The Capacity Building Programme will offer a comprehensive range of development opportunities to Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) participating in the ‘Protecting Democracy, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law Through an Open Civic Space’ (PLATO) programme in Greece and Cyprus. Coordinated by Social Dynamo, the NGO Hub of the Bodossaki Foundation, in collaboration with the NGO Support Centre, the programme’s ultimate goal is to increase the effectiveness and social impact of CSOs and to ensure their long-term sustainability.

The Capacity Building Programme includes:

  • Proposal Writing Workshops
  • Information and Awareness-Raising Workshops
  • Organisational Development Training Workshops
  • Professional Support Services
  • Specialised Training on European Legislation

The Capacity Building Programme will begin by supporting organisations in project design, with Proposal Writing Workshops and Information and Awareness-Raising Workshops to be held in both Greece and Cyprus.

Proposal Writing Workshops

These workshops will take place from March to May in six cities in Greece and Cyprus, as well as online:

Information and Awareness-Raising Workshops

These workshops will focus on ‘The Role of Civil Society in Building a Strong Rule of Law in the EU.’ Eight three-hour workshops will be offered, led by two European civil society networks: NENO (Network of Estonian Non-profit Organisations, Estonia) and CNVSOs (Slovenia). These workshops will share best practices from Estonia, Slovenia, and the EU, highlighting the role of CSOs in promoting the rule of law and encouraging candidate organisations to submit impactful proposals.

Following the selection of funded organisations, the Capacity Building Programme will continue, offering training workshops on organisational development and professional support services. These services will include group mentoring, executive coaching, legal and tax advisory services, and targeted networking activities.

In addition, a series of specialised training sessions on European legislation will be offered to increase the capacity of CSOs to defend the EU’s democratic values, strengthen freedom of speech, improve security, prevent cybercrime, combat disinformation, and address hate speech attacks. While these training opportunities will primarily benefit the funded organisations, they will also be open to the broader civil society sector.

The Capacity Building Programme includes both optional and mandatory activities for the funded CSOs. The mandatory activities are:

  • Completion of the Capacity Mapping Tool
  • Participation in at least two of the organisational development training workshops (part of the 55-hour programme)
  • Participation in the ‘How to Pitch Your Project with Storytelling’ workshops

 


Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.