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Press Release

Cluj-Napoca, March 4, 2024

The Civitas Foundation for Civil Society Cluj, in partnership with the Center for Mediation and Community Security Foundation Iași, the Foundation for Social Economy Development Craiova, and FURIM Institutt Norway, implemented the project “Strengthening the representativeness of the RuralNet network and its advocacy capacity for an inclusive and sustainable National Strategic Plan” from February 15, 2021, to February 14, 2024, with the financial support of the Active Citizens Fund Romania, funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021.

According to the context analysis from Call #3: Civic Activism and Advocacy, NGO networks have proven in recent years to be key actors in maintaining vigilance in the sector, being able to respond quickly to policy changes and emerging sectoral needs in various areas, such as the environment, health, justice, education, human rights, community initiatives, combating violence against women, and more.

RuralNET is a network of active NGOs in Romania that operates in the field of community development. Through this network, we aim to enhance the quality of services provided by member organizations and capitalize on their skills and resources. RuralNET is based on expertise in community and rural development. The network was founded in 2002, and in its more than 20 years of existence, RuralNET has undergone various stages of growth and adaptation, with its areas of activity evolving according to the context and the needs of the members’ beneficiaries.

The project’s goal was to strengthen and expand the RuralNet network through development and learning activities for member organizations, enabling them to carry out advocacy activities that promote gender equality, support for youth in rural areas, and sustainable rural development.

Project activities:

• Strategic planning and development of effective management procedures – through the development of the RuralNet 2030 strategy, a participatory process to which all network members contributed.
• Training activities – through the organization of workshops and trainings on various topics such as: Financing and supporting the development of associative structures in rural areas, Young farmers and associative structures with an economic role in rural areas, Rural development and environmental and climate challenges, Advancing Equal Opportunities in Rural Areas, Social Entrepreneurship and Project Management.
• Advocacy campaigns – through the development of 4 policy briefs and advocacy activities
• Advisory services for members in the field of social entrepreneurship and project management
• Community development – by organizing community networking events and developing tools to encourage and inspire community development

About the Active Citizens Fund Romania Program

The Active Citizens Fund Romania program is financed by the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The general objective of the Grants is to reduce economic and social disparities and strengthen bilateral relations between the 15 beneficiary states and the donor states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway). The program is administered by the consortium composed of the Foundation for the Development of Civil Society, the Foundation for Partnership, the Resource Center for Roma Communities, the PACT Foundation and Frivillighet Norge, which acts as the Fund Operator appointed by the FMO – the Office of the Financial Mechanism for Grants EEA and Norwegian. Active Citizens Fund Romania aims to strengthen civil society and active citizenship and increase the capacity of vulnerable groups. With a total allocation of €46,000,000, the program aims to develop the long-term sustainability and capacity of the civil society sector, enhancing its role in promoting democratic participation, active citizenship and human rights, while strengthening bilateral relations with donor states Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. For more information about Active Citizens Fund in Romania, please visit www.activecitizensfund.ro. For more information on the EEA and Norwegian Grants, go to www.eeagrants.ro.

About the Civitas Foundation for Cluj Civil Society

The Civitas Foundation for Civil Society Cluj is a non-governmental organization that has been developing and implementing, for almost 30 years, interdisciplinary projects aimed at community development and good governance, entrepreneurship and social economy, strengthening civil society and rural economic development.

Contact details:

Nae Alexandra – project manager

Email: alexandra.nae@civitas.ro

Project page: www.ruralnet.ro

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360˚ Circle of NGOs with New Perspectives

We invite you on Friday, January 19, 2024, at 3:00 PM, to Cluj HUB, to help us shape a 360-degree view of the NGO world together.

January is usually the month when we make plans and set goals for the year that has just begun. How about a kick start to 2024, with people as motivated as you are, who can broaden your horizons, inspire, and motivate you?

Who is this event for?

For you, who are involved in NGOs and contribute to building a better community, who seek inspiration and a new perspective alongside like-minded individuals.

The intentions of this event are to:

• Present our perspective on working collaboratively with NGOs in the RuralNet network;
• Explore together a 360˚ panorama of the NGO world;
• Look ahead to 2024 with all the opportunities it brings;
• Offer you a framework to identify your “Non-Negotiables”;
• Share with you the resources and lessons we’ve accumulated over 20 years of work in the RuralNet network.

Raffle: At the end of the event, we will offer a training kit to one lucky and motivated participant.

Available spots are limited. To participate, you must register through the form.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email from us.

For more details, the contact person is Alexandra Nae – alexandra.nae@civitas.ro

The event is organized by the Civitas Foundation for Civil Society Cluj as part of the project “Strengthening the representativeness of the RuralNet network and its advocacy capacity for an inclusive and sustainable National Strategic Plan” to promote the results obtained during the project implementation.

RuralNet, the network of NGOs active in community development in Romania.

The project is carried out by the Civitas Foundation for Civil Society Cluj in partnership with the “Center for Mediation and Community Security” Foundation, the Foundation for Social Economy Development, and Furim Institutt, and is funded through the @Active Citizens Fund Romania program.

“We work together for a green, competitive and inclusive Europe”

#haide #ActiveCitizensFund #Romania #activecitizens, #EEANorwayGrants

@Active Citizens Fund Romania

Organized by the Civitas Foundation for Cluj Civil Society

January 19, 2024 in Cluj Napoca

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Day of Impactful Actions

The Day of Impactful Actions was a wonderful opportunity to bring together people, organizations, and innovative ideas for community development.

During this event, we were able to:

• Learn success stories in community development from over 11 communities across the country. We discussed best practice models and how we can replicate them.
•  Meet NGOs with experience in community development.
• Launch the guide *Impactful Actions. Community Development Models.* Concrete steps and approaches that made a difference!
• Enjoy a “Taste of Goodness,” an authentic Nod Verde brunch with local products, supporting the farming community of Cluj!
• At this event, members of RuralNet gathered in Cluj-Napoca and shared with attendees the network’s more than 20 years of experience and the dynamic development throughout those years. Moreover, the event provided a platform for other young, initiative-driven individuals passionate about community development to share how they contribute daily to creating a sustainable lifestyle.

We had the pleasure of experiencing a culinary delight provided by Sándor Berkefrom Creative Food Lab, who cooked for us with products from the Nod Verde FoodHub, adding extra flavor to the event. At the same time, he offered a fresh perspective on how we can integrate sustainability and community development into our lifestyle by supporting local producers and consuming local products.

The Day of Impactful Actions also gave us the opportunity to present the guide Impactful Actions. Community Development Models, a collection of 11 case studies featuring best practice models in community development. The models are extensively presented online, in the resources section.

Organized by the Civitas Foundation for Civil Society Cluj

September 30, 2023, in Cluj-Napoca.

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Workshop “Rural Development and Environmental and Climate Challenges”

• Organized by: the Foundation for Community Mediation and Security Center Iași,
• February 27-28, 2023
• Iași, Saint Nicholas Guesthouse

The meeting brought together more than 30 representatives – members from the RuralNet network, representatives from rural local public administration, NGOs working with women in rural areas, agricultural cooperatives, LAG representatives, gender experts, think tanks, civil society, universities with an agricultural profile, RNDR, MADR, and environmental experts – to formulate recommendations on current issues.

This workshop addressed topics related to the challenges that farmers face regarding climate change, price volatility, and economic uncertainty, rural depopulation, and the growing importance of global trade. The workshop engaged stakeholders who provided suggestions and ideas for a policy brief, offering recommendations on how farmers can benefit from measures to fully adapt to digital innovations that ease their work, reduce bureaucracy, support generational regeneration, utilize environmental measures, and become familiar with national and European approaches to addressing these challenges.

Additionally, the workshop explored how climate change affects women and men differently and the role women can play in introducing a gender-sensitive perspective into public policies.

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• Organized by the Social Economy Development Foundation Economy in Svinița
• June 10-12, 2022

The course was attended by 15 people both from the RuralNet member organizations who want to initiate social businesses, but also other people interested in launching such an enterprise. The innovation was brought by our partners from Norway, Furim Institute, who will present their social economy model.

• 05-08 May 2022
• Organized by the Foundation for the Development of the Social Economy in Horezu

The project management course attended by 15 activists/volunteers of non-governmental organizations members of the #RuralNet network was focused on the introduction and monitoring of community development elements in projects aimed at developing the rural environment in Romania.

Among the topics addressed were

• Operationalization of community development principles in projects
• Initiate writing and project management
• Planning community development projects
• Management of community development projects
• Evaluation of community development projects

• APRIL 1, 2022
• Organized by the Center for Mediation and Community Security.

It brought together exceptional moderators and guests, MEPs, parliamentarians, local councilors, members of rural women’s associations and many, many other interesting speakers. There were also many participants and interventions from the networks we are part of as partners and project promoters. The event was about strong women, about women who inspire, about women who get involved.

The Equal opportunities workshop in associative structures with an economic role brought together over 30 representatives – members of the RuralNet network, women leaders in economic and non-economic agricultural associative structures or who work with women from the rural environment, representatives from the local rural public administration, NGOs – who work with rural women, agricultural cooperatives, representatives from LAGs, gender experts, think tanks, parliamentarians and MEPs, representatives of ANES, the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Following this “marathon” of good practices and grassroots models, within the project we will submit to the decision makers a policy brief on the topic of equal opportunities.