Technical Assistance for Civil Society OrganisationsRegional Office This project is funded

by the European Union.

Capacity Building of Civil Society in the IPA Countries and territories –Technical Assistance to CSOs.

Conference: Regional Partnership for intercultural Exchange

MOSTAR, March 31 – April 1 2011

SIPU International AB Sweden • Civil Society Promotion Centre Bosnia and Herzegovina • Human Resources Development Foundation Turkey • Foundation in Support of Local Democracy Poland • Partners Foundation for Local Development

Romania

Technical Assistance for Civil Society OrganisationsRegional Office This project is funded

by the European Union.

Overall objectives:

• Increase and improve the capacity and actions of the CSOs• Improve the democratic role of the CSOs.

Key out puts:

• Identify priority needs of the CSOs in the region • Create of Technical Assistance desks, help desk function• Advise local CSOs on an ad hoc basis• Local advisory groups operational• Training events, partnership and information events.• Evaluate the results of (donor-funded) actions• Publish and disseminate project results• CSO Web-portal in nine languages• Database in function.• Advise on further actions With CSOs in the driving seat...

Technical Assistance for Civil Society OrganisationsRegional Office This project is funded

by the European Union.

TACSO Regional Office • Potoklinica 16 • 71 000 Sarajevo • t: +387 (0)33 532 757 • f: +387 (0)33 532 757 • e-mail: info@tacso.org

SIPU International AB Sweden • Civil Society Promotion Centre Bosnia and Herzegovina • Human Resources Development Foundation TurkeyFoundation in Support of Local Democracy Poland • Partners Foundation for Local Development Romania

EuropeanUnionSIPUInternational

Technical Assistance for Civil Society OrganisationsRegional Office This project is funded

by the European Union.

Local offices - TA desk tasks:• Coordination of project activities• Liaising with EC institutions• Mediating between CSOs and government institutions.• Advising local CSOs• Capacity building assistance• Government policy and planning research• Provision of networking• Training Regional offices tasks:• Coordination and management• Plan and development of work plans• Development and training• Support to the national teams• Guidance and monitoring

Technical Assistance for Civil Society OrganisationsRegional Office This project is funded

by the European Union.

Achievements up to date: The Help-desks fully operational:

– Funding (Calls, PADOR registration, IPA support)– Government – CSO relations (policies, contacts)– Networking and partnership building– Legal frame for CSOs– Administrative and financial procedures (project registration, VAT)– CSO management (strategic, project, PR).

Local Advisory Groups (LAGs):– Legal environment– Role of CSOs– Funding conditions– Capacities of CSOs– Cooperation between government and CSOs– Image of CSOs.– Partnerships

Technical Assistance for Civil Society OrganisationsRegional Office This project is funded

by the European Union.

Achievements up to date:

• 8 National needs assessments reports• 2 Regional reviews • Regional/national trainings:

– EU fundraising – CSO management– Development and managing EU projects– Citizens participation in decision making processes– Advocacy and lobbying

• 200 National trainings • Three regional conferences:

– Quality Assurance conference– Cooperation between local governments and CSOs– Sustainability of CSOs

• IPA monitoring and guidance activities• Project guidance (capacity building) monitoring (P2P support)

Less of the same...

Technical Assistance for Civil Society OrganisationsRegional Office This project is funded

by the European Union.

• Overview of publications:

• The Review of EU Networks for Civil Society Organizations • Public Funding for Civil Society Organizations: Good Practices in The

European Union and Western Balkans• Manual on Fundraising and Accessing EU Funds• Manual on CSO Management• Report on CSO Capacities in the Western Balkans and Turkey• The Civil Society Enviroment in the Western Balkans and Turkey

Technical Assistance for Civil Society OrganisationsRegional Office This project is funded

by the European Union.This project is funded

by the European Union.

TACSO Regional Office • Potoklinica 16 • 71 000 Sarajevo • t: +387 (0)33 532 757 • f: +387 (0)33 532 757 • e-mail: info@tacso.org

SIPU International AB Sweden • Civil Society Promotion Centre Bosnia and Herzegovina • Human Resources Development Foundation TurkeyFoundation in Support of Local Democracy Poland • Partners Foundation for Local Development Romania

Technical Assistance for Civil Society OrganisationsRegional Office This project is funded

by the European Union.

Challenges and sustainability:

High pace so far –focus:• Maintain the regional dimension• Networking and partnerships• Regional visibility and coordination• Regional contact point• Offer integrated services to priority issues and needs.• Identify the policy issues and communicate those• Promote sustainability in all dimensions of

the project.

Technical Assistance for Civil Society OrganisationsRegional Office This project is funded

by the European Union.

Next steps of TACSO:

• Support key strategic policy processes• Coordination between EU and the societies• Regional networking, partnership creation and exchange.• LAGs – advisor, provider and decision maker• Tailor made and out-coursed training• Intensive support for minor CSOs• Help-desk function – CSO service Centre• Partly self financing• Exit strategy

Open to all not-for-profit nongovernmental organisations. And bridge between CSOs and governments

Technical Assistance for Civil Society OrganisationsRegional Office This project is funded

by the European Union.

A citizen is the smallest CSO in the world…

www.tacso.org