The principal objective of the Fund was to strengthen the capacity of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) from the New Member States (NMS) to engage in the EU Development Policy Debate.

This objective aimed at building a comprehensive understanding of development co-operation within civil society in NMS within the context of EU Development Co-operation.

The expected results were at two levels:

• At the country-level, a national approach to development issues in each country of the NMS that conformed to the EU’s Development Policy.

• At the European level, the Fund strove to motivate NGOs and governments from the NMS to strongly advocate and participate in debates to influence an effective EU development policy.