Implementing Organisation: SKOP-National Platform of Maltese NGDOs

Project Title: Enhancing the engagement of Maltese Civil Society in Policy Dialogue

Total Costs: 29.953 euros

Request from Fund: 29.953 euros

Project Description and Expected Results:

The Maltese overseas development policy had identified priority countries and themes within the framework of which, this project had been designed.  The activities of this project would help develop the expertise and capacity of Maltese NGDOs and the National NGDO Platform itself to engage in, co-operate and execute actions and activities related to advocacy, public-awareness, campaigning and lobbying.  

Specifically, the project would help the platform and its NGDOs to strengthen their relationships with their networks and develop expertise in the area of the EU-Africa relations. With this expertise members could also participate in CONCORD’s working groups on EU-Africa relations. Malta being strategically located, had an important role to play in this regard. Besides assuming a more active role in EU-Africa relations, Malta was also interested in the Arab network and development issues in the Middle-east, particularly Palestine.  Malta could play a crucial role with regards to advocacy, campaigning and lobbying on such matters, also serving as a cultural mediator to bring different cultures together, which had been the experience for many years on the island.  

The project also included training for the Platform Secretariat in financial and human resource management to ensure its sustainability at European and international level while building on the learning gained from previous presidency fund project.

Public awareness on development related issues would ensure that the Maltese population is more receptive to poverty eradication issues, development policies at a local and EU level, and would perceive the activities of NGOs in a more positive attitude.  

Lastly, the Platform would, in the course of the year, strengthen its position in lobbying the national government to engage better in the EU Development policy debate.  The platform would also be making a concerted effort at a regional level to advocate in collaboration with fellow member states for the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.

Results after Implementation:

In order to achieve the objective of strengthening the platform SKOP established a relationship with the Luxembourg NG(D)O platform. Through facilitating exchange visits for SKOP staff and some representatives of SKOP member NGOs, the Luxembourg platform acted as a mentor for SKOP and some of its members.

SKOP also established working relationships with Concord, taking part in Concord’s Aid Watch Activities with a special focus on the use of ICT in development cooperation. That it still maintains most of these contacts and keeps an eye on EU policies can be deducted from the fact that the SKOP website has a clear link with Concord and posted a presentation (by 11.11.11) on the next, Belgian, presidency.