Press conference in Iași

PRESS RELEASE

February 27, 2023

Growing NGOs - project to support organizational development and increase of capacity to raise public awareness of the problems faced by women beneficiaries of NGO services

Iasi, February 27, 2023 - Community Safety and Mediation Center Foundation (CMSC) in partnership with Romanian Women’s Lobby Association (RoWL), Hedda Association, Bulgarian Platform of European Women's Lobby, The Network of East-West Women (NEWW) și Magyar Nöi Erdekérvényesitö Szövetség/Hungarian Women’s Lobby, presents the results of the project ‘GLORIA - feminism and strategic approach of gender equality’. The project runs for 26 months and started in June 2021. Thus, after a year and a half of project implementation, we would like to present the project status and our future activities.

Through the project ‘GLORIA - feminism and strategic approach of gender equality’, Community Safety and Mediation Center Foundation, together with partner organizations, aims to support the 21 member NGOs in the Romanian Women's Lobby (RoWL) through organizational development and increase of capacity to raise public awareness of the problems faced by women beneficiaries of NGO services.

Specifically, the 21 member NGOs in RoWL will be involved in 6 advocacy campaigns on gender budgeting, women in decision making 50/50, data collection and budgeting of domestic and gender based violence services, analysis of the effects of economic migration on the transnational family, the impact of digitalization and climate change from the perspective of gender equality in Romania.

With the help of experts from Romania, Norway, Hungary, Poland and Bulgaria, in feminist camps, national and local feminist solidarity events, specific trainings for involvement in political life, community participation, lobbying and advocacy, the 21 RoWL NGOs will be supported to align with key information and policies in the field of gender equality at national and European level.

What need we have identified in Romania?

Women's organizations in Romania lack coordination in the strategic approach to gender equality, lack financial and organizational resources, lack a coherent direction for monitoring and promoting policy change, and lack the capacity to raise public awareness on the problems faced by women beneficiaries of NGO services.

What are the results of the project so far?

Organisational development for RoWL member NGOs, two feminist camps, four national RoWL events and campaigns, three local feminist solidarity events, six lobbying and advocacy events in the areas of gender budgeting, women in 50/50 decision making, domestic violence and gender-based violence standard analyses, advocacy campaigns on the effects of economic migration on the transnational family, digitalisation, climate change from a gender equality perspective in Romania using experts from Romania, Norway, Hungary, Poland and Bulgaria.

Who are the project partners?

Partnership is a unique combination of 6 partners with expertise in the field of gender equality.

The project is implemented by Community Safety and Mediation Center Foundation in partnership with the Romanian Women's Lobby Association, Foreningen Hedda; Network of East West Women; Bulgarian Platform of European Women's Lobby; MagyarNöi Erdekérvényesitö Szövetség/Hungarian Women's Lobby and benefits from a 249,943 euros grant from Active Citizens Fund Romania, programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants Grants 2014 -2021. The project aims to support 21 member NGOs in the Romanian Women’s Lobby (ROWL) through organizational development, strengthening the role of monitoring and advocacy on women’s rights, gender equality, and combating gender-based violence in order to achieve a strategic approach, strengthen financial resources and increase the capacity to raise public awareness of the problems faced by women beneficiaries of NGO services.

About us

The projects and services of Community Safety and Mediation Center Foundation are based on the development and promotion of public policies and models of community development, cooperation and development of good practices, as well as campaigns or legislative initiatives that can contribute to a safer life for our communities. CMSC has coordinated over 30 regional projects since 2000 and continues its activities constantly focused on introducing new and better standards in community development and victim support. Introduction of European and international Community safety models, adapted to the needs and realities of the underdeveloped region in which it develops its programs (both in rural and urban areas, in 9 counties and almost 20 communities - in the NE part of Romania) constituted the highest priority since its establishment.

About the Active Citizens Fund Romania

The Active Citizens Fund Romania programme is funded through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The overall objective of the Grants is to reduce economic and social disparities, and to strengthen bilateral relations between 15 beneficiary countries and the Donor States (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). The programme is administered by a consortium composed of Civil Society Development Foundation, Romanian Environmental Partnership Foundation, Resource Center for Roma Communities, PACT Foundation and Frivillighet Norge, acting as Fund Operator designated by FMO – Financial Mechanism Office of the EEA and Norway Grants. The objectives of the Active Citizens Fund Romania are to strengthen civil society and active citizenship and to empower vulnerable groups. With a total allocation of 46,000,000 euro, the programme pursues a long-term development of the civil society sector sustainability and capacity, stepping up its role in promoting democratic participation, active citizenship and human rights, while strengthening bilateral relations with organizations from the Donor States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. For more information about the Active Citizens Fund in Romania, please go to www.activecitizensfund.ro. For more information about the EEA and Norway Grants, go to www.eeagrants.org.

Working together for a green, competitive and inclusive Europe.

For more information about the project, please visit: https://www.feminismgloria.com.

Contact:

Irina Simiuc, Project Manager

E-mail: irina.simiuc@cmsc.ro