Goals, Objectives and Team …and how we came to be here…
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Goals, Objectives and Team …and how we came to be here… Jerome Simpson Head, Information Programme, REC Project Manager, Master Class 6 th October, 2008 [email protected]
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Goals, Objectives and Team …and how we came to be here…. Jerome Simpson Head, Information Programme, REC Project Manager, Master Class. 6 th October, 2008. [email protected]. Slide 2/18. Presentation Structure. Why are we here? How did we come to be here? What will we do here? - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Goals, Objectives and Team …and how we came to be here…
Goals, Objectives and Team
…and how we came to be here…
Jerome Simpson
Head, Information Programme, REC
Project Manager, Master Class
6th October, 2008
Slide 2/18
Presentation Structure
Why are we here?
How did we come to be here?
What will we do here?
Who’s on the team?
Slide 3/18
Why are we here?
“Master Class..” “A class given to students of a particular discipline by an expert of that discipline” (Wikipedia);
Five experts, 5 classes, intended to strengthen civil society to promote positive environmental changes, esp. at the urban level;
To help participants understand: “What’s my role in effecting change and environmental action?” “How can I make a difference?”
Because REC and Sida believe a difference can be made through lobbying&watchdogging, representation and participation, in decisionmaking processes, and legal recourse
And a survey we undertook of W.Balkan CSOs during summer 2006 indicated capacity building is required in these areas!
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How do we come to be here?
The SECTOR assessment helped formulate a clear picture of the state of environmental CSOs in the W. Balkans
Part of the assessment was performed across five key ‘themes’ Legal and regulatory framework; Resources for CSOs; Organizational and Human Capacities; Information and Knowledge; Public Accountability.
Data gathered via questionnaire, desk research and interviews
More than 400 groups responded to the questionnaire, and more than 100 co-operated in face-to-face interviews.
Resulting in a report and a CSO directory, both online at: www.rec.org/sector
CSO Development Needs in Albania
NB: Advocacy, lobbying and public participation data - interview Communications and watchdogging data - questionnaire.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80 Lobbying
Watchdogging
Public Participation
Advocacy
Info. Dissem
Pres. Skills
Media Reporting
Publishing
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Typical Responses..Lobbying
“CSOs seem afraid to engage in
lobbying through informal activities
(lunches, dinners)”. “CSOs can do campaigning, but….
[they] need to work more closely with
communities, involve them” CSOs tend to be poor at evaluating
[campaign] success or impact.”
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Typical Responses..Watchdogging
“There hasn’t been a tradition of
watchdogging...” said support
organizations and CSOs across the region. Just saying “no” is not enough; “NGOs need to be able to justify their
claims, especially if they want media attention.” However, CSOs were found to be unaware of the importance of
gathering their own information. One support organization in Serbia said:
“It is not only about asking for something,
but more important that you know what you
are asking, and for what you need this,”
Bosnia-Herzegovina:
One of the challenges noted a Sarajevo-based CSO is that “Public participation is still at the beginning and needs more implementation in practice. Most NGOs are not aware of the possibilities for public participation.”
Typical Responses..Public Participation
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Typical Responses..Legal Recourse/Advocacy
The practice of launching one’s right to appeal is under-
practiced in the Western Balkan region partly due to
inexperience in the field of preparing and submitting cases
or appeals to court CSOs’ requests were: to be informed about the options
for legal assistance; the available methods for taking cases
to court; and for good-practice examples of legal advocacy
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Typical Responses..Communications and Outreach
In places like Bosnia-Herzegovina and
Serbia we were told CSOs are not “in touch,”
and do not represent or understand
community and society’s needs Across the region “CSOs are not good in describing to society
what they do and what they are about.” In Albania one support group said CSOs “should learn to use
proper language for citizens” because typically they “are not able
to publish and distribute beyond the donor”
What will we do here?
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5
AM Opening Plenary: Role and function of CSOs in society
PM
Parallel Sessions: 3 & 4Legal Recourse/Advocacy and Public Participation
5. Effective Communication and Public Outreach
Parallel Sessions: 1 & 2 Lobbying and Watch-dogging
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Non-legal channels through which CSOs can impact on social and political life
Legal channels through which CSOs can impact on social and political life
Informal channels through which CSOs can impact on social life, even political life
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Practical Objectives
Useful and relevant capacity building (based on applicants’ interests)
Fulfilment of five “learning objectives” per class (e.g. how to appeal)
A certifiable programme of learning, something to put on your CV
Practical/hands-on approaches based on *active* result-oriented
participation
Experience sharing through the use of case studies (especially local)
Use of role-playing/simulation, small group
discussions and coaching/feedback
Local language delivery via national experts
Resource materials that enable self-learning
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..with three main aims
1) Build capacity by responding as directly as possible to
those needs outlined in the CSO Assessment;
2) CSO collaboration/networking/experience exchange;
3) Generate a shortlist of the obstacles and challenges and
formulate recommendations across the five classes.
Grupna vježba #3:Izazovi i preporukeTrajanje: 60 min
Efikasno praktikovanje vašeg ličnog i prava vaše organizacije da učestvujete u procesu donošenja odluke često može biti pravi izazov. Zašto je to tako, kada su evidentno dostupne mnoge mogućnosti, metode i oruđa u Crnoj Gori? U isto vrijeme možete smatrati da je unapređenje nacionalnog zakonodavnog i institucionalnog okvira još uvijek potrebno.
U dvije grupe rada od 30 minuta, prvo izlistati smetnje i izazove na koje nailazite da bi obezbijedili vaše djelotvorno učešće, i nakon toga, izlistajte vaše posebne sugestije i preporuke za poboljšanje zakonodavnog i institucionalnog okvira.
Drugi dio vježbe će biti posvećen izvještavanju vaših zaključaka, zato budite sigurni da ste odabrali izvjestioca! NB:REC će to da obradi i kasnije da uvrsti kao dio krajnjih preporuka samog projekta predstavnicima Vlade u Crnoj Gori.
Smetnje i Izazovi Sugestije i Preporuke
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Who’s on the Master Class Team? Lobbying
Romeo teaches “Environmental Policies” at the University of
Tirana, while also serving as advisor in environment and energy
efficiency to the General Director of Albania’s energy enterprise
In 1998 he founded the NGO: “For New Environmental Policies,”
and currently serves as its President.
Romeo holds a PhD in “Environment and Territorial Resources
Management” and a Master in Mediterranean Geosystems
Romeo’s pet interest is languages – he speaks French, Italian,
and English, and a little Greek
Who’s on the Master Class Team?Watchdogging and Public Participation
Merita is the Executive Director of EDEN, an advocacy and
capacity building center focused on information and public
participation, where she also serves as the trainers team coordinator
She is a biologist by background but with special focus on
environmental communications, that has included for instance
authoring several environmental education publications
Assignments she has contributed to include the preparation of the
first environmental strategy for the Municipality of Tirana; monitoring
several Albanian development projects; and watchdogging waste
collection in Tirana
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Who’s on the Master Class Team?Legal Recourse/Advocacy
Since 1998, Enio has served as the chairman of the Albanian
Lawyers for Environment Protection, and since 1993 has worked
with environmental civil society, having founded the first Albanian
Youth NGO for environmental protection in 1993
He holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Law and has acted
as an environmental legal consultant in projects supported by
Albanian international organizations & private companies
He has also served in different senior positions within public
administration (i.e. as a judge, legal expert and adviser of various
Ministers) and served as a Minister’s Head of Cabinet
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Who’s on the Master Class Team?Communication and Outreach
Alban established the first Albanian PR company, COMPORT, in
2003 with a view to offering integrated communication services
Prior to this he worked as a journalist with Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty, at the Parliament as Director of Information,
Documentation and Research Dept, and served Albania’s
Democratic Party as spokesperson/campaign strategist
Alban holds a BSC Diploma in PR and Journalism, and is
currently undertaking an online master’s degree
He enjoys literature, author’s books and poems, plays guitar and
piano and speaks English, Italian, German and French!
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Who else is on the Master Class Team?
Genta Hoxha - Information Officer &
Country Report Author, REC Albania
Arben Loka, Freelance
Translator/Interpreter, Albania
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