Regional cross-border cooperation

The Next Mile of the European Civil Society Infrastructure (Boosting the potential of Bulgarian and Romanian Civil Society Organisation to improve the Social Environment), 2006-2007

http://nextmile.eu

A project of the Open Society Institute - Sofia

Partners of OSI-S within this project are: Euroregional Centre for Democracy – Romania, European Roma Information Office – Brussels, Belgium, Civil Society Development Foundation – Hungary.

Objective
Strengthening of the role of Bulgarian and Romanian Third Sector in improving social environment through improved institutional capacity of civil society organisations (CSOs) and stimulation of new forms of co-operation within and among them.

Target group
CSOs and their networks in Romania and Bulgaria, like service providers in the social sphere, organisations directly representing vulnerable groups, advocacy centres working for the interest of vulnerable groups, think-tanks, research and resource centres, policy makers engaged in the social sphere, representatives of vulnerable groups in Romania and Bulgaria, such as ethnic minorities (i.p. Roma), disabled persons (with physical and/or mental disabilities), children and young people with specific social problems (deviations, risk or criminal behaviour), whereas people suffering from double (multiple) marginalisation represent the project’s priority target group.

Outcome
Research studies and publication of methodological and information materials (MIMs)
Training sessions on ‘Organizational development and sustainability’, ‘Participatory research and development’, ‘Advocacy skills’, ‘Networking skills’
A platform for delivery of consultations
Personnel exchange programmes among Romanian and Bulgarian CSOs and CSOs from EU countries
Publishing of the ‘Collection of Good Practices: Exchange of experience in the field of social services provision’
Web Portal http://nextmile.eu