Implementing Organisation: FOND the Romanian NGO

Project Title: Development Cooperation in Romania: Building Foundation for Policy Work

Total Costs: 51.992 euros

Request from Fund: 44.992 euros

Description of the Project and Expected Results:

In its application FOND stated that it aimed to build the capacity of Romanian civil society to influence national policy and contribute to the debate on EU development cooperation particularly for the ACP countries. It also aspired to strengthen FOND itself and make it a key actor in the debate on development policies and increase the role of its members in EU-wide networks (Concord) and initiatives, and facilitate linking them to potential partner organisations in ACP countries.  In order to do this it intended to develop information sources and databases in Romanian for the use of its members and other interested actors.

Results after Implementation:

In its mid-term review it reported that its Policy and Advocacy Working Group had met a few times, developed an advocacy strategy and ten policy recommendations which it intended to present to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at a later stage. It had developed a website and regularly sent (and still does) newsletters with up to date information. It had drafted a research paper on the state of affairs of Romanian development cooperation and had organised a seminar on the Cotonou Agreement. In addition a study visit to France had taken place, where participants from FOND’s member organisation visited member organisations of Coordination Sud, which acted as FOND’s mentor, to learn more about their work on development cooperation at national and EU level. However, where the proposal had stipulated that potential participants were requested to draft follow-up proposals prior to their visit to France there is no sign that this was implemented, which would in fact be a missed opportunity for ensuring the sustainability of FOND’s activities.

In its final report FOND stated that it had achieved most of its objectives albeit not always within the time schedule proposed. It set up a functioning Working Group of its members on Policy and Advocacy, which agreed to a TOR  and a set of WG objectives and played an important role in drafting a strategy with 10 recommendations to guide FOND’s interaction with the MFA and developed an Action Plan for 2009. It also proposed a general strategy for FOND and its members which is to be adopted in the beginning of 2010. Although FOND had already been recognised as an official consultation partner by the MFA (Government decision No. 747/2007), it strengthened its relations with MFA officials during the project as they took part in many of the activities organised by FOND. The proposed research Development Cooperation in Romania was produced and launched during the Conference on European Development Cooperation organised by FOND on 6 November 2009. During the project period FOND published five ‘monthly’ newsletters, which covered interesting information and reports on events that were to or had taken place. The proposed website was set up and is regularly maintained with a separate intranet for its members. While all the proposed activities have taken place, FOND does indicate that they felt a strong time constraint, which occasionally hampered the full implementation of the activities, such as developing the list of (Romanian) experts and the timing of the study-trip to France which took place later than intended and meant that the participants could not attend Coordination Sud’s conference on the EU-Africa Strategy in December 2008). Other constraints identified were the lack of interest from Romanian MPs as opposed to that of Romanian MEPs and the impact of the unstable political situation in Romania and of the financial crisis.