In December 2015, a project of Expeditio entitled STRONGO Developing stronger civil society in Boka Kotorska was approved by the European Union through the IPA 2014 Civil Society Facility Montenegro Programme.
The project lead partner is Expeditio, while other partners are 4 non-governmental organizations from the area of Boka Kotorska: “Naša Akcija” from Kotor, “Urban Nova” from Herceg Novi, Cultural Heritage Association NAPREDAK Gornja Lastva from Tivat and “Agora” from Budva.
Project duration is 35 months.
Total project budget is EUR 170,140.00 (90% contribution of the European Union).
The overall project objective is to build the capacity and improving level of participation of CSOs so that they can become professional, effective and accountable independent actors in the Boka Kotorska area.
Specific objectives:
- Empowering and developing capacities of local CSOs in the Boka Kotorska region
- Improving participation of CSOs in the local level policy-making processes in 3 areas (youth; environment, protected areas and heritage; culture) in Budva, Tivat, Kotor and Herceg Novi.
Expected results:
- Developed capacities of local CSOs through 10 trainings organized for representatives of local CSOs
- Empowered co-applicant CSOs through mentoring and coaching support provided by Expeditio
- Encouraged and developed volunteering in local communities through carrying out 15 actions
- Increased transparency and accountability of local authorities trough joint monitoring and reporting in 3 areas (youth; environment, protected area and heritage; culture) in 4 municipalities
- Transferred good policy practices through organizing 15 public events on the topics of activism, citizens’ involvement in decision-making processes in the local community
- Improved legislation at the local level and CSOs experience through conducting 3 joint advocacy initiatives.
Main activities:
- Organizing 5 trainings in order to improve the work of CSOs
- Organizing 5 trainings for professional development of local CSOs
- Mentoring and coaching work with co-applicants in order to address their needs
- Concretely guiding co-applicants through the process of project’s implementation and educating
- Organizing 12 events actively involving volunteers
- Creating an online database of volunteers in Boka Kotorska
- Selecting methodologies and documents/policies to be monitored and reported about
- Preparing 3 annual reports on local policies implementation
- Organizing 15 events in 4 towns in Boka Kotorska promoting good practices
- Selecting topics/policies and developing an action plan for 2 advocacy campaigns conducting
