Month: December 2012

The association “Agir Ensemble” organised an international conference on “Engaged citizenship and local governance” in Safi (Morocco) on 1 and 2 December.  This event marked the launch of a new project “Programme des Jeunes engagés” cofunded by the Anna Lindh Foundation and on which ALDA is partner.

The main objective of the seminar was to discuss ways and means of youth involvement in local governance  and to share good practices from South and North of Mediterranean.
The conference gathered around 60 young people, representatives of youth organisations and local authorities, researchers, experts coming from 14 Euro-Mediterranean countries. Marine Henry, project manager, represented ALDA and made a presentation on European Programmes in favour of youth involvement.

EVENTO DI LANCI0 DEL PROGETTO “PROGRAMME DES JEUNES ENGAGÉS” (Safi – Marocco, 1-2 dicembre 2012)

L’Associazione “Agir Ensemble” ha organizzato una conferenza internazionale sul tema “Cittadini coinvolti e governo locale” a Safi (Marocco) il 1° e il 2 dicembre. L’evento ha evidenziato il lancio di un nuovo progetto, “Programme des Jeunes engagés” cofinanziato dalla Anna Lindh Foundation di cui ALDA è partner.
Il principale obiettivo del seminario era discutere i modi e il significato del coinvolgimento dei giovani nel governo locale e scambiare buone pratiche da sud al nord del Mediterraneo.
La conferenza ha riunito una sessantina di giovani, rappresentanti di Organizzazioni giovanili e di autorità locali, ricercatori ed esperti, provenienti da quattrodici paesi euro-mediterranei. Marine Henry, project manager, ha rappresentato ALDA facendo una presentazione dei programmi Europei a favore del coinvolgimento dei giovani.

ÉVÉNEMENT DE LANCEMENT DU PROJET “PROGRAMME DES JEUNES ENGAGÉS” (Safi – Maroc, 1er -2 Décembre 2012)

L’association “Agir Ensemble” a organisé une conférence internationale sur « La citoyenneté engagée et la gouvernance locale » à Safi (Maroc) le 1er et le 2 Décembre. Cet événement a signé le leancement d’un nouveau projet « Programme des Jeeunes Engagés », cofinancé par par Anna Lindh Foundation et auquel ALDA est partenaire.
L’objectif principal du séminaire était de discuter les façons et les moyens de l’engagement des jeunes dans la gouvernance locale et pour partager bonnes pratiques du Sud au Nord de la Méditerranée.
La conférence a vu la participation de presque 60 jeunes, représentants des organisations des jeunes et des autorités locales, rechercheurs, experts provénant de 14 pays de la région Euro-Méditerannéenne. Mlle Marine Henry, project manager, a représenté ALDA et elle a fait une présentation sur les Programmes Européens, à faveur de l’engagement des jeunes.

Strengthening of local democracy and citizen participation in the local governance in the EaP countries, by means of improving practical implementation of their national legislations.
This is the main goal of the project “Promotion of Citizens Participation in Local Self-Governance in the Eastern Partnership Countries” implemented by Centre of Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG) with the support of Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Human Rights, and Transition Policy.
Within the project was developed a report on common challenges and needs of citizen participation in local governance in EaP countries, now available online in English and Russian languages.

The study had the objectives of  determine common problems, needs, and elaborate recommendations for improvement of practices of citizen participation in the local self-governance in the EaP Countries and identify and describe best practices among the EaP States in the area of citizen participation in the local self-governance.
Project experts analyzed national legislations of EaP countries and their application in practice in the regard of citizen participation at local level in terms of the “European Charter of Local Self-government”, “Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government on the Right to Participate in the Affairs of a Local Authority”, “Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance at Local Level”, “The Code of Good Practices of Citizens’ participation”.
The local government high officials and CSOs were interviewed in each EaP countries with 2 special questionnaires assessing: 1. Legislation on citizens’ participation and 2. Quality of citizens participation in local governance in EaP Countries. All Main findings and recommendations were developed based on the processed data obtained by the survey.
Six organisations, among which also members of ALDA Network, from CSF Public Administration Reform sub-working group (PAR SWG) were involved in the work of developing the report: Center for Support for Economic Initiatives – Azerbaijan; Communities Finance Officers Association Ngo Armenia – Armenia; Foundation CCC Creative Centre- Ukraine; Institute for Urban Development – Moldova; Lev Sapieha Foundation – Belarus and Centre for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia – Georgia.

For more information please, contact:

Centre of Strategic Research and Development of Georgia
E-mail: office@csrdg.ge web: http://www.csrdg.ge/

The final meeting of the PRINCE project “Civil Trust Building – Find your way through   Enlargement Labyrinth” gathering all the project partners and the contact persons from the Western Balkan countries whose participation was coordinated by ALDA, was hosted by the Italian organisation ARCS.
Overview and assessment of one year condensed activities with the highlight on the Labyrinth tour through EU cities – Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna and Udine and the questionnaire analysis regarding the perception of the local citizens about EU enlargement, designing the follow-up activities – were the main topics discussed during the conference.

The Western Balkan country progress reports and the European Parliament’s Report on enlargement policies, criteria and EU strategic interests (3/10/2012) were further debated as the key documents requiring a strong involvement of civil society organisations and their regional networks.
The conference was also an opportunity for presenting a broad perspective and overview of the present status and future challenges of EU enlargement process by Prof. Virgilio Dastoli, President of the European Movement Italy, who spoke about the achievements of active civil society engagement over the past years with particular regard to adoption of the EU standard in fundamental rights and liberties and embracing the European values by the newly acceding countries. A number of regional CSO initiatives were mentioned in this regard, and in particular: Declaration of the European Movement – Italy supporting European Citizens Initiatives (ECI) claiming fundamental rights such as plurality of information, environment protection, free access to information, mobility of young people and strengthening of participative democracy as well as the European sustainable development. Further to this, specific mention was given to complementary document to the “European Manifest” of the EYCA (Italian Alliance for the European Year of Citizens) calling for support to autonomous initiatives promoted by citizens and NGO-s in order to carry out activities of general interest;
Similar Western Balkan regional CSO-s network statements have already been widely disseminated so as to enhance a greater involvement of civil society actors at different levels to help making the overall societal and economic reforms happen and thus continue with the EU integration beyond 2013 – after Croatia’s full accession. Therefore it is of utmost importance to refer to the Enlargement strategy (European Parliament – A7-0274/2012) stressing inter alia, the role of civil society as an important engine of approximation with the EU in creating bottom-up pressure for the advancement the European agenda, improving the transparency of the process and strengthening the public support for accession.

For further information please visit: www.civiltrustbuilding.eu

Stanka Parac Damjanovic
ALDA Regional Programme Coordinator

SSIIM UNESCO Chair in cooperation with the European Fund for the Balkans invites talented and dedicated young researchers to apply for a the “Fellowship Programme for Policy Researchers from the Western Balkans Region”.
The current call is open to one fellow who will spend up to 3 months at the SSIIM UNESCO Chair at IUAV University of Venice, Italy.
More info here.

During his/her stay at SSIIM UNESCO Chair, the fellow will develop an autonomous research activity, directly related with the Chair research activities. While at SSIIM UNESCO Chair, the fellow’s research work will be supervised by the Chair’s holder and the Chair’s research staff.
During his/her stay at the Chair, the fellow is expected to produce a full Research Report by the end of Fellowship programme, to be published in the SSIIM Paper Series, to contribute to formulating an research proposal to be submitted to international institutions, to contribute to consolidating the networks of researchers already existing at the Chair, to participate in any conference, workshop, seminar the Chair may be involved in and to deliver at least one lecture at IUAV University of Venice, Italy.
Applicants are required to be permanent residents in one of the countries of the Western Balkans. Applicants must be full-time employees at a think tank, university, policy center or NGO with strong research component in one of the Western Balkans countries for at least one year at the time of application and plan to stay for at least one more year. This requirement will depend on the sending organisation’s Human Resource policy. Applicants should be between 24 and 40 years of age at the time of application. Applicants must be fluent in written and spoken English.
Fellowship Programme for Policy Researchers from the Western Balkans Region aims to contribute to further capacity building and professional development of policy researchers from the region of Western Balkans allowing them to build networks across Europe through paid visits to other policy research institutions and think-tanks in the EU and other countries of the Western Balkans.
This programme is developed by widening the existing support to networking with an opportunity for creating links to EU and WB based think-tanks and policy organisations.

The process of decentralisation in the member countries of the European Union is a fact.
The levels of decentralisation reached and the modalities followed are very diverse, however we can only affirm that Europe is based on a strong decentralisation of the States and on a fundamental role played by local and regional authorities.

CIVICUS, World Alliance for Citizen Participation  is now seeking to form a Youth Advisory Group through an open selection process, initiated with a open call for applications from individuals to join the Group.
Interested in applying to become a member of the CIVICUS Youth Advisory Group, has to send CV/resume and motivation letter by Thursday 3 January 2013.

The Advisory Group’s primary role will be to provide strategic, informed advice on how youth participation issues can be better mainstreamed in CIVICUS’ programmes, and on how CIVICUS can develop new activities to strengthen youth participation in civil society. Working with the support of the Youth Advisory Group, CIVICUS intends to build new partnerships and secure increased resources to scale up new initiatives on youth participation.
The Youth Advisory Group will be composed of between six and eight youth representatives. Members of the Group will not receive remuneration, and will be asked to contribute time or expertise on a voluntary basis to the CIVICUS alliance. For more information on the terms of reference, click here.
If you are interested in applying to become a member of the CIVICUS Youth Advisory Group, please send a current CV/resume and motivation letter by Thursday 3 January 2013 to Natalie Akstein at natalie.akstein@civicus.org.

CIVICUS is an international alliance of civil society organisations and individuals dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society. Established in 1993, the CIVICUS network currently includes over 1,000 members from more than 100 countries. CIVICUS works in partnership with this wide range of organisations and citizens to implement global, participatory actions aimed at strengthening civil society.
In 2010, the CIVICUS Board of Directors decided to start exploring options for a new CIVICUS youth initiative which would further strengthen meaningful youth participation in civil society. At the CIVICUS Youth Assembly in September 2012, momentum to explore the development of a new youth initiative gathered within the CIVICUS alliance. Suggestions included a strong call for the creation of a representative Youth Advisory Group to help guide CIVICUS’ work on youth participation.

The launching event of the Committee of the Regions for the European Year of Citizens 2013 took place in Brussels on the 28th of November. The Director, Antonella Valmorbida, took part in the event on behalf of ALDA but especially on behalf of the Steering Committee of the European Alliance of Citizens.
Pitcure:  all rights reserved a Comité des Régions / Committee of the Regions

The partnership between the Civil Society Organisations and the Local Authorities will be of particular importance this year since most of the European rights and duties are particularly felt and lived at the local level. This is a great opportunity for ALDA to involve its members and partners in common initiatives. The Commissioner Viviane Reading confirmed her commitment, in 2013, to support exchanges and debate at the local levels.

For further info please visit the Website of the Forum
and the presentation of the Alliance of Citizens.

The same day, the activities of ALDA and the Italian Alliance of Citizens have been presented in a training session for Local Authorities form Italy, in Brussels. The event was organised by the Government of Italy. The cooperation with Local Authorities for the Italian Alliance will be of particular interest and importance.
See here the programme.