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Thematic Fund Civil Society Participation Romania

Project completed

The Thematic Fund linked to Civil Society Participation in Romania has the purpose to promote the contribution of civil society organizations as important actors in development and participation. This is to be achieved through Swiss-Romanian projects in the environment sector and through an NGO-Block Grant to support a number of smaller projects of Romanian NGOs in environment and social areas.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Romania
Promoting economic growth and improving working conditions
Protecting the environment
Strengthening civil society
Biodiversity
Non-governmental organisations
01.07.2011 - 30.11.2019
 CHF  16’800’000
The project in brief
Background

The NGOs represent 49% of the accredited suppliers of social services (e.g. home care) in Romania. Despite these figures the civil sector continues to be weak, having still limited advocacy capacity. After Romania joined the EU, the traditional international donors as USAID, DFID, SIDA and SDC phased out their support. The recent economic crisis worsened the financial basis of the nongovernmental sector. The access to the structural instruments is still very difficult for them. The EEA (European Economic Area) Financial Mechanism funded an NGO Fund that came at the right moment and had a good impact on the sector but could respond to a limited part of the NGOs sector needs only.
Objectives

The objective of the Thematic Fund „Civil Society Participation“ is the promotion of the contribution of civil society organizations as important actors in development and participation. Capacity building in project planning, monitoring and implementation is an objective of its own so that:

  • the Swiss supported projects shall be implemented in timely manner and with high qualitative standards
  • capacities built with Swiss support may be used to implement projects financed through other financial sources
Target groups

The civil society of Romania in general, the NGOs and the vulnerable population in particular.
Activities
  • A portfolio of pre-defined projects in the field of environment already retained in the Framework Agreement
  • A financial provision which allows to flexibly finance additional projects that will be presented during the implementation of the Thematic Fund “Civil Society”
  • A Block Grant for the financing of small activities of the civil society/NGOs
  • A managing and capacity building body (Swiss Intermediate Body) which guarantees the good use of funds, the link to Swiss partners and the sustainability of the Swiss support activities
Results

Achieved results:  

  • 94 projects aiming at strengthening Romanian NGOs and enabling their active participation in policy processes have been implemented. NGOs were promoted as the voice of civil society and as service provider in the field of environment, social services and strengthening organisational capacities.
  • 5 retained activities (Rural Development, Natura 2000, Carpathian Wilderness, Sustainable Agricultural Models, Sustainable Forest Management).
  • The civil society organisations contributed as important actors in development processes in Romania.
  • More than 260’000 people benefitted directly from activities on Social Component (participation in trainings, information sessions, field activities, awareness raising and information campaigns).
  • More than 2’000’000 people were informed about the project activities and environmental problems and approx. 45’800 persons benefitted directly from the 30 projects on Environmental Component (participation in trainings, field and conservation activities, and environmental education).

 
Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Swiss Contribution to the enlarged EU
Project partners Contract partner
Private sector
  • Swiss Private Sector
  • KEK-CDC Consultants/Zurich


Other partners

Intermediary Body: KEK-CDC Consultants/Zurich in Consortium with 2 local partners; Executing Agency: Various Romanian NGOs
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    16’800’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    16’703’044
Project phases

Phase 1 01.07.2011 - 30.11.2019   (Completed)

  • Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Unallocated / Unspecified
    Unallocated / Unspecified
    Unallocated / Unspecified
    Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation
    Sectors not specified
    Sectors not specified
    Sectors not specified
    Cross-cutting topics The project promotes biodiversity as a priority.
    Aid Type Enlargement contribution
    Project number

    7F08040

Strenghtening Civil Society in Bulgaria and Romania

Switzerland funds social and environmental projects in Bulgaria and Romania for a total amount of CHF 24.8 million. The projects promote and enhance the involvement of civil society in the economic and social development of their respective countries.

NGOs have become increasingly important in Bulgaria and Romania in the past 20 years. But they still face major challenges, including very low membership and scant influence on political decisionmaking processes. Moreover, the financial and economic crisis of recent years has weighed heavily on the NGO sector in Bulgaria and Romania. 

NGOS – The Key Player

The problems facing the NGO sector are particularly worrying, as socially disadvantaged groups rely on their support for social services. Furthermore, NGOs contribute to an active civil society, which in turn fosters democracy, a strong civil society having an important control function over state authorities.

Switzerland supports over 120 individual social and environmental projects in Bulgaria and Romania through its NGO fund. In certain cases, including Swiss project partners enables the NGOs to benefit from expertise and experience specific to Switzerland.

Cooperating with organisations in the partner countries allows Swiss organisations to expand their networks and their specialist knowledge. What is more, Switzerland itself benefits from the NGOs’ work, as it frequently has an international or even global impact, for example in the areas of migration or environmental protection. 

Active civic involvement in environmental protection and nature conservation

The NGO fund in Bulgaria and Romania comes under the thematic fund civil society which Switzerland uses to support other projects aimed at strengthening civil society, in addition to its support for the NGO funds. Most of these projects are in the area of environmental protection.

In Bulgaria for example CHF 4.2 million goes to supporting the project entitled Linking Nature Protection and Sustainable Rural Development. The aim of this project is to get the civil society more actively involved in the sustainable development of agriculture, nature conservation and environmental protection. It involves working closely with Swiss partner organisations, for example Pro Natura and the Réseau Echange Développement Durable (REDD), both of which bring invaluable experience to the table. The sustainable cultivation, distribution and marketing of organic produce also make up an important part of the project. The project leader, Dr Stoilko Apostolov, sees the project as an important example of how nature conservation and sustainability can bring added value to local products and services. 

 

Strenghtening Civil Society

The Swiss enlargement contribution finances a support fund for non-governmental organisations (NGO fund) in all partner countries except Malta. The purpose of these funds is to promote and strengthen the participation of civil society in the socioeconomic development of the respective countries. The total contribution to all NGO funds amounts to around CHF 66 million. 

In the new member states of the EU, civil society is significantly more developed than it was at the beginning of the 1990s, but it is not yet as well developed as in the older member states.  NGOs suffer from various shortcomings: for example, they are poorly integrated in society and have a weak financial and institutional base. 

A strong NGO sector is essential for civil society

The funds for non-governmental organisations in all new EU member states except Malta provide essential support for civil society in these countries. This will result in the strengthening of the NGO sector and civil society in the respective countries. In particular, it is often the poorer and socially disadvantaged sections of the population who benefit from a well-developed range of services provided by NGOs. 

NGOs – indispensable players

By formulating concepts and taking action (in relation to vulnerable groups, minorities, the environment
and culture), civil society strengthens the democratisation process. It also helps make government agencies more efficient by ensuring that they take better account of the concerns of the population.
 This applies both to specific action taken at a local level and to advocacy at the regional and national level. NGOs thus often deal with a wide variety of issues in daily life. The NGO funds will be used in particular to support social welfare and environmental projects. More than half the approved projects will come under one of these two headings. Switzerland will however also fund projects in other areas, for instance the increased involvement of citizens in political decision making processes and cooperation between NGOs and local government. In some countries, the NGO fund programmes have already been completed or are about to be completed. 

Swiss organisations offer valuable experience

Involving Swiss partners in projects enables NGOs to benefit from Swiss expertise. Overall, just under 20% of the projects will be implemented with Swiss involvement.  Swiss expertise and experience is extremely valuable on a number of fronts for NGOs in partner countries which are often working in a new environment and therefore lack experience.  For instance, Swiss NGOs can help their partners cooperate with the government, encourage young volunteers, or even help with bookkeeping. Swiss know-how enables organisations in the partner countries to implement efficient and effective projects directly, while making optimum use of their financial and human resources. 

Targeted support for civil society is also in Switzerland’s interest

Thanks to partnerships with organisations in the partner countries, Swiss organisations are also able
to extend their networks and expertise. The mechanisms of the NGO funds favour these partnerships. Moreover, Switzerland also benefits from the activities of NGOs, as many aspects such as economic exchange, migration and environmental protection are interrelated and are of international and even global relevance in some cases. 

The NGO funds set up as part of the Swiss enlargement contribution

• co-finance some 700 projects totalling CHF 66 million

• strengthen the NGO sector in the respective countries and consequently support civil society

• have also resulted in the creation of partnerships between foreign and Swiss organisations for around 150 small NGO projects

• is enabling projects primarily addressing social welfare and environmental issues, as well as other problem areas, to be implemented.

 

 

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Last update 22.11.2021