Goals, Objectives and Team …and how we came to be here…

1. Goals, Objectives and Team …and how we came to be here… Jerome Simpson Head, Information Programme, REC Project Manager, Master Class 19th May, 2008 Jsimpson@rec.org

2. 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? Jsimpson@rec.org

3. 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! Jsimpson@rec.org

4. Slide 4/18 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 Jsimpson@rec.org

5. Slide 5/18 CSO Development Needs in Macedonia • NB: Advocacy, lobbying and public participation data - interview Communications and watchdogging data - questionnaire. Jsimpson@rec.org

6. Slide 6/18 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 the success or the impact [of their campaign].” Jsimpson@rec.org

7. Slide 7/18 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.” • CSOs were found to be unaware of the importance of gathering their own information. • “It is not only about asking for something, but more important that you know what you are asking, and for what you need this,” said one support organization in Serbia Jsimpson@rec.org

8. Slide 8/18 Typical Responses..Public Participation 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.” Jsimpson@rec.org

9. Slide 9/19 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 Jsimpson@rec.org

10. Slide 10/19 Typical Responses..Communications and Outreach • In places like Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia we were told CSOs are not “in touch,” do not represent community needs or understand society’s needs • Across the region we heard CSOs are not good in describing to society what they do and what they are about. • In Albania one support organization said CSOs “should learn to use proper language, for citizens” because typically they “are not able to publish and distribute beyond the donor” • “NGOs need to be able to justify their claims, especially if they want media attention.” Jsimpson@rec.org

11. Slide 11/18 What will we do here? Parallel Sessions: 3 & 4 Legal Recourse/Advocacy and Public Participation 5. Effective Communication and Public Outreach Parallel Sessions: 1 & 2 Lobbying and Watch-dogging Jsimpson@rec.org

12. Slide 12/19 Practical Objectives • Fulfilment of five “learning objectives” per class (e.g. how to appeal) • Useful and relevant capacity building (based on applicants’ interests) • 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 delivered through local trainers • Resource materials that enable self-learning Jsimpson@rec.org

13. Slide 13/18 ..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. Групна вежбаe #4: Предизвици и препораки Времетраење: 60 минути Ефективната комуникација со граѓани и заедници, и комуницирање на успеси – или проблеми – во општеството може да претставува вистински предизвик. Зошто е тоа така, кога очигледно постојат многу расположливи можности, методи и алатки? Дали има потреба за подобрување на правната и регулаторната средина, или предизвиците се на друго место? Во две групи поминете 30 минути со тоа што прво ќе составите кратка листа на пречките и предизвиците со кои се соочувате кога се обидувате да обезбедите дека ефективно ја информирате јавноста, и второ наведете ваши конкретни предлози и препораки за подобрување на вашите комуникациски вештини. Вториот дел од оваа сесија ќе биде посветен на презентирање на вашите заклучоци, така што изберете известувач! Забелешка: РЕЦ ќе ги собере сите овие заклучоци и ќе ги стави на достап како дел од финалните препораки од проектот. Jsimpson@rec.org

14. Slide 14/19 Who’s on the Master Class Team? Lobbying and Legal Recourse/Advocacy • Marija Risteska: co-founder of CRPM - Centre for Research and Policy Making, a Skopje-based think-tank • At CRPM she works as senior analyst and leads the human development portfolio, as well as its capacity building programme for civil servants and CSOs • She is a lawyer and holds a Master in European Public Administration and Public Policy • Brings eight years of development experience including: policy analysis, legislative drafting, and public sector consulting. Jsimpson@rec.org

15. Slide 15/19 Who’s on the Master Class Team?Watchdogging • Anastas Dzurovski works as project assistant of the UNDP project-Restoration of Golema Reka and as part time trainer for the Human Resources Development Fund, a public private partnership between the Government of Macedonia and EAR. • He holds an MA in European Economic Studies from the Economic Faculty of the University of St Cyrill Methodius in Skopje, and • Among his key interests are contemporary relations between government, business and citizens. • He is a member of several local environmental NGOs and participates in green actions Jsimpson@rec.org

16. Slide 15/19 Who’s on the Master Class Team?Public Participation • Jordan Bajraktarov is currently Field Executive for South East Europe within the World Organization of Scouts Movement. • Prior to this, served as project manager for almost 8 years for REC Country Office Macedonia where he authored publications on public participation and community based planning • Has worked on SEE development issues since 1997, and delivered many trainings in the fields of public participation and presentation/communication skills to trainers and CSOs alike • In this capacity also served as a consultant for several international and domestic organizations. Jsimpson@rec.org

17. Slide 15/19 Who’s on the Master Class Team?Communication and Outreach • Natasha Dokovksa is the Director of the CSO: Journalists for Children and Women Rights and Environmental Protection • An international trainer in Public Relations accredited by the International Corte school for PR (Corsica, France) and in peace journalism as accredited by Transcendent • She has also author several books incl. “Golem Grad - island of snakes,” “How to establish and maintain contact with the media,” and “Peace journalism as tools in communication” • Natasha is also a Member of the International Federation of Environmental Journalists as well as GREENACCORD. Jsimpson@rec.org

18. Slide 17/18 Who else is on the Master Class Team? Dejan Kovacevic - Project Officer, REC Macedonia responsible for event logistics and organizational issues Valentina Petrusevska - Project Officer, REC Macedonia Jsimpson@rec.org

19. Thank you for your attention! Remarks and Questions? Jsimpson@rec.org