at national level the successful

international experience, by translating/adapting and printing into Romanian the training manuals

and by training other Romanian trainers in their use, in order to be able to offer high quality

training and facilitation services to Romanian target clients.

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FACILITATION OF MEETINGS AND PARTICIPATORY PROBLEM-SOLVING (PLANNING) PROCESSES

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We have an extensive experience in facilitating participatory planning and problem-solving

processes, for trainers and experts from other countries from our region, as well as for Romanian

elected officials, technical staff and experts working in public institutions or in NGOs fields.

Through this activity, FPDL intends to promote the facilitator role, to build partnership relations

among various stakeholders involved in solving public issues or promoting change at local,

national or regional level.

We offer Consultation and Facilitation for Participatory Planning, Problem solving, Consensus

building Processes in organizations or communities.

At International Level

FPDL organized and facilitated Annual meetings of trainers from our region, (including 14 Annual

Trainers Meetings of the Regional Program "Working Together"), International Meeting of experts

and trainers working together on a specific task/ projects/ or programs

At National Level

FPDL organized, designed and conducted workshops and working meetings for participatory

planning and organizational development purposes, involving technical experts and elected

officials working in central and local governments, as well as NGOs and citizens representatives.

We have facilitated important National and International events, such as Community of

Democracies Bucharest NGO Forum - 2003, Local Government Initiative Network Annual

Jamboree - 2002, Local Public Finance Law dissemination – 1998, Soros Foundation Romania,

Public Administration Program strategic planning effort – 1997.

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TRAINING MANUALS

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PARTNERS FOUNDATION FOR LOCAL DEVELOPMENT - FPDL

2014 SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

2014 INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

2014 NATIONAL PROGRAMS

2014 MEETINGS, PARTICIPATION IN CONFERENCES

AND TRAINING PROGRAMS

2014 FINANCIAL STATEMENT

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2014 SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

Learning events

Training of Trainers (TOT) / Training of Facilitators (TOF)

Training programs (TP)

Consultancy and Technical Assistance (C&TA) programs

Conferences and Meetings Facilitation (C&M)

FPDL LONG-TERM PROJECTS LIST

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LEARNING EVENTS IN 2014

FPDL trainers and facilitators have prepared, designed and conducted a total of 84

learning events, which include Training Programs (T), Consultancy and Technical Assistance Programs (C&TA) and Workshops/Facilitated Meetings, for a total of 1466 participants and a total of 260 days.

Training programs in 2014

FPDL trainers designed and conducted 33 training programs involving 316

participants (trainers, academics, representatives of NGOs, elected officials and technical staff working in public institutions, school teachers, urban planners, university students and youth, social economy operators) during 131 training days.

Consultancy and Technical Assistance (C&TA) programs in 2014

FPDL consultants have prepared, designed and conducted 5 Consultancy and

Technical Assistance programs for 81 clients (trainers, representatives of NGOs, elected officials and technical staff working in public institutions, representatives of ministries, school teachers, youth, social economy operators) during 65 consultancy

days.

These C&TA programs were delivered in English and Romanian, for the audience from

CEE countries as well as for participants from Romania.

Conferences and Meetings Facilitation (C&M) in 2014

Our facilitators have prepared, designed and facilitated in total 46 events, in which have

been involved 1069 participants (NGOs representatives, local governments representatives, experts in various areas, citizens, teachers, young people, etc.), during 64 days.

These programs were delivered in English and Romanian, for the audience from CEE and Western Balkans countries, as well as for participants from Romania.

Other events in 2014

Our experts have attended and contributed with presentations about our programs and projects in a total of 10 events and programs at national and international level,

in which have been involved 66 participants (NGOs representatives, local governments representatives, experts in various areas, citizens, teachers, young people, etc.), during

68 days.

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2014 INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

FPDL INNOVATIVE ANTI-CORRUPTION METHODOLOGY

Integrating Anti-Corruption Best Practices on Municipality

Level in Jordan

WB-Austria Urban Partnership Program for SEE, Final

Conference

The project “Active citizens against corruption - Best practices

to cure and prevent corruption in local communities”

JuST Program for Albania

World Forum on Governance, Leveraging Private Capital and

Political Action in the Fight against Corruption

The Course „Anti-Corruption in Local Governance: Developing

Local Anti-Corruption Strategies”

The course „It Is Possible: Practical Tools to Curb Corruption”

The Conference ”Towards A Gold Standard in Governance,

Transparency and Anti-Corruption In Post-Communist

Societies”

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Program Frame ”Access Nigeria & Access Sierra Leone

Program”

Training program delivered for MONUSCO, the United Nations

Organization stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of

Congo, through Partners for Democratic Change

The Project “8 GOALS... WE ACT!”

The project “Moldavian Values – Romanian Values – European

Values”

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FPDL INNOVATIVE ANTI-CORRUPTION METHODOLOGY

Islands of Integrity and Effectiveness

Integrating Anti-Corruption Best Practices on Municipality Level in Jordan

Funder: USAID Date and venue: January 26-30, 2014, Amman, Jordan Consultant: Ana Vasilache/FPDL, trainer Participants: 3 Partners Jordan facilitators and 12 Jordanian CSOs representatives Goal/Objectives: Participants deepened their understanding and improved their knowledge

about FPDL practical and innovative anticorruption methodology, focused on strengthening Local

Governments transparency, accountability and efficiency.

Program description/ Main activities: the Training had the following structure:

Day 1: Opening, Program objectives and Agenda, Rules of Work; Understanding the practical and

innovative anticorruption approach: La Paz Case (Part 1 and 2); Anticorruption methodology

development & application in CEE/SEEE: FPDL experience

Day 2: Where does Jordan stands; Jordan Public Administration legal framework; Building the

case for the Pilot Workshop; Building the case for the Pilot Workshop

Day 3, Pilot Workshop (1): Opening, Objectives, Agenda, What is Integrity; What is

Corruption, Why is important to fight it and what do we think about; Curing and preventing

corruption through a strategic and participatory approach: General Diagnosis of the vulnerability

to corruption; Analysis of vulnerable to corruption activities/services

Day 4, Pilot Workshop (2): In-Depth Diagnosis: identifying vulnerability to corruption causes;

Causes Analysis; Action Plan to address the vulnerability to corruption causes; Monitoring and

Evaluation Plan; Action Plan to address the vulnerability to corruption causes; Monitoring and

Evaluation Plan

Day 5: Lessons learned and future actions

Results: Partners Jordan anti-corruption practitioners, in collaboration with local CSOs

representatives who attended the training, organized workshops in three cities in Jordan,

involving local governments representatives in order to deepen their understanding for the

strategic and participatory anti-corruption methodology, and to support them analyze their

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organization vulnerability to corruption, identify priority areas and elaborate solutions to address

the vulnerability causes.

No of days: 10 days (5 days training, 5 days preparation) WB-Austria Urban Partnership Program for SEE, Final Conference

Funder: USAID Date and venue: February 10-13, 2014, Vienna, Austria Consultant: Ana Vasilache/FPDL Participants: Ronald MacLean Abaroa, Anti-corruption Practitioners from SEE, certified in PAP*,

cities representatives from the 7 SEE countries and other interested local governments, central

agencies and international organizations, a total of 200 participants Goal/Objectives: Share experience and ideas in improving governance at local level

Program description/ Main activities: Ana Vasilache had a presentation in the opening

plenary about the Urban Partnership component „Cities without Corruption – Cities with Future”

and the strategy to disseminate and apply FPDL Anti-corruption methodology in the 7 SEE

countries and 10 local governments.

Number of days: 4 days

The project “Active citizens against corruption - Best practices to cure and prevent corruption in local communities”

Funder: USAID Date and venue: January 2014 – June 2014, Belgrade and Bucharest Consultant: Ana Vasilache/FPDL, Anti-corruption Practitioner Participants: 2 Partners Serbia and 3 MENA Group/Nis anti-corruption practitioners, 50

participants in the final conference Goal/Objective: support Partners Serbia/MENA Group Anti-Corruption Practitioners in the design

and facilitation of the participatory intervention processes aimed at treating and preventing

corruption in two local governments and one public hospital.

Program description/Main activities: Ana Vasilache implemented the following activities:

Consultancy services and support to Partners Serbia/MENA Group Anti-Corruption

Practitioners in the design and facilitation of the participatory intervention processes aimed

at applying FPDL Anti-Corruption Methodology in two Serbian Local Governments and one

public hospital.

Prepared and delivered the presentation “Prevention of corruption through participation of

public servants – Successful stories of implementation of an innovative anti-corruption

methodology in SEE” at the Final project conference in Belgrade (June 17-18, 2014)

Facilitate the work of the working group “The role of public servants in prevention and fight

against corruption” at the Final project conference in Belgrade (June 17-18, 2014).

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Results: two local governments and one hospital staff, managers and leaders developed anti-

corruption strategic plans aimed at improving their organizations integrity, transparency,

accountability and efficiency.

No of days: 7 days (2 days conference, 5 days consulting)

JuST Program for Albania

JuST is a five year project (October 2010 – October 2015) working in three inter-related areas to

help Albania achieve relevant international standards of governance: (1) Court Transparency,

Fairness and Efficiency; (2) Civic Engagement (3) Education of the Legal Profession. The project

is part of the ongoing U.S. support to the rule of law and good governance in Albania.

Specifically, the Project Component 2 supports CSOs to stem governmental and justice-sector

corruption in Albania. The Project decided to organize a Training Program and launch for CSOs a

new Request for Applications (RFA), focused on promoting anti-corruption methodologies that

engage in collective actions, citizens, CSOs, government agencies or businesses, in order to curb

corruption and increase public institutions integrity, efficiency, transparency and accountability.

Funder: USAID Date and venue: August 15-September 25, 2014, Tirana, Albania Consultant: Ana Vasilache/FPDL, Anti-corruption Practitioner Participants: 18 participants representing Albanian CSOs

Goal/Objectives:

(1) To assist Component 2 Team Leader design the Scope of Work of the new RFA for anti-

corruption projects from CSOs

(2) To improve the representatives of selected Albanian CSOs capacity to develop strategic and

collaborative anti-corruption projects, which will result in positive changes in the justice sector or

other public institutions/public services.

Program description/Main activities: to achieve the objectives, Ana Vasilache performed the

following tasks: (1) Supported RFA Scope of Work design, describing the need for collective anti-corruption

actions that use strategic and collaborative anti-corruption approaches

(2) Designed and conducted the Training Program “Collective Actions to Curb Corruption”, with

the objective to improve CSOs representatives’ capacity to engage in collective anti-

corruption actions, which will result in positive changes in justice sector or other public

institutions/public services. In the frame of this task the Consultant: (2a) prepared training

materials and agenda (2b) conducted the training in the period September 18-19, 2014 in

Tirana and (2c) evaluated the training through evaluation forms completed by participants at

the training end.

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Results:

Taking into account the complexity of the topic, the training ambitious objective and the short

time available for the training (2 days), the results demonstrated by participants’ evaluations are

very satisfying. They appreciated: (a) The training process, as well as the practical, strategic anti-

corruption methodologies promoted in this training (b) The inspiring best practices of CSOs from

Albania and other countries from around the world (c) The trainer knowledge and skills

No of days: 8 days (2 days training, 2 days preparation, 4 days the rest of activities)

World Forum on Governance, Leveraging Private Capital and Political Action in the Fight against Corruption

Funder: Brookings Institute/USA and Zaostreno/Czech Republic Date and venue: April 9-11, 2014, Prague, Czech Republic Consultant: Ana Vasilache/FPDL, Anti-corruption Practitioner Participants: 81 representatives of public, private and civil society organizations from CEE/SEE

countries Goal/Objective: to exchange views from the various perspectives and jurisdictions represented

at the conference; to explore whether a common or dominant consensus may be found on

practical steps to strengthen the effort against corruption

Program description/Main activities: Ana Vasilache served as a panelist in the on-the-record

plenary session, titled “Government Reform and the Fight against Corruption.” The session was

scheduled to take place Friday, April 11th from 8:30-10:00 AM. Elaine Kamarck moderated the

discussion, and the other panelists were Ronald MacLean-Abaroa (former Mayor of La Paz,

Bolivia), Sergey Leschenko (Ukraisnska Pravda), Thuli Madonsela (Public Protector of South

Africa).

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Results: Ana Vasilache presented the anti-corruption methodology developed in collaboration

with Ronald MacLean Abaroa, and applied in more than 10 CEE/SEE countries and 25 local

governments

No of days: 3 days

The Course „Anti-Corruption in Local Governance: Developing Local Anti-Corruption Strategies”

Funder: International Anti-Corruption Academy in Vienna Date and venue: July 14-18, 2014, Vienna Consultant: Ana Vasilache/FPDL, Anti-corruption Practitioner in collaboration with Ronald

MacLean Abaroa and Robert Klitgaard Participants: 12 representatives of anticorruption agencies,

other local and central authorities from different African, South-

Asian countries Goal/Objective: Participants received practical tools to

diagnose the vulnerability to corruption in their local

governments, and develop strategies to address corruption

risks and improve transparency, accountability, efficiency and

public service delivery.

Program description/Main activities: the programme

started with an academic overview of theories, concepts and

research findings on local governance and anti-corruption

world-wide, conducted by professor Robert Klitgaard (July 14).

Subsequently, a number of case studies were presented and

discussed. The sessions were conducted by Ronald MacLean

Abaroa (July 15). Followed a set of operational sessions,

conducted by Ana Vasilache, in which participants were guided

in developing their own local anti-corruption strategy, by

applying the instruments of the replicable anti-corruption

methodology (July 16-17). Towards the end of the training, participants zoomed in into

organizational integrity and specific ethical dilemmas (July 18).

No of days: 4 days (2 days training, 2 days preparation)

The course „It Is Possible: Practical Tools to Curb Corruption”

Funder: The Hague Academy for Local Governance Date and venue: October 30-31, 2014, The Hague (2 days in the course starting October 27

and ending November 7) Consultant: Ana Vasilache/FPDL, Anti-corruption Practitioner in collaboration with Ronald

MacLean Abaroa Participants: 16 representatives of anticorruption agencies, other local and central authorities

from different African, South-Asian, Middle-East countries

Goal/Objective: By attending this workshop participants learned about an innovative and

practical Anti-Corruption Methodology that enhances the efficiency transparency and

accountability of local governments and other public institutions activities/services. Participants

met Ronald MacLean Abaroa, former Mayor of La Paz/Bolivia and understood how corruption was

treated and prevented successfully by a Mayor who acted as an institutional reformer rather than

a prosecutor or a judge. Participants received practical tools to diagnose and combat corruption,

part of the Anti-Corruption Methodology developed by Ana Vasilache/FPDL (Partners Foundation

for Local Development – Romania) in collaboration with Mayor Ronald MacLean Abaroa, based on

Professor Robert Klitgaard theoretical frame. The A-C Methodology, successfully applied in

CEE/SEE countries and appreciated by many mayors, A-C professionals and academics, has

received in 2011 the prestigious UN Public Service Award and is widely published in manuals and

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workbooks in many languages. Participants were involved in a process that could be a model for

their own events: case-based, highly participatory, with the goal of creative problem solving

rather than (simply) the transfer of knowledge. Program description/Main activities:

Sessions 1.1 and 1.2: participants deepened their knowledge and understanding on Mayor

Ronald MacLean Abaroa successful experience in treating and preventing corruption in La

Paz/Bolivia, using an innovative and practical approach.

Sessions 1.3 and 1.4: participants

Learned about the replicable A-C Methodology, inspired by La Paz successful experience

and applied by FPDL/Ana Vasilache in collaboration with Ronald MacLean Abaroa, in more

than 10 CEE/SEE Countries and 12 local governments

Increased understanding about FPDL 3 main strategies aimed to disseminate and apply

the A-C Methodology in CEE/SEE local governments: (1) Awareness raising of

mayors/public managers (2) Anti-corruption Practitioners (APs) capacity building (3)

Supporting Mayors and Aps to work together to apply the A-C Methodology

Increased understanding on the practical tools used in FPDL strategy # 1, in order to raise

mayors/public managers awareness about the devastating long term effects of corruption

and about the values they should bring to work

Increased knowledge about the need for skilled anti-corruption practitioners and FPDL

strategy # 2, during which FPDL/Ronald MacLean Abaroa have built their capacity to work

with willing mayors to apply the A-C Methodology

Deepened understanding on the participatory and strategic A-C Methodology steps and on

the practical tools used to overcome people resistance, defensiveness and cynical attitude

about fighting corruption

Identified the most important pre-conditions for having successful participatory and

collaborative processes

Sessions 2.1 and 2.2: participants

Learned about Robert Klitgaard main theoretical concepts on which the A-C Methodology

relies

Deepened understanding of the A-C Methodology general diagnosis and in-depth diagnosis

tools used to identify and analyze the organization vulnerability to corruption causes,

relying in the organization systems

Increased knowledge about Edgar Schein theory on the organizational culture and identify

vulnerability to corruption causes relying in local governments culture

Elaborated possible solutions to address the vulnerability to corruption causes

Learned from La Paz and other CEE/SEE local governments experience

Session 2.3: participants learned about the experience and lessons learned by Mayor Ronald

MacLean Abaroa in addressing corruption in the Municipal Police of La Paz

Session 2.4: participants

Increased knowledge about the role played in Bolivia by the decentralization and

participatory democracy in preventing corruption at national level

Identified the lessons learned in the last two days, to be brought and used when returning

home

No of days: 4 days (2 days training, 2 days preparation)

The Conference ”Towards A Gold Standard in Governance, Transparency and Anti-Corruption In Post-Communist Societies”

Funder: FPDL in kind contribution and organizer Aspen Institute Romania Date and venue: September 9, 2014, The Hague (2 days in the course starting October 27 and

ending November 7) Consultant: Ana Vasilache/FPDL, Anti-corruption Practitioner

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Participants: The conference benefitted from the presence of representatives from 10 countries

in the region, with over 25 speakers who contributed to the conference, and more than 130

participants who attended the discussions. They were officials from central and local

governments, Ministries of Justice, public prosecutors and judges, politicians, experts,

representatives of the public, civil society and private sector from CEE, EU Commission, US State

Department, World Bank, OECD, GMF, Brookings Institution.

Goal/Objective: The conference was organized on the occasion of 25th anniversary of the fall of

the Berlin Wall and the end of totalitarian regimes in Central and Eastern Europe in 1989. It built

on the experience and work of the Global Governance Forum convened in Prague since 2011 and

it was centered on a community of individuals and institutions that believe the next stage of EU

integration of CEE countries is centered on building a Good Society.

Program description/Main activities: Ana Vasilache had a presentation, which title was How

to catch flies with honey - an innovative A-C methodology describing FPDL 10 years effort in

addressing corruption in CEE/SEE countries

Number of days: 2 days

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Program Frame ”Access Nigeria & Access Sierra Leone Program”

Program description: Partners for Democratic Change Washington led and implemented

AccessNG&SL - a program to improve the governance, transparency, and accountability of

oversight, justice, and security institutions in Nigeria and Sierra Leone – in partnership with CGG

from Sierra Leon and CLEEN Foundation from Nigeria.

Both Nigeria and Sierra Leone have fairly robust anti-corruption systems in place. They have

active prosecutions against public officials, private citizens, and corporations, as well as a range

of agencies developing cases. Unfortunately, citizens and CSOs have little faith in the

prosecutions and are unconvinced that the agencies and cases serve as a real deterrent to

violators. One way to improve perceptions as well as performance is for agencies to increase the

availability and relevance of information about their cases to the public. While some agencies

publicly release information, NGOs have little to go on the information released is rarely timely,

relevant, or useful.

Funder: Department of State, USA

Consultant: Olivia Baciu

Training: Accessing Information, a Collaborative Process

Training Objectives:

Broader the views on the access to information world-wide practices;

Deepen understanding of the legal and institutional context of the targeted federal

agencies;

Deepen understanding on effective civil society-government collaborations based on global

knowledge and field experiences;

Develop strategies for approaching and creatively accessing information from targeted

federal agencies.

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Training Results: Four specific drafted strategies to approach and creatively access information

from the targeted federal agencies (ICPC, NAPTIP, NDLEA and EFCC): a road map on how to best

approach the agencies, how to identify the key influencers and stakeholders, the data we need

and how to get it, and how to know we have been successful.

Participants: 15 participants from CLEEN Foundation (Center for Law Enforcement Education)

staff and their partners, CSO representatives, engaged in the fight against corruption

Date and venue: March 15-22, Abuja, Nigeria

Number of days: 10

Training program delivered for MONUSCO, the United Nations

Organization stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, through Partners for Democratic Change

Funder: MONUSCO

Consultant: Olivia Baciu

Participants: MONUSCO Civil Affairs Staff and Officers

Context of the Training: The protection of civilians remains a priority issue, especially in

eastern DRC, where conflict and instability still reigns. The Mission mandate (UNSCR 2147)

clearly reflects the urgent need to mitigate conflict, extending the mandate for the Force

Intervention Brigade (FIB) to carry out targeted offensive operations, unilaterally or with the

FARDC, to neutralize, disarm and prevent the expansion of all armed groups and make space for

stabilization activities. MONUSCO/Civil Affairs (CA) has been working with protection partners to

empower and enable the DRC to better assume its responsibilities in the protection of its own

civilians. Activities are necessarily focused on prevention as opposed to response by

strengthening civil and military coordination at all levels of MONUSCO’s operations to carry out its

protection mandate.

Training: Civil Affairs Outreach & Cooperative Planning Training

Training Overall Aim: to develop capacities that support the collaboration between local

authorities and populations in the areas of protection of civilians, stabilization activities and

related projects.

Training Objective: To increase the effectiveness and the efficiency of facilitation of planning

processes and development of activities of POC and stabilization, having a multi-stakeholders

collaborative approach.

Results:

Increased understanding of cooperative planning processes

Better understanding of different engagement techniques for community dialogues, how to

identify and engage with a range of stakeholders, power mapping and basic conflict

analysis and how they are perceived by communities and the impacts of their engagement

Improved sense of team work among participants and a renewed commitment to

proactively work together to ensure the success of their mission

Date and venue: June 19-27, 2014, Entebbe, Uganda

Number of days: 14

The Project “8 GOALS... WE ACT!”

Project frame: EuropeAID – Education for Development Program

Funder: European Commission

Period: May 2013- September 2014

Project Coordinator: Andreea Buzec

Project Assistant: Adina Calafateanu

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Project Description: The project was implemented by FPDL, as main applicant, in partnership

with Partners Czech (Czech Republic), YMCA Gabrovo (Bulgaria) and FOCODE (Burundi).

In the period January – September 2014, the following project activities have been implemented:

Activity 6: Preparation of and delivery of the “MDG weeks”

“MDG weeks” represented the opportunity for young people to assume an active role in

addressing development issues at local level in connection with the Millennium Development

Goals.

Each partner organization from Romania, Czech Republic and Bulgaria selected each 4 public

schools from different towns that will host each one “MDG week”, 4/ country.

The “MDG weeks”, 4/country, were grouped by 2 that took place at the same time, but in

different countries.

During the 5-day implementation period, the “MDG weeks” were divided into the following

components:

- knowledge building on global citizenship, development cooperation, Millennium

Development Goals and global citizenship with the help of young facilitators;

- capacity building for the elaboration of a concrete strategy for addressing at least 3 local

development issues at local level;

- presenting the strategy to their colleagues from school and outside stakeholders: local

media, public authorities, private sector and NGO representatives, at least 50 people;

- action planning for “Project weeks”.

The capacity building component followed the model of a participatory planning process for

strategy elaboration:

1. problem / issues identification

2. vision elaboration

3. objectives elaboration

4. activities elaboration.

They did so through a scenario of local elections where they had the task to elaborate the

electoral manifesto which was in the form of a strategy. Thus, pupils will have identified at least 3

local development issues related to the Millennium Development Goals, elaborated a vision

describing the desired future when issues have been solved, identified objectives to reach vision

and activities to reach objectives.

Overall, the “MDG weeks” resulted in:

- Improved understanding of pupils and teachers of the MDGs and development cooperation

context and strengthened capacity to get engaged in promoting MDGs in their local

surroundings

- Increased sense of solidarity of pupils and teachers in relation other youngsters from

partner countries and to people in need at local and global level and strengthened

motivation to engage in promoting the achievement of MDGs at local and global level;

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- Increased understanding of pupils and teachers of the local political and decision- making

context;

- Improved awareness of local authorities, media, private and civil sector of global

development interdependencies and of the necessity to engage in strategic thinking and

importance of local actions towards sustainable global development, starting at local level-

the pupils will present to them the electoral manifestos.

Activity 7: 3 National study visits to at least 3 NGOs members of national

platforms working in development cooperation, 1 visit/ country- Romania, Czech

Republic and Bulgaria

3 Study visits to the NGOs were organized prior to the “Project weeks”- prior to the actions taken

by the pupils, 1 visit/ country. The purpose of these visits was to make facilitators, pupils and

teachers aware about possible ways of development cooperation and aid so that they are inspired

and well informed before taking their own actions. They became more aware what the

professional organization doing to achieve the MDGs and to improve the living conditions in

developing countries. Young facilitators had the opportunity to talk about best practices, good

examples of projects as well as about potential barriers, risks or mistakes of/in on development

cooperation. At least 20 participants/ country- young facilitators, pupils and teachers attended

the study visit.

Each partner organization from Romania, Czech Republic and Bulgaria contacted and arranged for

at least 3 NGOs members of national platforms of NGOs working in development cooperation/

country to receive 20 pupils and teachers and 8 young facilitators/ country and share with them

their experience and lessons learned through implementing development projects. The NGOs will

be selected so as to cover thematic areas connected to the selected 3 issues identified at local

level by pupils during the “MDG weeks”.

The study visit has covered 2 days and the agenda was developed by each project coordinator/

country based on the availability of the selected NGOs.

Activity 8: Preparation and delivery of “Project weeks”

The winning party received the opportunity to put into practice one activity or one set of activities

from the winning electoral manifestos during the “Project weeks” in partnership with at least 3

local stakeholders (NGOs, local authorities, private sector and media) and with the participation

of their colleagues from other parties and groups, at least 10 pupils as action team for “Project

weeks”. Each country, Romania, Czech Republic and Bulgaria hosted 4 “Project weeks”, in total

12 events with the involvement of 12 local teams (pupils, teachers and local stakeholders), at

least 10 persons / locations, 4 locations / country, in total 120 persons involved in the

implementation of 12 “Project weeks”.

The “Project weeks” represented 5 days of action in the local community designed to:

Raise public awareness about global citizenship, MDGs and situation in developing

countries (Burundi)

Contribute to the improvement of living conditions in their region or in selected

developing countries

Motivate pupils, teachers and community members to take personal responsibility of the

quality of life in their community/region/country or globally

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Provide good practice model to the others (not only to their peers, parents and

members of their community), but also to the local politicians and other stakeholders-

minimum 100 local stakeholders and community members/ “Project week”.

Overall, the “Project weeks” reached the following impact:

Provision of good practice through action itself (making effort to change community

attitudes towards development issues, and further more to demonstrate that through

small actions we could reach some development and then achievements further

motivate for active involvement in the achievements of MDG’s)

Wide promotion of project methodology and achievements and further development/

strengthening the multi- actor partnerships

Validation and recognition of active participation of pupils , teachers, young facilitators

In overall process of initiation and implementation of all activities during “MDG weeks”

and “Project weeks”.

Activity 9: Preparation and delivery of 1 final 2-day international meeting

The final 2-day international meeting reunited project teams from Romania, Czech Republic and

Bulgaria, young facilitators and teachers involved in the “MDG weeks” and in the national study

visits, national and international stakeholders in development cooperation from the 3 partner

countries: Romania, Czech Republic, Bulgaria - press, NGOs and administration representatives:

Ministries of Education, Youth and Sports, Foreign Affairs.

The project coordinator from Burundi and 1 NGO

representative were able to be present at this final

conference.

The objectives for this meeting were:

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– Reflection, evaluation and sharing of lessons learned

– Experience sharing

– Identifying opportunities to initiate follow-up activities and projects

– Drafted 5 international project proposals to build on

project results together with the action plans to finalize

them together with a list of recommendations/

suggestions for funding.

The project “Moldavian Values – Romanian Values – European

Values”

Project Frame: Civil Society Forum Romania – Republic of Moldova, managed by the Federation

of Nongovernmental Organizations for Development (FOND Romania)

Funder: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Romania

Role in the project: Partner

Projects description: The project was implemented in partnership with the Association Dacia

Resource Center for Youth (CRT Dacia), as main applicant

The project goal was to strengthen the capacity of CRT Dacia to develop programs related to the

European integration, to the promotion of European values and concepts, to the accessing and

management of the projects from pre-accession funds, in the context of the current preparation

process of the Republic of Moldova for the accession in the European Union.

The main activities implemented were

- Training program on “Accessing and managing pre-accessing European funds” as a

result there had been initiated and elaborated 2 drafts of project proposals to be

submitted to the Neighborhood Civil Society Facility (European Neighborhood Instrument –

ENI) Program and European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR)

program (Country-based Support Scheme), Soroca, R. Moldova

- Study visit in Romania, at 5 Romanian NGOs – the Association Horezu Depression (ADH),

Horezu, Valcea County, the Association for the Promotion of the Authentic Patrimony of

Horezu (APPAH), Horezu, Valcea County, the Association “Dorna Tismana”, Tg. Jiu, Gorj

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County, and the Foundation “SOS Chlidren of Gorj”, Tg. Jiu, Gorj County, the Partners

Foundation for Local Development (FPDL).

Participants

- members and collaborators of CRT Dacia – 10 persons participating in the training program in

Soroca, Republic of Moldova

- CRT Dacia members – 4 persons participating in the Study visit in Romania

Facilitators:

Daniela Plugaru and Doru Cristian Bularda

Period of implementation and location:

May – June 2014, Horezu Town, Valcea County, Tg. Jiu, Gorj County, and Bucharest

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2014 NATIONAL PROGRAMS

YOUTH VOICE PROGRAM

The Project ”Youth Voice Here and Now!”

The project ”Youth Voice Romania – PEU Path to the European

Union”

GRAPHIC FACILITATION PROGRAM

The project ”Strategic Planning for NGOs Coalition for EU

Structural Funds”

LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The project “Involvement of Community – Actions with

Responsibility (ICAR)”

The project “Communities Resources Centers (CERC)”

The project ”Participatory Strategic Planning for Local

Development Of Horezu Town”

The project “PRACTISE (Success Practices regarding the inter-

municipal cooperation for services delivery)”

The project “Local Public Policies through Social Consensus –

Local Public Administration Policy for Efficient Use of Local

Resources”

ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The project “Strategic Development for the Protection of Child

Rights”

The project “Young Ideas for Europe” (second edition)

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YOUTH VOICE PROGRAM

The Project ”Youth Voice Here and Now!”

Project frame: NGO Development Fund

Funder: EEA Grants

Date and venue: June 2014 - end of 2015, Bucharest, 4 high schools

Team: Andreea Buzec – Project Leader, Adina Calafateanu – Project coordinator, FPDL

Volunteers: Mihaela Iancu, Paula Sagaidac, Diana Grecu, Andrei Serban, Andreea Popescu, Anca

Irimia.

Participants: 50 pupils, 8 NGO members, 4 facilitators (volunteers)

Goal/Objectives: Boosting up youth participation in high schools and in the community aiming

at reducing the hate speech phenomenon in Romanian schools, using community organizing as

the main working methodology.

Project description/ Main activities:

„Youth Voice, Here and Now!” tackles young people’s need to be invested both with the capacity

and motivation to get themselves organized and involved in generating positive change on issues

related to human rights, specifically no hate speech, youth being considered a vulnerable group

that could belong to any discriminated category. Consequently the project aims at developing

youth’s capacity and motivation to get organized in order to influence the schools’ policies and to

have them as spaces that are not tolerating the hate speech or human rights’ violations.

The aim is being invested with specific activities that offer youth the opportunity to research, to

identify and to mobilize human, financial and logistical resources in order to develop their own

campaigns on awareness rising on no hate speech policies as well as on the changes that are

aiming to generate. For this purpose, youth is mobilizing teachers, their communities’ members

and nonprofit groups – indirect target groups of the project – groups that will also acquire the

capacity to get involved with the activities that are being developed by youngsters and aim at

promoting human rights in schools.

The 50 young people who are part of the 5 initiative groups organized in 5 Bucharest high schools

“I.l. Caragiale”, “Gh. Lazar”, “M. Basarab”, “T. Vianu” and “Viilor” had been trained on human

rights education and combating hate speech, community organizing, partnership building and

working with nonprofit organizations, social media, being part of modules of 3 days training

delivered by experienced trainers. The knowledge acquired in the trainings had been used in

developing campaigns on combating hate speech in the 5 partner high schools. In order to

organize these campaigns, the youth groups met weekly with the community organizers,

volunteers in the process and benefiting as well of training on communication, youth work and

facilitating group processes.

The campaigns (9 campaigns) had been based on issues identified using participatory action

research as methodological approach, the youth groups being as well the researchers in the

process - designing research instruments, organizing focus groups. The outcomes of the research

process are available in a research study that identified 44 categories discriminated in high

schools.

FPDL team involved with the project: Adina Calafateanu, project manager, Andreea Buzec,

project assistant, Carmen Marin, financial responsible

Volunteers: Diana Grecu, Paula Sagaidac, Mihaela Iancu, Alexandra Costache, Anca Irimia,

Andreea Popescu.

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Results:

- Training 50 youngsters on methods, tools and instruments to combat the usage of hate

speech

- Setting up the partnership with 5 high schools

- Training 4 facilitators for the activities that are being delivered in the high schools

- Organizing the 4 youth initiative groups.

The project ”Youth Voice Romania – PEU Path to the European Union”

Project frame: Erasmus + Program, Mobility of Individuals – Youth exchanges

Funder: European Commission

Date and venue: November 17 to 24 – Otopeni, Romania, the project is implemented starting

with October 10 2014 to February 10 2015.

Team: Adina Calafateanu, project coordinator and Youth Voice Caragiale – Youth Community

Organizing group part of Youth Voice Romania

Participants: 24 young people coming from Turkey, Lithuania, Turkey and Romania.

Goal/Objectives:

The project aims at promoting European citizenship to the youth group (16 to 23 years old),

using non-formal education methodologies and workshops.

Program description/ Main activities:

Starting with October 10th 2014 to February 10 2015, FPDL partnering with Turkey Genclik Birligi

Dernegi Turcia, IYAC International Youth Activity Center Bulgaria and Politikos tyrimų ir analizės

institutas Lithuania implemented the project "Path to the European Union", project granted by the

European Commission – Erasmus + Program

– Key Action 1.

The main activity of the project is the youth exchange that takes place starting with November 17

to November 24 in Otopeni, Romania, involving 24 youngsters from the 4 countries. The project

aims at promoting European citizenship to the youth group (16 to 23 years old), using non-formal

education methodologies and workshops. The youngsters involved with the exchanges are eager

to explore the European Citizenship conceptually and to find out tools and mechanisms to

promote the concept to their peers in a youth friendly way. In a global context fully affected by

social, economic and normative problems, youth is the main actor for change, within PEU, being

explored the importance of youth participation in the development of the European construct. But

in order to be involved youth should be guaranteed the access to information regarding their

rights as European citizens as well as to approach European citizenship in a very practical way.

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Results: Promoting European citizenship to 24 young people and to their sending communities

Developing the partnership structure for future applications on Erasmus + and other European

Commission programs.

GRAPHIC FACILITATION PROGRAM

The project ”Strategic Planning for NGOs Coalition for EU Structural Funds”

Project frame: NGO development Program

Funder: Norwegian Fund (EEA Grants), managed by CeRe Date and venue: September 25-27, 2014, Sinaia, Cota 1400

Consultant: Ana Vasilache/FPDL, Graphic Facilitator Participants: 17 participants, representing CSOs Coalition members

Goal/Objective: Participants, representing organizations, members of the coalition, developed

the strategic plan for 2015-2017, including (1) goal, objectives and actions for achieving them (2)

improving coalition structure, internal organization and procedures

Program description/Main activities:

Day 1 - half: Arrival in Sinaia, Cota 1400; get acquainted, agenda, objectives, rules of work;

Memorable moments in the coalition life – successful projects

Day 2: Vision for 2017, objectives; coalition structure and internal rules; action plan to achieve

objectives

Day 3 - half: Action plan to achieve objectives; the next steps

Results: The coalition members arrived to consensus regarding their common objectives and

rules of effective collaboration. Due to the graphic facilitation techniques, the strategic plan is

visualized in a synthetic and attractive way, to be understood at a glance.

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Number of days: 4 days (2 planning and 2 preparation)

LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The project “Involvement of Community – Actions with Responsibility

(ICAR)”

Project frame: NGO Fund in Romania, the component “Engagement”

Funder: Economic European Area Financial Mechanism (EEA Grants) – 90 %, co-funding FPDL

through own resources – 10 %

Role in the project: Main applicant

Project description: The project „Involvement of Community – Actions with Responsibility

(ICAR)” is proposed by a partnership formed by the Foundation Partners for Local Development

(FPDL), as main Applicant, and the Association Euro-House Bustuchin, Bustuchin commune, Gorj

County, as Partner 1, Bustuchin Commune Mayoralty, Gorj County, as Partner 2, Association

Aurora Hurezani, Hurezani commune, Gorj County, as Partner 3, Hurezani Commune Mayoralty,

Gorj County, as Partner 4.

The problem approached by the project is the reduced involvement of citizens of the Bustuchin

and Hurezani communes in their communities lives, caused by the insufficient awareness related

to the roles they may have in their communities but also personal development, in the social,

economic, cultural, administrative areas of their communes.

The project goal is to develop the capacity of Bustuchin şi Hurezani communities, Gorj county, to

be able to mobilize their citizens, organizations and institutions in order to build a coherent action

framework for the rational allocation of the local resources, based on the community participation

for the local development.

The main activities of the project:

- Working meetings with the Working Groups for the Implementation and Monitoring of the

Local Development Strategy (GLIMS) Bustuchin and Hurezani for informing and involving

citizens in the community activities

- Training programs on the following topics: Building Bridges between Local Authorities and

Citizens through Participatory Planning and through Managing Conflicts and Differences,

Initiation and Elaboration of Public Policies, Project Management, Participatory Strategic

Planning for Local Development

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- Public meetings for citizens consultation on the public policies proposals and local

development projects proposals, including data and information collection from citizens

and the school artistic work contest „My community, Hurezani, when I will grow up”.

Main results:

The Working Groups for the Implementation and Monitoring of the Local Development

Strategy (GLIMS) Bustuchin and Hurezani will go through a complex process of citizens’

participation by using citizens’ consultation mechanisms and representing their interest in

front of local authorities and by being involved in the participatory strategic planning

process for local development.

The optimization of the actions in communities of the NGOs from the two communes, mainly

Association Euro-House Bustuchin and APLOMB, Bustuchin, and Association Aurora

Hurezani, Hurezani, through the local facilitators formed, who actually represent key

human resources for the community, and their relationship with the GLIMS working

groups. In this way, at the level of the two communities will be clearly strengthen formal

and informal structures who are able to influence the decision making process in the local

development areas.

GLIMS Bustuchin and GLIMS Hurezani have the capacity to initiate and propose public

policy of local interest, as well as to initiate, plan and implement local development

projects so that their communities can develop coherently and planned, and the local

development strategies will be implemented through the projects elaborated.

the creation of a functional mechanism of working meetings, dialogue and debates

between GLIMS Bustuchin / Hurezani and Bustuchin / Hurezani local authorities,

in which the citizens problems and solutions get in a structured way in the decision making

process of the local authorities.

Dissemination of experience acquired in the project at county and national level (through

the Romanian Commune Association) by the distribution of the “ICAR” brochure, so that

the possibility of replication of such process to be maximized.

Project Management

Daniela Plugaru, project manager, Doru Cristian Bularda, project assistant, Carmen Marin,

financial responsible

Trainers:

Daniela Plugaru, Doru Bularda, Andreea Buzec, Adina Marina Calafateanu

Period of implementation and location

July 2014 – June 2015, Bustuchin and Hurezani communes, Gorj County

The project “Communities Resources Centers (CERC)”

Project Frame: Civic Innovation Fund (CIF) Program

Funder: OMV Petrom Romania, co-funding FPDL through voluntary work

Role in the project: Main applicant

Projects description:

Under the CIF Program have been implemented 2 mirror projects

43

- Project 1 - Community Resources Center (CERC) – Talpa

- Project 2 - Community Resources Center (CERC) – Poeni-Silistea

The projects are implemented in Teleorman County, in 3 communities – Poeni commune, an

administrative unit with 3154 inhabitants, in Silistea commune, an administrative unit with 4506

inhabitants (1 project), and in Talpa commune, an administrative unit with 1921 inhabitants (1

project).

The problem approached in the project is related to the lack of a viable and solid entity

(structure) for representing the interests of Poeni and Silistea, in one project, and of Talpa, in the

other project, communes citizens and for mobilizing their involvement, who can operate with

functional mechanisms of working meetings and who can be able to use public participation

instruments, so that the citizens problems and needs to become solutions through Poeni, Silistea

and Talpa communities members active involvement.

At the same time, the local authorities from these communes are confronted with the inertia, lack

of interest or the reluctance of communities’ members when they are invited to be involved, or

with the lack of a coherent action plan for the citizens based on their specific needs.

Through its activities, the projects treated the reduced involvement in the Poeni, Silistea and

Talpa communities life of the active persons, caused by their insufficient awareness about the role

they might have both in community development and in own development, in the social,

economic, cultural areas of these communes, as well as the lack of a viable and solid entity

(structure) for representing the interests of these communes citizens and for mobilizing their

involvement.

Projects Goal – To develop the civic initiatives in order to increase the ownership and the active

participation of the citizens contributing to the community development

Methodology:

The projects mirror activities

Component 1

Activity 1 – Projects launching conferences

Activity 2 – The establishment of the 2 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs – associations) as

Community Resources Center (CERC) Poeni – Silistea and Community Resources Center (CERC)

Talpa

Activity 3 – Training Programs of Poeni-Siliştea local initiative group and of Talpa local initiative

group

Activity 4 – Poeni-Siliştea and in Talpa communities needs assessment (identification, prioritizing

of core problems)

Component 2

Activity 5 – Implementation of 1 priority community project for the Poeni and Siliştea

communities development (a greenhouse) by CERC Poeni-Silistea Association and 1 priority

community project for the Talpa community development (a carpentry workshop) by CERC Talpa

Association.

44

Activity 6 – CERC Organizational development activities (these may include the arrangement of

the CERC location, Training and Consultancy in CERC Organizational Management, CERC

Development Strategy elaboration, etc.).

Activity 9 – Project closure in Poeni-Siliştea and in Talpa

Project Management of the CERC Poeni – Silistea project

Daniela Plugaru, project coordinator, Doru Cristian Bularda, project assistant, Carmen Marin,

financial responsible

Project Management of the CERC Talpa project

Doru Cristian Bularda, project coordinator, Daniela Plugaru, project assistant, Carmen Marin,

financial responsible

Trainers and Consultants:

Daniela Plugaru, Doru Cristian Bularda and Carmen Marin

Period of implementation and location:

April – December 2014, Poeni, Silistea and Talpa communes, Teleorman County

The project ”Participatory Strategic Planning for Local Development Of Horezu Town”

Funder: Horezu Town Mayoralty, Valcea County

Projects description:

The participatory strategic planning process for the elaboration of the Socioeconomic

Development Strategy of Horezu Town 2014 – 2020, facilitated by the FPDL consultants, went

through the following stages:

1. Forming the local planning team represented by key local stakeholders (local authorities,

public institutions, citizens, NGOs, farmers, youth, ceramists, local entrepreneurs, touristic

pensions owners etc.), September – October 2013

2. Evaluation of the Socioeconomic Development Strategy of Horezu Town 2007 – 2013, in

participatory process (84 local key stakeholders involved in 6 workshops on the 6

development directions of the Strategy) in which were used a series of instruments and

methods (documents analysis, questionnaires application and processing, focus group,

Delphi method), in order to obtain a overall image about the results of the implementation

of the Strategy during 2007 – 2013. The FPDL experts have elaborated an Evaluation

Report, October – November 2013

45

3. Public consultation for assessing the existing situation of Horezu Town social and economic

local development, being involved: 568 persons, both from private sector (80 economic

agents) and civil society (488 citizens), for filling in specific qustionnaires, and 50 persons

representing local key stakeholders in 5 workshops for discussing and debating the SWOT

Analysis, November – December 2013.

During this stage also were involved the school pupils for the Painting Competition „My town

Horezu in 2020” and the High School „Constantin Brancoveanu” students for the Entrepreneurship

Competition „Small Entrepreneurs for Horezu, Town of a Big Future”.

4. Strategic Planning Conference for the elaboration of the first draft of the Socioeconomic

Development Strategy of Horezu Town 2014 – 2020, being involved 55 local key

stakeholders, January 2014.

5. Elaboration of the final version of the Socioeconomic Development Strategy of Horezu

Town 2014 – 2020, posted on the Horezu Mayoralty web site to public

consultation, then submitted for approval in Horezu Local Council,

February – March 2014.

Participants

190 persons, Horezu Town key stakeholders, representing local authorities

and public institutions (mayoralty and local council, schools, hospital, church,

police, etc.), local entrepreneurs, farmers, ceramists, NGOs, citizens.

Consultants and facilitators:

Daniela Plugaru, Doru Cristian Bularda, Andreea Buzec and Adina

Calafeteanu

Period of implementation and location:

September 2013 – March 2014, Horezu Town, Valcea County

The project “PRACTISE (Success Practices regarding the inter-

municipal cooperation for services delivery)”

Project Frame: Civil Society Forum Romania – Republic of Moldova, managed by the Federation

of Nongovernmental Organizations for Development (FOND Romania)

Funder: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Romania

Role in the project: Main applicant

46

Projects description: The project was implemented in partnership with

1. The Association Congress of Local Authorities from Republic of Moldova (CALM), Kishinev,

Republic of Moldova

2. The Association Horezu Depression (ADH), Horezu, Valcea County, Romania

There have been organized study and working visits and exchange of experience to the following

entities:

- The Association Horezu Depression (ADH), Horezu, Valcea County, Romania

- The Association Horezu Microregion Local Action Group (GAL), Valcea County, Romania

- The Association Parang Local Action Group (GAL), Gorj County, Romania

- Partners Foundation for Local Development (FPDL)

The main results obtained were:

- The CALM members have acknowledged and studied relevant models regarding the inter-

community cooperation for services delivery, based on the ADH and GAL models.

- Initiation of the collaboration relationships and exchange of experience among

communities / inter-community associations from Moldova and Romania

- Action planning for study and working visit dissemination in R. of Moldova, as well as for

applying the lessons learnt.

Participants

Representatives (members) of CALM Association – 12 persons, mayors and CALM executive staff

Facilitators:

Daniela Plugaru and Doru Cristian Bularda

Period of implementation and location:

May – June 2014, Horezu Town, Valcea County, Polovragi Commune, Gorj County, and Bucharest

The project “Start the Engine of Change in your Community”

Project frame: The project is implemented by Art Fusion Association in partnership with FPDL

aiming at building the capacity of high school pupils to fight hate speech using community

organizing and participatory art methods.

Funder: SEE Grants through the NGO Fund Program in Romania

Role in the project: Partner

Projects description: The project is implemented in the period April 2014 – November 2015

and FPDL’s involvement resides in delivering capacity building programs for initiative groups in

schools on the topic of facilitation and community organizing.

Training Program topic: Introduction in facilitating meetings using community organizing

methodology

Date and venue: 7 – 10 November 2014, Sinaia, Romania

Trainers: Andreea Buzec and Adina Calafateanu

47

Participants: 25 pupils and teachers from 5 high schools in Bucharest

At the end of the training, participants managed to:

- Build necessary competences in order to use community organizing methods to solve

issues in their high schools;

- Understand the specific characteristics of community organizing in relation to other

methodologies: community development, advocacy;

- Elaborate an action plan to start recruiting and problem identification in their high schools.

The participants appreciated the interactive working methods and the concrete steps and

examples offered by the trainers in order to be able to do actual organizing for identifying,

analyzing and choosing problems in their communities- high schools.

No of days: 4 days

The project “Local Public Policies through Social Consensus – Local

Public Administration Policy for Efficient Use of Local Resources”

Projects Frame: Romanian Official Development Assistance Program

Funder: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Romania, co-funder FPDL

Role in the project: Main applicant

Projects description: The project will be implemented in partnership with UNDP Moldova and

tThe Association Congress of Local Authorities from Republic of Moldova (CALM), Kishinev,

Republic of Moldova

The project approaches a structural problem composed by three deficient aspects identified: 1)

the reduced capacity of local public administration from Republic of Moldova to elaborate local

public policies, 2) the low efficiency in using and prioritizing the local resources (limited enough)

and 3) the reduced involvement of the citizens in the decision making process regarding the own

communities lives.

The project general objective is to support 4 local communities and administrative territorial units

to elaborate public policies of local interest, based on social consensus, in order to determine the

efficient use and prioritization of the local communities’ resources. The activities of the project

were planned to be complementary with UNDP Moldova Joint Integrated Local Development

Program (financed by Swedish Government and UNDP), a component in which UNDP Moldova is

working with The Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova (CALM) in order to develop the

capacity of 30 local authorities to understand the new local finance system and to support them

in elaborating local budgets.

In 4 out of the 30 communities, the project activities are planned to obtain the following results:

– a team of facilitators (16 persons), as CALM resource persons, having the capacity to

mobilize citizens, to design and conduct participatory processes in communities for

elaboration public policies of local interest

– 8 proposals of public policies of local interest for efficient use and prioritizing of local

resources, based on social consensus building, with the involvement of local working groups

formed in the 4 communities

– the Guide on good governance and best practice related to the elaboration of public policies

of local interest

48

– consolidated capacity of CALM to provide assistance to local authorities and communities of

Republic of Moldova for elaboration public policies of local interest.

In order to achieve these results, are planned the following group of activities:

– Training of Facilitators (TOF) and Pilot Workshop (PW) programs, in which the 16 CALM

resource persons will be trained as facilitators, having the chance to apply the knowledge

and skills in the Pilot Workshop by facilitating the process of elaborating of public policies of

local interest by the participants representing the local working group form the 4

communities.

– Public meetings in the 4 communities for informing and consulting the citizens regarding the

public policies proposals elaborated during the TOF and PW program, in order to obtain the

social consensus, facilitated by the 16 facilitators

– Revision and elaboration of final versions of the public policies proposals and submission for

the approval and validation to the local councils.

– Elaboration of the Guide on good governance and best practice / case studies related to the

elaboration of public policies of local interest, based on the project experiences and results

– Formulation of a proposal of Strategic Action Plan with CALM in order to multiply the

programs for providing assistance to local communities in elaborating public policies of local

interest with social consensus building.

– Project visibility, promotion and dissemination of results

Participants

Representatives of local authorities and public institutions form the 4 local communities (6

persons / community), who will for the local working groups (LWG)

Local facilitators, CALM resource persons, having experience in the local development area, in

coordinating group processes, having basic knowledge as trainers or facilitators

Representatives of civil society (local NGOs, citizens, etc.) from the 4 communities, who will be

mobilized to participate in the public consultation process regarding the public policies

proposals of local interest (approx. 25 persons / community)

Period of implementation and location:

7 month (December 2014 – July 2015), Republic of Moldova, Kishinev and 4 local communities

ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The project “Strategic Development for the Protection of Child Rights”

Project Frame: NGO Fund in Romania, the component “Support for coalitions and networks at

regional and national levels and for think-tanks”

Funder: Economic European Area Financial Mechanism (EEA Grants), co-funding FPDL through

own resources

Role in the project: Partner of the main applicant The Federation of NGOs for Children (FONPC)

Project description: The project is prompted by a real need to strengthen the organizational

capacity of FONPC in order to provide support and assistance to its members. The purpose will be

to develop an organizational self-assessment tool and to review to strategy and the action plan.

Poor involvement of members in internal actions led to the need to increase organizational

performance of member NGOs.

FPDL was involved in the following project activities:

performing FONPC organizational assessment using the FPDL organizational assessment

methodology and instrument, adapted to coalition and networks structures

49

elaborating the reviewed FONPC strategic plan and

sectorial plans, in a participatory strategic planning

process

training 12 FONPC resource persons in organizational assessment, using the FPDL

organizational assessment methodology and instrument, that these persons are applying

in 30 NGOs members of FONPC

technical assistance to support the FONPC resource persons in the process of

organizational assessment.

Project Management and Training and consultancy delivery

Olivia Baciu, FPDL activities coordination, Daniela Plugaru and Doru Cristian Bularda, trainers and

consultants, Carmen Marin, financial officer

50

Period of implementation and location:

April 2014 – August 2014, Sinaia and Bucharest

The project “Young Ideas for Europe” (second edition)

Project Frame: This project is an initiative of the Robert Bosch Foundation Germany,

coordinated by IFOK GmbH Berlin, Germany at the level of all European Union Member States.

Funder: Robert Bosch Foundation Germany – 80 %, co-funding FPDL, through sponsorship of a

publishing company – 20 %

Project description: Project goal is to involve high school students in a structured process of

getting aware, debating and agreeing about the energetic future of Europe 2030

Preparation phase – identifying the school, attending preparative meetings with the school

representatives making translation of materials and adapting them to the Romanian context. The

Project Week has been developed as planned for all the 5 days, based on the agenda and the

design received. The facilitators have been prepared supporting educational materials in orders to

make the activities with the students as interactive as possible (colored papers in different

shapes, sticks, colored cards, flip chart papers, markers, etc.). During this phase, the students

also have been supported to get use with the project website that included an interactive platform

Online Campus were they had access to different activities, connection with the other schools,

sharing photos, etc.

Implementation phase – The project week was held simultaneously, during 05 – 09 May, 2014,

in one Romanian high school – Constantin Brancoveanu High School Horezu, and in 2 other high

schools from Germany. During this week the high School students have been participated in an

interactive and structured learning and working program, facilitated by FPDL experts Daniela

Plugaru and Doru Bularda, about Europe Union and the perspective of a sustainable Europe from

energy point of view.

The theoretical presentations of different concepts have been alternated with practical tasks that

the students had to accomplish: reading materials, preparing and making presentations, giving

and receiving feedback about

the Europe larger context Megatrends (globalization, climate change, sustainability, and

resource conflicts)

facts and trends surrounding the topic “Energy” (Security of energy supply, Investment in

renewable energies, Nuclear energy, Energy Consumption)

Creativity Workshop: Phase 1 – Critique “What we don’t like in Europe concerning Energy?”

and Phase 2 – Utopia “What can be done for the future of energy in Europe?”, Vision of Europe

2020 – New Energy for Europe, elaborated by the students based on the Creativity Workshop

ideas

Real-Life Simulation – preparation, presentation and debating by the groups of students of the

election manifestos as well as of the strategies of the press, the NGO and election campaign

advisors for the simulated euro-parliamentarian election.

Reporting and follow up activities

Due to the fact that Robert Bosch Foundation will cease the founding for this project, IFOK

organized a meeting in Budapest, during 10-11 July 2014, with all the project partner

51

organization from all 28 EU countries, in order to discuss and plan for possible continuation of the

project. This planning is still developing by periodically Skype meetings and e-mail group

discussions. FPDL responsible person is Daniela Plugaru.

Participants

20 students from 9th to 12th grades and 2 coordinator teachers

Project Management and Training and consultancy delivery

Daniela Plugaru and Doru Cristian Bularda, trainers and consultants, Carmen Marin, financial

officer

Period of implementation and location:

January – December 2014, Horezu Town, Valcea County

Advocacy Training Program for Volum Members

Contract frame: VOLUM is the Romanian Federation of NGOs supporting volunteering and it

contracted FPDL for delivering a training program on advocacy for its member organizations to

support the change of policy at local level in order to raise awareness on the newly adopted law

on volunteering and facilitate its implementation at local level.

Date and venue: 26 – 27 July 2014, Sinaia, Romania

Trainers: Andreea Buzec and Adina Calafateanu

Participants: 24 representatives of 24 NGOs members of

VOLUM

Program description. At the end of the training, participants

were able to:

Have a better understanding of the concepts of public

policy and advocacy

improve their knowledge and ability to understand and

use their power resources

Improve their knowledge and understanding of the

process of influencing the elaboration, implementation,

monitoring and evaluation of public policies

Elaborate an action plan to apply acquired knowledge

and skills.

The participants were

satisfied with the training

results and the methodology

used. They required further

mentoring and support from VOLUM staff in finalizing the action

plans and implementing them at local level. Several

connections for regional campaigns were made between

participants preoccupied by the same issues.

No of days: 2 days

Training on Advocacy and Lobby for World Wide Fund Office in

Romania

Date and venue: 16–17th of December 2015, 19–20th of December 2015, Bucharest

Consultant: Andreea Buzec

Participants: 4 project managers from WWF Romania Office

Program description: The consultant assigned to the contract has developed a training program

which aimed to achieve the following objectives related to advocacy and lobby:

52

clarify the conceptual framework of NGO interventions in this area, particularly WWF’s in

terms of current projects’ implementation and not only;

enrich knowledge in the field, both at theoretical and at the practical level, including

through the transfer of successful experiences in Romania;

boost the capacity of action and application of acquired skills.

The training program was designed based on the principles of learning through experience, using

interactive and participatory methods, providing opportunities for exchange of experience and

ideas. The theoretical moments alternated with practical ones, devoted to work in a team and

individually.

The first module "Advocacy and influencing of public policies” (16-17 December) focused on:

Clarification of the concepts of public policy and advocacy;

Acquiring the knowledge and power to develop the skills of NGOs to understand and use

their power resources;

Acquiring knowledge and understanding of the levels of complexity of advocacy and public

policy-influencing the processes of elaboration, implementation, monitoring and evaluation

of public policies and the identification of strategies through which NGOs can influence

them;

Acquiring the knowledge and skills required in public policy analysis.

These objectives were achieved within the 8 work session using the following methods:

the application of questionnaires in order to facilitate reflection and understanding

organizational capacity in the field of advocacy and influence public policy;

Reflection and practical tasks in order to facilitate understanding of the concepts:

advocacy (collaboratively and confrontational), lobbying, public policy, and the processes

behind these concepts, but also the similarities and differences between the process of

advocacy and other participatory processes (community organizing, community

development, lobbying, participatory problem-solving problems, information campaigns

and education);

Team work to practice collaborative advocacy to solve a challenge of internal financial

management of WWF.

Module 2, "Advocacy, strategy and tactics" (19-20 December) started with the presentation of the

issues identified in the framework of the project, which is in progress and "Participatory

Governance for sustainable development through ecological reconstruction of Danube Floodplain"

implemented by the WWF. This module aimed to draw up the action plan for working with

stakeholders in order to bring about the desired change.

Consequently, participants have acquired knowledge and skills relating to the following topics of

interest:

Approaches and strategies different from conflict management and of the differences and

different options for networking with power;

Defining the objectives of the campaign;

Defining the objectives of the campaign

Identifying and analyzing stakeholders, mapping and identifying targets, defining strategy.

In order to achieve these objectives, the following methods were used:

Presentations of theoretical concepts of specific tactics and strategies of advocacy;

Team work to define the objectives of the campaign, to identify and analyze stakeholders,

mapping of political actors, the identification of targets, the choice of suitable strategies

for dealing with stakeholders, choosing the right strategies for communicating with

stakeholders and reaching the targets, all of this resulting in an action plan for the entire

duration of the project.

No. of days: 4 days

53

2014 MEETINGS, PARTICIPATION IN CONFERENCES AND

TRAINING PROGRAMS

PDCI Summit in Brussels

Funder: FPDL in kind contribution Date and venue: November 3, 2014, Brussels Consultant: Ana Vasilache/FPDL, Graphic Facilitator Participants: 16 PDCI members, participating in the Summit Goal/Objective: Participants increased their understanding and knowledge about (1) What is a

graphic facilitator and what are the advantages of using an effective visual language (2) What are

the steps for improving facilitators visual language skills (3) FPDL experience in graphic

facilitation (4) Available learning resources

Program description/Main activities:

The 90 minutes workshop included: What is a graphic facilitator and why to use visual language;

what are the steps for improving visual language skills: learning a visual alphabet and developing

a visual vocabulary (shapes, icons, text); Organizing and integrating the visual vocabulary: FPDL

experience in using graphic facilitation; Learning resources and workshop evaluation.

Results:

In the evaluation forms participants rated the session as very satisfactory and the topic very

important for improving their training and facilitation skills.

Number of days: 1 day

EUViz – 1st European Conference of Visual Practitioners

Funder: FPDL contribution for professional development,

EUViz scholarships Date and venue: July 23-25, 2014, Berlin Participants: Ana Vasilache and Andreea Buzec/FPDL together

with more than 200 participants from all over the world

Program description/Main activities:

Ana and Andreea supported the organizers as helping hands,

and at the same time participating in the interactive sessions

conducted by famous graphic facilitators and recorders from

USA, Europe, and China.

54

Results: networking with like-minded people; learning new graphic techniques and facilitation

ideas; finding out new learning resources

Number of days: 3 days

The Project “8 GOALS... WE ACT!”

Project frame: EuropeAID – Education for Development

Program

Funder: European Commission

Period: 11 – 14 May 2014, Prague, Partners Czech Office,

Czech Republic

Participants: Michal Svec and Dagmar Holanova, Partners

Czech program managers / experts and organizers, Daniela

Plugaru and Doru Cristian Bularda, FPDL program managers

/experts, Antoaneta Yankabakova, Executive director, YMCA-Gabrovo.

Program description / Main activities: Project Handbook /

Booklet Preparation and Designing Working Meeting.

The objective of the working

meeting was to have a common

understanding and approach of the

project partners experts regarding

the elaboration, translation and

publishing of the project booklet

”Local Actions for Global

Development – How to Run a Global

Development Education Project at

Schools”. The purpose of the booklet is to guide the reader through a participatory methodology of creating active global citizens, inviting to get inspired, adopt and / or

adapt the methodology to own activities in the field of development education.

After the elaboration of the content by the partners organization experts, the booklet was translated in Bulgarian, Czech and Romania languages and it was launched during the project final conference.

Number of days: 3 days

55

The 3rd Civil Voices Festival organized by the Civil Society Development Center Association (STGM)

Funder: The Civil Society Development Center and TACSO Regional Center Turkey

Date and venue: 15 – 16 May, Ankara, Turkey

Participants: Daniela Plugaru and Doru Cristian Bularda, FPDL program managers /experts

Program description/Main activities: The Civil Society Development Center (STGM) is a civic

body that provides capacity building support to grassroots CSOs that works on seven thematic

areas, namely gender, human rights, disabled rights, child, youth, environment, and cultural

rights.

The 2014 Civil Voices Festival theme was “Changing Boundaries of Freedom”, gathering about

200 representatives from about 100 CSOs.

The event included panels and seminars on several issues: Freedom of Association, Local Level

Governance and Participatory Decision Making, Internet and Freedom of Expression.

The FPDL experts have prepared and delivered a presentation about the FPDL experience and

work on citizens’ participation and involvement in decision making processes in Romanian

communities, in the panel with the topic on “Freedom and the City, Democracy and Participation”.

Number of days: 2 days

The Black Sea NGO Forum (7th edition)

Funder: European Commission, the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in partnership with the

United Nations Development Programme - Regional Centre for Europe and Central Asia, CSO

Partnership for Development Effectiveness - CPDE and local support of the Ukrainian National

Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum.

Organizer: The Romanian NGDO Platform (FOND)

Date and venue: December 8-10, Kiev, Ukraine

Participants: Olivia Baciu, FPDL executive director and president of the Board of the Romanian

NGDO Platform, and Andreea Buzec, FPDL program manager /experts.

Program description/Main activities: The 7th edition of the Black Sea NGO Forum had as main

theme the “Enabling Environment for CSOs: Towards a

Strategy of Civil Society in the Black Sea Region”.

The event was officially opened by Olivia Baciu, who

emphasized the Forum as a space which gathers

intelligence from the region and good practices. It was

for the first time when the Forum was organized

outside of Romania, which reflects an important step in

strengthening the regional ownership of this event and

in redesigning the strategic approach of how the BSF

should look like in the future.

56

2014 STUDIES, RESEARCHES, ETC.

November – December 2014, Elaboration of the Study regarding the

training, information and consulting needs of the potential beneficiaries

of the Local Action Group (LAG) Horezu Microregion (Valcea County), for

the purpose of the implementation of the LAG Strategy and Local

Development Plan, by Daniela Plugaru and Doru Cristian Bularda, FPDL

experts and consultants.

2014 FPDL LONG-TERM PROJECTS LIST

Project title

FPDL Role

Financing Program

Financing Body

Period of implementation

Coordinating team

1. “8 GOALS... WE

ACT!”

Main

applicant

EuropeAID –

Education for

Development

Program

European

Commission

15.03.2013 –

15.09.2014

Andreea

Buzec,

project

manager

Adina

Calafateanu,

project

assistant

Carmen

Marin,

financial

officer

2.

“Strategic

Development for the

Protection of Child

Rights”

Partner NGO Fund in

Romania EEA Grants

15.03.2014 –

15.03.2015

Olivia Baciu,

coordinator

Carmen

Marin,

financial

officer

3.

“Communities

Resources Centers

(CERC)” – Talpa

Main

applicant

Civic

Innovation

Fund (CIF)

Program

OMV Petrom

Romania

15.04 –

15.12.2014

Doru Cristian

Bularda,

project

coordinator

Daniela

Plugaru,

project

assistant

Carmen

Marin,

financial

officer

4. “Communities

Resources Centers

Main

applicant

Civic

Innovation

OMV Petrom

Romania

15.04 –

15.12.2014

Daniela

Plugaru,

57

(CERC)” – Poeni-

Silistea

Fund (CIF)

Program

project

coordinator

Doru Cristian

Bularda,

project

assistant

Carmen

Marin,

financial

officer

5. ”Youth Voice Here

and Now!”

Main

applicant

NGO Fund in

Romania EEA Grants

01.06.2014 –

31.12.2015

Adina

Calafateanu,

project

manager

Andreea

Buzec,

project

assistant

Carmen

Marin,

financial

officer

6.

“Involvement of

Community –

Actions with

Responsibility

(ICAR)”

Main

applicant

NGO Fund in

Romania EEA Grants

01.07.2014 –

30.06.2015

Daniela

Plugaru,

project

coordinator

Doru Cristian

Bularda,

project

assistant

Carmen

Marin,

financial

officer

7.

“Local Public Policies

through Social

Consensus – Local

Public Administration

Policy for Efficient

Use of Local

Resources”

Main

applicant

Official

Development

Assistance

Program

Ministry of

Foreign Affairs,

Romania

15.12.2014 –

15.07.2015

Doru Cristian

Bularda,

project

coordinator

Daniela

Plugaru,

project

assistant

Carmen

Marin,

financial

officer

58

2014 FINANCIAL STATEMENT

59

SOURCES OF REVENUES 2014

SOURCES / FINANCING PROGRAMS USD*

PDCI 19,533.51

WORLD BANK 18,395.00

ODA / UNDP MOLDOVA 48,000.00

BANK INTERESTS, OTHER SMALL SOURCES (**) 88,265.91

ANPC 7,366.85

Norwegian Fund / EEA Grants 74,613.47

SIPU International 68,816.14

POSDRU 2,401.74

EuropeAid - CE 124,338.74

TOTAL 451,731.36

Note

*) 1 EUR / $ = 1.22 / 2014

**) Other sources includes: Partners Jordan, IFOK, Proffs, Mena, Partners Albania, Primaria Horezu/ SH-2020, GAL-Horezu, FDSC/OMV Petrom, FOND/MAE, FONPC, Partners Serbia, Hague Academy, Association WWT, differencies of currency exchange)

LIST OF EXPENDITURES 2014

CATEGORIES USD

1. Personnel 115,799.00

2. Contracts, Consulting, Other Personnel. Services 71,858.00

3. Administration (communication, office supplies, maintenance etc.) 23,636.00

4, Grants, Fellowships etc 0.00

5. Equipment & capital 15,315.00

6. Travel, Accommodation, Meals, Meetings, Conferences 47,574.00

7. Educational Supplies 0.00

8. Publication Editing 0.00

9. Other (miscellaneous, bank commissions) 116,500.00

TOTAL 390,682.00

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