Online training - Developing administrative and financial management skills

On the 27th July 2016, an online training for the partners in the project “Balkan regional platform for youth participation and dialogue” was held. The training was organized to assist staff members in their financial administration roles within the project.
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The training module provided by ALDA Financial Services covered all aspects of financial administration and financial management regarding the project. The presentation was designed to be simple, including examples and encouraging open discussion. At the end, the participants provided their feedback.
Project partners’ staff members learned about the latest financial management techniques to develop administrative and financial management skills during the training.
Training presentations for the partners within the project are scheduled throughout the year according to the needs of the project.

On the 27th July 2016, an online training for the partners in the project “Balkan regional platform for youth participation and dialogue” was held. The training was organized to assist staff members in their financial administration roles within the project.
***
The training module provided by ALDA Financial Services covered all aspects of financial administration and financial management regarding the project. The presentation was designed to be simple, including examples and encouraging open discussion. At the end, the participants provided their feedback.
Project partners’ staff members learned about the latest financial management techniques to develop administrative and financial management skills during the training.
Training presentations for the partners within the project are scheduled throughout the year according to the needs of the project.
Special offers to ALDA's network to study an International MBA in Fondazione CUOA, Italy!

Our member Fondazione CUOA, based in Altavilla Vicentina (Italy), welcomes applications by members of the network of ALDA to its International Master of Business Administration and offers special conditions:
- Reduction by 15% of the tuition fee
- In case a member offers a scholarship to partially cover the tuition fee, Fondazione CUOA will also offer a scholarship on top of it, for the same amount.
The International MBA is addressed to highly motivated people, with proven professional experience and interest in operating in international and multicultural environments. They should be particularly eager to attain executive positions in medium-sized highly specialized multinational companies where they can make a real impact at the international level, assuming exciting roles and responsibilities. The participants will be particularly eager to attain executive positions in medium-sized highly specialized multinational companies.
The next MBA edition will start in November 2016, therefore in case you are interested we advise you to act fast; please find all information regarding the International MBA on the Fondazione CUOA website (including schedule, fees, student profile, teaching methods, application process, etc.).
For any further information, please do not hesitate to contact the International MBA Team: internationalmba@cuoa.it – Telephone +39 0444 333705 / +39 00444 333744

Our member Fondazione CUOA, based in Altavilla Vicentina (Italy), welcomes applications by members of the network of ALDA to its International Master of Business Administration and offers special conditions:
- Reduction by 15% of the tuition fee
- In case a member offers a scholarship to partially cover the tuition fee, Fondazione CUOA will also offer a scholarship on top of it, for the same amount.
The International MBA is addressed to highly motivated people, with proven professional experience and interest in operating in international and multicultural environments. They should be particularly eager to attain executive positions in medium-sized highly specialized multinational companies where they can make a real impact at the international level, assuming exciting roles and responsibilities. The participants will be particularly eager to attain executive positions in medium-sized highly specialized multinational companies.
The next MBA edition will start in November 2016, therefore in case you are interested we advise you to act fast; please find all information regarding the International MBA on the Fondazione CUOA website (including schedule, fees, student profile, teaching methods, application process, etc.).
For any further information, please do not hesitate to contact the International MBA Team: internationalmba@cuoa.it – Telephone +39 0444 333705 / +39 00444 333744
Podcast with the Belgian MEP, Mrs Maria Arena: “We have a social challenge in order to ensure the future of our citizens”

On February, 2 2021 the one-hour online conference “Doing Development Democratically: a Conversation with Jutta Urpilainen” was live-streamed. The occasion served to launch the European Democracy Hub—a new platform for research-based discussion on European democracy support, programming, and policy, aiming at engaging stakeholders and offering solutions to democratic challenges. The online conference was moderated by Mr Richard Youngs, from Carnegie Europe, which together with one of the ALDA’s members, the European Partnership for Democracy, co-organized the event.
Mr Ken Godfrey, European Partnership for Democracy Executive Director, introduced the discussion by highlighting how the European Democracy Hub is the result of the cooperation between the two parties, and provides an in-depth analysis and research about democracy. Then, he stressed out the importance of considering how the COVID-19 pandemic will affect democracies, parliaments and freedom of expression on worldwide scale. Therefore, the essential role of the hub in this realm.
Mr. Godfrey enhanced the role of this working-group, set up by prominent academics, practitioners and policy makers to support countries which have some weaknesses in their democracy systems. He recalled, for example, the military coup in Myanmar, driving the attention on the full commitment of the working-group to jointly boost democracy around the world.
A key moment was the European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen’s speech. She addressed all her encouragement in the launch of the European Democracy Hub, underlining the importance of being resilient in crisis-period such as the one caused by the pandemic. She also remarked how we have been all witnesses, in certain parts of the World, of human rights violations, and of governments using their powers to silent the oppositions, making the pandemic as an excuse. Furthermore, she highlighted how women and children are now paying the highest price of this pandemic. As a Commissioner, she assured that the EU will continue to ensure inclusivity, sustainability, fairness and fundamental values during our global recovery.

On February, 2 2021 the one-hour online conference “Doing Development Democratically: a Conversation with Jutta Urpilainen” was live-streamed. The occasion served to launch the European Democracy Hub—a new platform for research-based discussion on European democracy support, programming, and policy, aiming at engaging stakeholders and offering solutions to democratic challenges. The online conference was moderated by Mr Richard Youngs, from Carnegie Europe, which together with one of the ALDA’s members, the European Partnership for Democracy, co-organized the event.
Mr Ken Godfrey, European Partnership for Democracy Executive Director, introduced the discussion by highlighting how the European Democracy Hub is the result of the cooperation between the two parties, and provides an in-depth analysis and research about democracy. Then, he stressed out the importance of considering how the COVID-19 pandemic will affect democracies, parliaments and freedom of expression on worldwide scale. Therefore, the essential role of the hub in this realm.
Mr. Godfrey enhanced the role of this working-group, set up by prominent academics, practitioners and policy makers to support countries which have some weaknesses in their democracy systems. He recalled, for example, the military coup in Myanmar, driving the attention on the full commitment of the working-group to jointly boost democracy around the world.
A key moment was the European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen’s speech. She addressed all her encouragement in the launch of the European Democracy Hub, underlining the importance of being resilient in crisis-period such as the one caused by the pandemic. She also remarked how we have been all witnesses, in certain parts of the World, of human rights violations, and of governments using their powers to silent the oppositions, making the pandemic as an excuse. Furthermore, she highlighted how women and children are now paying the highest price of this pandemic. As a Commissioner, she assured that the EU will continue to ensure inclusivity, sustainability, fairness and fundamental values during our global recovery.
National & Local Trainings on DEAR: LADDER consortium in action!

Within the LADDER project, the 10 Co-applicants – EGTC Amphictyony (Greece), LALRG – the Association of Local and Regional Authorities (Latvia), Donegal County Council (Ireland), TECLA – Association per la cooperazione transazionale, locale ed europea (Italy), URC Poland – Union of Rural Communes of the Republic of Poland (Poland), UTC Slovakia – Union of Towns and Cities of Slovakia (Slovakia), Birgu Local Council (Malta), NAMRB – National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (Bulgaria), Municipality of Vejle (Denmark) and CAC – Croatian Association of Counties (Croatia) – are in charge of implementing local and national trainings on DEAR (Development Education and Awareness Raising) in their respective countries.
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A large number of these trainings already took place all around Europe. In total around one thousand participants attended the different two-day trainings. 45 trainings – 15 at national level and 25 at local level – have been implemented on issues related to development education, empowerment of local authorities and civil society organizations, raising awareness and engaging citizens in global issues, improving methods in non-formal education.
These trainings especially aim to familiarize participants with values of LADDER project and the rationale behind it, as well as with the DEAR approach and its possible implementation at grass roots level, with the intention of building a network of social links that contribute to meeting SDGs at local level.
The trainings were organised around different activities, such as ice-breakers, workshops, open discussions, team plays, etc. and were sometimes the occasion to develop innovative training materials, such as the educational board game elaborated by URC Poland, that was created in order to ensure that the content of local trainings could have been both attractive and informative.
All trainings were implemented in 2015 and in the first half of 2016, and 15 additional local trainings and 5 national trainings will take place before the end of the year.
Thus, once all national and local trainings are implemented, participants will be approximately 2600 people.
Besides, 10 focus groups will be organized in the second part of 2016 by Category A co-applicants, which will be attended by a total of 200 participants. These focus groups will consist in informal groups of discussion that will reflect on development education, especially debating on approaches, methodologies and tools that are used or can be developed at national/local levels. These events will also provide an accurate picture of the DEAR situation at a national and local level in the 10 countries involved, and will bring to the drafting of recommendations to improve the implementation of DEAR strategies in the country concerned.
Useful links:

Within the LADDER project, the 10 Co-applicants – EGTC Amphictyony (Greece), LALRG – the Association of Local and Regional Authorities (Latvia), Donegal County Council (Ireland), TECLA – Association per la cooperazione transazionale, locale ed europea (Italy), URC Poland – Union of Rural Communes of the Republic of Poland (Poland), UTC Slovakia – Union of Towns and Cities of Slovakia (Slovakia), Birgu Local Council (Malta), NAMRB – National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (Bulgaria), Municipality of Vejle (Denmark) and CAC – Croatian Association of Counties (Croatia) – are in charge of implementing local and national trainings on DEAR (Development Education and Awareness Raising) in their respective countries.
***
A large number of these trainings already took place all around Europe. In total around one thousand participants attended the different two-day trainings. 45 trainings – 15 at national level and 25 at local level – have been implemented on issues related to development education, empowerment of local authorities and civil society organizations, raising awareness and engaging citizens in global issues, improving methods in non-formal education.
These trainings especially aim to familiarize participants with values of LADDER project and the rationale behind it, as well as with the DEAR approach and its possible implementation at grass roots level, with the intention of building a network of social links that contribute to meeting SDGs at local level.
The trainings were organised around different activities, such as ice-breakers, workshops, open discussions, team plays, etc. and were sometimes the occasion to develop innovative training materials, such as the educational board game elaborated by URC Poland, that was created in order to ensure that the content of local trainings could have been both attractive and informative.
All trainings were implemented in 2015 and in the first half of 2016, and 15 additional local trainings and 5 national trainings will take place before the end of the year.
Thus, once all national and local trainings are implemented, participants will be approximately 2600 people.
Besides, 10 focus groups will be organized in the second part of 2016 by Category A co-applicants, which will be attended by a total of 200 participants. These focus groups will consist in informal groups of discussion that will reflect on development education, especially debating on approaches, methodologies and tools that are used or can be developed at national/local levels. These events will also provide an accurate picture of the DEAR situation at a national and local level in the 10 countries involved, and will bring to the drafting of recommendations to improve the implementation of DEAR strategies in the country concerned.
Useful links:
Georgian active leaders sharing their thoughts - Check out the video!

During the last training sessions that took place in the framework of the project Mobilised Civil Society for Local Democracy on June 2016, some of the participants were interviewed to share their experience and their opinion about the project.

During the last training sessions that took place in the framework of the project Mobilised Civil Society for Local Democracy on June 2016, some of the participants were interviewed to share their experience and their opinion about the project.
Western Balkan Summit in Paris – ALDA took part on the Civil Society events

Political leaders of six Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia) together with leaders of EU-member states gathered in Paris on the 4th of July for the Western Balkan Summit.
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The aim was to enhance the regional cooperation, 3 topics were the focus of the Summit: migration crisis, infrastructure and youth. The Summit was occasion for official launch of RYCO – the Regional Youth Cooperation Office. “Civil Society Forum” and “Connecting Youth – Western Balkans Youth Conference” were among the side events organized on the margins of the Summit. ALDA took part on these Civil Society events, represented by its team from the Balkans, Ms. Stanka Parac, the Balkan Regional coordinator and Ms. Ivana Dimitrovska, Head of ALDA Skopje office.
The Civil Society Forum brought together youth workers from EU member states and Western Balkans’ countries, who together discussed migration, climate change and green growth, bilateral disputes and youth cooperation. The conclusions from the debates were presented directly to the members of the European parliament and to Mr. Sebastian Kurz, who later presented the recommendations on the summit. The forum was coordinated by European Alternatives, ERSTE Stiftung, European Fund for Balkans, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Citizens for Europe and the Charles Léopold Mayer Foundation.
Connecting Youth – Western Balkans Youth Conference, addressed the problems young people in the region face regarding education and mobility, employment, engagement and involvement, and the media. The participants actively participated in discussions about finding a way to support youth collaboration between Western Balkans’ countries and the EU member states. The conference was organized by the European Commission and the French Government and it was supported by the European Youth Forum and the SALTO South East Europe Resource Centre.
Youth was brought as priority of the EU and Balkan policies and the highlight of the event was the signature for the launching of RYCO – the Regional Youth Cooperation Office. RYCO will be operational from January 2017. Based in Tirana, it will be aiming to “promote the spirit of reconciliation and cooperation between the youth in the region” through exchange. With this initiative, the six Western Balkans’ countries will implement joint programmes for young people to tackle the existing democratic, economic, education and innovation issues in the region.

Political leaders of six Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia) together with leaders of EU-member states gathered in Paris on the 4th of July for the Western Balkan Summit.
***
The aim was to enhance the regional cooperation, 3 topics were the focus of the Summit: migration crisis, infrastructure and youth. The Summit was occasion for official launch of RYCO – the Regional Youth Cooperation Office. “Civil Society Forum” and “Connecting Youth – Western Balkans Youth Conference” were among the side events organized on the margins of the Summit. ALDA took part on these Civil Society events, represented by its team from the Balkans, Ms. Stanka Parac, the Balkan Regional coordinator and Ms. Ivana Dimitrovska, Head of ALDA Skopje office.
The Civil Society Forum brought together youth workers from EU member states and Western Balkans’ countries, who together discussed migration, climate change and green growth, bilateral disputes and youth cooperation. The conclusions from the debates were presented directly to the members of the European parliament and to Mr. Sebastian Kurz, who later presented the recommendations on the summit. The forum was coordinated by European Alternatives, ERSTE Stiftung, European Fund for Balkans, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Citizens for Europe and the Charles Léopold Mayer Foundation.
Connecting Youth – Western Balkans Youth Conference, addressed the problems young people in the region face regarding education and mobility, employment, engagement and involvement, and the media. The participants actively participated in discussions about finding a way to support youth collaboration between Western Balkans’ countries and the EU member states. The conference was organized by the European Commission and the French Government and it was supported by the European Youth Forum and the SALTO South East Europe Resource Centre.
Youth was brought as priority of the EU and Balkan policies and the highlight of the event was the signature for the launching of RYCO – the Regional Youth Cooperation Office. RYCO will be operational from January 2017. Based in Tirana, it will be aiming to “promote the spirit of reconciliation and cooperation between the youth in the region” through exchange. With this initiative, the six Western Balkans’ countries will implement joint programmes for young people to tackle the existing democratic, economic, education and innovation issues in the region.
Public consultation! New guidelines for civil participation in political decision-making

The European Committee on Democracy and Governance (CDDG) in cooperation with the Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations is preparing new guidelines to ensure meaningful civil participation in political decision-making.
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The guidelines will be addressed to the authorities in Council of Europe member states and will seek to promote sustainable mechanisms for dialogue, consultation and co-operation between them and civil society.
In accordance with the CDDG’s decision, a wide public consultation on the draft guidelines is being organised during the summer period before finalising the guidelines. Civil society and public authorities at all levels are kindly invited to send their comments (in English or in French) on the draft to the CDDG Secretariat (CDDG@coe.int) by 4 September 2016. The input received will be carefully considered by the working group which will meet later in September.

The European Committee on Democracy and Governance (CDDG) in cooperation with the Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations is preparing new guidelines to ensure meaningful civil participation in political decision-making.
***
The guidelines will be addressed to the authorities in Council of Europe member states and will seek to promote sustainable mechanisms for dialogue, consultation and co-operation between them and civil society.
In accordance with the CDDG’s decision, a wide public consultation on the draft guidelines is being organised during the summer period before finalising the guidelines. Civil society and public authorities at all levels are kindly invited to send their comments (in English or in French) on the draft to the CDDG Secretariat (CDDG@coe.int) by 4 September 2016. The input received will be carefully considered by the working group which will meet later in September.
The Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) in the Western Balkans has been launched
Sharing common challenges, the Western Balkans’ societies decided to work together in order to empower young people. Growing up in a turbulent post-war environment, youth in the region is facing prejudice and intolerance, massive unemployment and important brain-drain.
Sharing common challenges, the Western Balkans’ societies decided to work together in order to empower young people. Growing up in a turbulent post-war environment, youth in the region is facing prejudice and intolerance, massive unemployment and important brain-drain.
Opportunity for Italian volunteers in two EVS projects in Macedonia!

For more information or if you are interested in applying please contact Ms Georgina Veljanoska at georgina@sega.org.mk .
Useful links:

For more information or if you are interested in applying please contact Ms Georgina Veljanoska at georgina@sega.org.mk .
Useful links:
Letter of condolences to all French members and friends of ALDA after the attack in Nice

The President Oriano Otočan, the Governing Board, the Secretary General Antonella Valmorbida, and all the staff of ALDA want to express the deep sadness and the sincere condolences to all French members and friends of ALDA for the attack of 14 July in Nice.

The President Oriano Otočan, the Governing Board, the Secretary General Antonella Valmorbida, and all the staff of ALDA want to express the deep sadness and the sincere condolences to all French members and friends of ALDA for the attack of 14 July in Nice.