Carpathian Civil Society Platform

Carpathian Civil Society Platform

The Carpathian Civil Society Platform has been established as a result of a 18 month long intensive process in the frame of the „Carpathian Civil Society Platform - Creation of an inter-regional civil society hub for social inclusion in the Carpathian region” project.

 

The first phase: 26 March 2018 – 25 September 2019 (18 months)

 

„Carpathian Civil Society Platform - cooperation for social innovation” project

The second phase: 1 November 2020 – 28 February 2022 (16months)

 

Background:

The most underdeveloped bordering rural areas of Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and Ukraine have similar characteristics (distance from capital, poor infrastructure, diverse ethnic and cultural heritage, natural resources and similar history) and at the same time face similar challenges, such as increasing poverty, social exclusion, marginalization and stigmatization of the poor. Civil society is still weak, and civil organizations lack numerous assets (funding, strategic thinking, information, tools, support for (self) development, local embeddedness, and cooperation within the civil sector and with other sectors) required for the effective interventions to alleviate poverty and marginalization of those who are the most in need.

Although there are many positive initiatives in the non-profit social sector with measurable, tangible results, there is little knowledge about them. In addition civil society organizations working on social field have outstanding replicable methods, but at the same time lack assets and capabilities that are essential for successful interventions, and raising the attention of the mainstream society.

CSOs working in remote rural areas in the Carpathian region, far from capital cities face more complex challenges both from organizational and professional view than the better off areas in the respective countries.

 

Project objectives:

• to set up an inter-regional civil society hub of the rural organizations that work for the most marginalized communities (Roma, people with disabilities, other vulnerable or socially excluded groups) in order to strengthen their collaboration and effectiveness;
• to enhance capacities of these civil society organizations by various means, to strengthen their collaboration with other CSOs and public institutions in order to scale up social intervention initiatives;
• to identify and exchange adaptable models and initiatives, and assist CSOs in sharing these methods at regional and inter-regional levels.

It’s aimed to improve the influence and weight of civil sector by capacity development by creating a platform for networking, exchange of experience, knowledge and best practices.

 

Main activities concluded in the first phase:

• Kick Off Meeting
• Invitation of Participants
• Local workshops to establish local hublets
• Inter-regional workshop
• Local workshops to involve CSOs
• Mentoring and development of mini projects
• Capacity building trainings
• Closing conference
• Final evaluation and closing meeting
• Virtual HUB
• Media coverage and communication activities

Main activities in the second phase:

• Kick Off Meeting
• Invitation of Participants
• Inter-regional Exchange Event
• Capacity building local workshops for CSOs
• Mini-project development, mentoring and collection of best practices
• Inter-regional Conference
• Best practice brochure on social innovation
• Final evaluation and closing meeting
• Virtual HUB
• Media coverage and communication activities

 

Project Partners:

Carpathian Foundation-Hungary www.karpatokalapitvany.hu

ETP Slovakia www.etp.sk

Carpathian Foundation Ukraine http://carpathianfoundation.org.ua/

Carpathian Gate Foundation (Poland) www.bramakarpat.pl

 

More information:

Please contact Boglárka Bata (Executive Director, Carpathian Foundation-Hungary) at boglarka.bata@cfoundation.org or +36-36-516-750

 

Acknowledgements

The first phase of the project was supported by the International Visegrad Fund (www.visegradfund.org), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (www.minbuza.nl), the Robert Bosch Stiftung, and by a grant from the Foundation Open Society Institute in cooperation with the OSIFE of the Open Society Foundations.

 

The second phase, „Carpathian Civil Society Platform - Cooperation for social innovation” project is supported by the International Visegrad Fund (www.visegradfund.org).