http://www.soros.ro Feed Description en-us http://www.soros.ro/ro/program_articol.php?articol=39 (May 31, 2007) The goal of the competition is to develop partnership between civic societies of Ukraine, Moldova and Romania for enforcing democratic values and strengthening principles of sustainable development in the context of the EU enlargement to the region.

Proposals that envision international exchange of experience in promotion of democratic values, social innovations and public activity particularly in trans-border regions will be supported. The proposals are planned together with partners from all three countries as long-term initiatives and are to be implemented both in three of the countries in the format of brainstorming meetings, seminars, study visits, workshops etc. The East East: Partnership Beyond Borders Program (EE/PBB Program) will cover local expenses to support the implementation of hosting projects and travel expenses for invited participants when the projects are implemented in a partner country.
The competition will be held in two phases: in the first phase the applicants are asked to submit the concept papers, and in the second phase the selected applicants will be asked to prepare complete projects. The leading organization agreed by involved partners submits the concept paper to the national office of the EE/PBB Program in its country.
Competition areas:
1. Supporting national reforms through the European integration efforts and monitoring of public processes in the region: action plans implementation, security issues, human rights monitoring, borders openness etc. 2. Opportunities and challenges for regional cooperation in the framework of Romania's EU Accession to encourage transfer of experience and lessons learned.3. Strengthening partnership between NGOs and Local Authorities through inter- and intra-sectors activities (public/private partnership, citizens participation in decision-making, good practices in local problem-solving, transparency in local affairs, ensuring community development in rural areas, enhancement of local communities' capacities in participating in the EU neighborhood programs, etc.); 4. Approaching prospects of European and Euro-Atlantic integration in the Black Sea Region through facilitation of cooperation and dialog between public of the region to solve regional problems related to security, migration processes, ethnic minorities rights, ecology etc. (the involvement of participants from other countries of the Black Sea Region to trilateral initiatives is advisable). Competition participants: NGOs, local authorities, mass media, policy centers, educational institutions and others.
The concept paper should not exceed 2 pages of free-text form (Times New Roman, size 12) and should include brief information about:
the project idea (aim and goals)the project main partners (with contacts) and target audience;the project activity plan (like events schedule);expected results and outcomes.The Program will not support proposals that envision:
world congresses or conferences;highly tailored conferences or scientific events;network meetings;individual research projects;art events;particular translation and publishing activity;institutional support and an infrastructure development;commercial or profitable activity.The competition budget is opened.The deadline for concept papers is June 22, 2007.
The concept paper submitted should receive approval from the EE/PBB Program Advisory Committees from all Participating Foundations (Soros Foundation-Moldova, International Renaissance Foundation-Kyiv and the Soros Foundation-Romania), then the selected applicants will be asked to prepare complete projects by September 2007. And after the project proposal completed receive approval from the EE/PBB Program Advisory Committees from all three Foundations this is going to be submitted to the OSI-London that will take the final decision. The projects should be planned to be implemented starting from January 2008.
The authors of the most successful concept papers will be invited to attend the Regional Conference to be held in Bucharest by middle of September that will facilitate the dialogue between the NGO representatives and local authorities from the all three participating countries.
Please pay attention to the following:
the electronic version of the concept paper has to be submitted in Romanian/Ukrainian and English;the Participating Foundations provides neither a review nor gives back submitted materials;the final decision on a proposal is not to be reconsidered;the Participating Foundations does not announce the reasons of a proposal rejection;the Participating Foundations does not provide financing to political parties, religious communities or natural persons.We encourage submitting the concept papers via e-mail to the following addresses:
Soros Foundation-Romania
Ovidiu Voicu, EE/PBB Program Managere-mail: ovoicu@soros.ro Phone: (402 1) 212 11 01, 212 11 02; Fax: (40 21) 212 10 32  33 Caderea Bastiliei Street, Bucharest 711391, Romania
 
Soros Foundation-Moldova
East East: Partnership Beyond Borders Program
Ana Coretchi, EE/PBB Program Director
e-mail: acoretchi@soros.md
Tel. (37322) 274480, 270232; fax (37322) 270507
32 Bulgara Street, Chisinau MD 2001, Moldova


International Renaissance Foundation-Kyiv
Tetyana Kukharenko, EE/PBB Program Manager
e-mail:  kukharenko@irf.kiev.ua 
Tel.: (38 044) 461 9500; Fax: (38 044) 486 0166
13-a Bekhterevskyi Provulok, Kyiv, Ukraine, 04053
http://www.soros.ro/ro/program_articol.php?articol=21 The East-East: Partnership Beyond Borders offers financial and logistical support to people and organizations in order to strengthen the collaboration between them and trans-borders partnerships, towards promoting the values of open societies. The Program supplies the transparency, dialogue as well as the creation of a neutral space for presenting and debating opinions. The project's main objective is to facilitate the exchange of values, ideas, development models and good relations between peoples and organizations from the participating countries. During 2005, the program offered financial and logistic support to the following nongovernmental organizations in Romania:


1.Make up your mind, it's your future too!

    Organizer: Pro Democratia Association, Cluj Branch
    When: May 25-30, 2005
    Where: Sinaia
    EE Budget: 9500
This application is part of a larger project, which is divided into three main parts, which build on each other in view of achieving the proposed objectives. The activities thought of sequentially, combining local and international activities. The project start internationally (stage one), with an international seminar for exchanging experiences and planning work in each country, plus training related to the use of the proposed methodology, continues locally (stage two), with work within the two countries, organizing the forums and disseminating information on evolution of the project in each of the countries, and going again international (stage three) for evaluating the functioning of the methodology in the two countries checking achievement of results. The main goal of the seminar is to foster more citizen participation and youth especially in the local government level in Bosnia Herzegovina and Romania through proposing use of deliberative democracy forums, while also sharing and exchanging of experiences in promotion of citizens' participation in Romania and Bosnia Herzegovina that the partners and officials involved have had.

2. Strengthening democracy in Europe through accountable control of political parties finances
    Organizer: Institute for Public Policies
    When: January-June, 2005
    Where: Bucharest
    EE Budget: 10000
The general goal of the project is to help consolidating the legal frameworks related to political party financing and their transparency for that matter and to improving the control practices both performed by the State institutions in charge and the independent non governmental organizations. The main activities in the project consist in the elaboration of a comparative research, the organization of an international workshop to facilitate knowledge sharing among independent experts and practitioners from the countries selected in the project and the national dissemination of the project achievements translated into the local languages as to facilitate a wide spread of information.

3.Lessons of Elections in Romania and Ukraine
    Organizer: Pro-Democracy Association
    When: February 17-18, 2005
    Where: Chisinau, Moldova
    EE Budget: 4000
The goal of the project is to support the team of Romanian experts that will coordinate the monitoring of general elections process in Moldova.

4.Early Education For European Values
    Organizer: Institution for Education and Counseling (IPEC)
    When: March-September, 2005
    Where: Suceava
    EE Budget: 8186
The general objectives of the project are the creation of the premises for the successful partnerships between governmental and non-governmental institutions which can influence the children's civic education, and the development of the institutional capacity of NGO/s in order to influence the educational policy in the children's domain of civic education. The project will facilitate the application of an efficient education model of the children in the spirit of the European values, and it will generate among children, the feeling of affiliation to the group, a feeling which offers them belief that their voice can be heard and can influence the public polities.

5. Educational games to prevent violence in youth activities
    Organizer: Max Association
    When: April 21-25, 2005
    Where: Oradea
    EE Budget: 9500
The program of the seminar is based on non-formal education principles and methodology. The learning process of participants is based on discussions, sharing experience, exercise and experiment in an intercultural environment. The general objective of the seminar is to empower youth workers that work with vulnerable groups, to develop strategies and activities that address racism, xenophobia, discrimination and gender-based forms of violence affecting young people. During this seminar participants will discuss and develop games as tools in non-formal education to prevent violence in youth activities. Participants will have the possibility to share their experience in managing violent situations and also to improve knowledge level, skills and attitude needed in conflict resolution and avoiding violence. In the second part of the seminar participants will work on games that can be used in youth activities to prevent violence and to develop in partnership action plans that will help tackle different forms of violence

6. Cooperation for Impact: Reform of the Public Health Sector
    Organizer: Institute of Public Health Bucharest
    When: September 2004-February 2005
    Where: Belgrade, Serbia
    EE Budget: 2156
Like other professionals, Public health experts meet at the scientific meetings where they present results of their work to an audience of the same kind of specialists. The typical communication pattern there is based on competitive relations, and particularistic attitude. The general goal of the initiative „Sharing for action" is to establish the different  psychosocial setting, the setting that is   based on professional  sharing, and on common engagement in overcoming similar problems. Public health experts working in former socialist countries in Southern Europe are „natural" allies.  They work within the similar level of psychosocial existence. They are engaged in the same kind of professional activities. They are confronted with similar difficulties emanating from dominant public policy. Still, all these conditions are connecting them only in principle. „Sharing for action" is providing the  practical connective structure.

7.Organic farming: going East
    Organizer: Bioterra Association
    When: August 15-20, 2005
    Where: Sibiu, Constanta, Teleorman, Calarasi, Tulcea
    EE Budget: 16000
The project objective is to disseminate the concept of ecological agriculture trough accessible methods, to a large number of householders so they can decide whether to adopt ecological agriculture or not. Several experience exchanges as well as trainings will be organized in Romania for farmers and activists from Hungary, Moldova and Armenia.

8.The Future Role of NGOs in a Changed Europe
    Organizer: Ecosens Association
    When: April-December 2005
    Where: Bucharest, Tg. Mures, Cluj, Piatra-Neamt
    EE Budget: 12190
The current changes which are taking place at European level, especially the on-going process of enlargement, are incurring important changes mainly at the level of the society. In this respect, the representatives of the civil society, namely the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other civic structures, are facing new challenges that can affect their activities and, sometimes, even their existence. The Goal of the project is to strengthen the capacity of the NGOs from the Balkan region to adapt to the changes which are taking place at European level, especially the enlargement of the European Union.

9.National Youth Policies: Success or Failure in South Eastern Europe?
    Organizer: Timis County Youth Foundation (FITT),
    When: May 23-28, 2005
    Where: Timisoara
    EE Budget: 7300
The project is aiming at improving the process of designing and implementing National Youth Policies across South Eastern Europe and to increase the feeling of ownership in all stakeholders through analyzing, evaluating and generating solutions for the present situation from both NGO's and experts point of view.

10.Future Continuous: Building Confidence in the Hungarian-Romanian Relations through Multicultural Education and Comparative Research
    Organizer: Univeristy of Bucharest, Institute for Political Research  
    When: September 2005 - June 2006
    Where: Bucharest, Cluj, Budapest
    EE Budget: 9968
FUTURE CONTINUOUS is a pilot framework that promotes cooperation between Hungarian and Romanian institutions through common projects in social sciences and humanities. Initiated by the representatives of several important academic institutions and NGOs from Hungary and Romania , it intends to transform a series of common conferences and informal meetings into a long term, flexible and efficient network of cooperation between institutions of the two countries that promotes common projects and a reconciliatory attitude. The project''s objective is to develop and consolidate efficient and long lasting frameworks of cooperation between Hungary and Romania, through the creation of a coherent and flexible structure of institutions (academic research centers, NGOs etc) with high potential in facilitating common socialization and development of common projects in the field of social sciences and humanities.

11.Disability and Human Rights: Civil Society Engagement
    Organizer: Disabled Peoples International (DPI) Europe, National Organization of Disabled People in Romania  (O.N.P.H.R..)
    When: June 16-19, 2005
    Where: Bucharest
    EE Budget: 15604
The project objectives are to create a platform for mature think tanks' dialog within the framework of Ukraine-Moldova-Romania triangle in order to formulate a joint vision of tackling the Transnistrian problem; to fill a gap of lacking professional intellectual debate for three sides sharing their interest in resisting challenges and problems within bilateral and trilateral relations; to encourage analytical activities in all three states to seek the political and social solution of Transnistrian crisis; to recommend political decision together with methods for achievement it that is based upon establishment of rule of law and respect for human rights.Written outcomes of the project will be published as a profound Analytical Report (160-180 pages) and a brief Policy Paper (20-25 pages). The latter will contain extracts from the former and Policy Recommendations.

12.Through Cooperation to Implementation of the European Declaration of Mental Health and Action Plan
    Organizer: Estuar Foundation
    When: July-December 2005
    Where: Romania, Moldova, Ukraine
    EE Budget: 9610
This initiative appeared due to the desire of the third sector organizations in the three countries (Ukraine, Moldova and Romania) to promote European standards and principles in Mental health care in the appropriate countries. Ukrainian partner had an opportunity to participate in the European Conference on Mental Health in which the Declaration was signed among the governmental delegation and was strongly impressed with the effect of on-fiscal component of transition in mental health I European countries, such as de-stigmatization, de-institutialization, community integration. Monitoring  of the observation of European Declaration of Mental Health will take place in three countries - Ukraine, Romania and Moldova. The final document will contain comparison of the views of the participants as for observation of the new document - approved in 2005 by European office of the World Health Organization - in the area of mental health.

13.Building open local government: from principles to practice of good governance
    Organizer: Euroregional Center for Democracy
    When: July-December 2005
    Where: Romania, Moldova, Ukraine
    EE Budget: 15500
The reason for selecting the issue of  Public initiatives and citizens participation in decision making and problem solving in the Ukraine-Moldova-Romania region in the context of close neighbourhood to the EU  is the belief that a truly regional, economic as well as social development, further democratisation and stabilization of Eastern Europe is not possible without a strong commitment towards the local level, especially  toward the local actors. At the same time, viable and sustainable solutions for Romania, Moldova and Ukraine  can only be achieved through enhanced local ownership. The project's goals are to build a framework for access to information, consultation and public participation in policy-making which will contribute to strengthening local  government -citizen relations and fighting corruption and to promote, develop, facilitate and support  partnership  for regional non-governmental organizations and institutions to build up collaborative projects and strategies in the region.

14.Policy Experience and Lessons Sharing After One Year of Membership/What Could Romania Learn from the Experiences of Acceding Countries?
    Organizer: Civitas Foundation
    When: September-November 2005
    Where: Romania and Poland
    EE Budget: 13906
The project aims to aid the policy learning efforts of West and North West Development Region of Romania from the one-year experience of countries acceding to the European Union in 2004. The main outputs of the project include: an improved capacity to apply the policy experience of the NUTS II level regions from countries of Central and Eastern Europe already members of the European Union; a policy level acquaintance of West Region Development Agency representatives with the institutional structure of the policy making in the regions; the strengthening the capacity of the West Region's Development Agency to realize its functions as one of the key planners, coordinator and implementer of the regional development policy; and, the development of capacity within Civitas Foundation, in cooperation with CENPO, for being considered partner and getting more involved in regional policy making in Romania, as well as developing a separate program focusing on regional development within the foundation's programs.

15.Lessons of Elections in Romania and Ukraine
    Organizer: Pro Democratia Association
    When: February 17-18, 2005
    Where: Chisinau, Moldova
    EE Budget: 4000
Supporting Pro-Democratia Association's team of experts that participated in the process of assesing and observing general elections in Moldova

16.Think Tanks' Cooperation For The Alternative Of Transnistria Conflict Solution
    Organizer: Centre for Conflict Prevention and Early Warning
    When: September - December 2005
    Where: Romania, Moldova, Ukraine
    EE Budget: 8000
The project objectives are to create a platform for mature think tanks' dialog within the framework of Ukraine-Moldova-Romania triangle in order to formulate a joint vision of tackling the Transnistrian problem; to fill a gap of lacking professional intellectual debate for three sides sharing their interest in resisting challenges and problems within bilateral and trilateral relations; to encourage analytical activities in all three states to seek the political and social solution of Transnistrian crisis; to recommend political decision together with methods for achievement it that is based upon establishment of rule of law and respect for human rights.Written outcomes of the project will be published as a profound Analytical Report (160-180 pages) and a brief Policy Paper (20-25 pages). The latter will contain extracts from the former and Policy Recommendations.

17. Vision exercises: Education Policy in Romania
    Organizer: Center Education 2000+
    When: September 2005 - January 2006
    Where: Bucharest
    EE Budget: 13500
The project will develop a vision exercise aiming to create an open expert debate forum around current and future problems of education in Romania. It will include policy development papers together with public debates, organized once at two months on previously agreed upon subjects, such us: Curriculum and curricular development; Management/decentralization; Teacher training; Equity and quality education. A special methodology will be developed for conducting the proposed vision exercises. Groups of highly qualified and experienced educationalists will be organized, in order to draft a vision about the four proposed topics; each paper will be organized around the following topics: State of art in the sector; Main issues and needs; Solutions; Implementation arrangements (plans, responsibilities, strategies for public involvement, mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation).

18.Rural Opportunities and Approaches for Development
    Organizer: Center for Rural Assistance
    When: November 10-13, 2005
    Where: Timisoara
    EE Budget: 14000
The strengthening of civil society, and of private and collective entrepreneurship, can and should be encouraged by national and regional governments and by the European Union itself.   This encouragement can be provided through enabling legislation, fiscal and financial incentives, and rapid, user-friendly administration. But the prime stimulus should come from the civil and private sectors themselves. The project will address the following needs: A comprehensive approach - in order to achieve a sustainable regional development, we need to have a common understanding of the same concepts; A community methodology for development - the main focus of ROAD is on people. International agencies and governments have invested in providing facilities and manpower (e.g. institutions, national and international agencies, trained health personnel) and means (e.g. technologies, strategies, products, tools) but the recipients, the people, have been neglected. What we see clearly is that in this approach, it is people that are the key element in the change process. They are able to realise that the change is for them, they design it, and they manage it and carry it out. This has increased each individual's perception of `self' and at the same time created a perception of the community's own identity. It is founded on self-reliance.

19. Searching for an Efficient Adaptation of National Legislation to European Standards
    Organizer: The Project for Civic Education and Academic Development Foundation (FPECDA)
    When: September-December 2005
    Where: Bucharest, Chisinau, Kiev
    EE Budget: 950
The project purpose is to provide the effective adaptation of the national legislation of Ukraine, Moldova and Romania through elaboration of detailed recommendations based on studying the positive experience of the participating countries. Project tasks and objectives are: to work out common criteria of assessment of Ukrainian, Moldavian and Romanian legislation compliance with the existing European standards; to study the institutional mechanism of the legislation adaptation in each country; to assess the existing instruments and the effectiveness of public control of the relevant policy in Ukraine, Moldova and Romania; to analyze the positive experience as a basis for working out practical recommendations on the improvement of the institutional mechanisms and public control of the legislation adaptation in each country participating in the project; to present and disseminate the relevant research materials to related groups from the government and interested NGOs.

20. Challenges of Multicultural Education
    Organizer: SACRI - Society for the Research of Religions and Ideologies
    When: November 24-27, 2005
    Where: Cluj
    EE Budget: 14400
Putting together the ideas concerning the acceptable frameworks of multicultural education is going to facilitate a better coordination of the opinion makers in the field and consequently result in the development of the democratization process of the educational systems and later of the entire societies from the region. In order to realize this purpose, SACRI attempts at bringing together for a common debate several interested personalities from the region. The project is aiming at raising public awareness for multicultural education, acceptance of multiculturalism in the university; mutual transferring of knowledge acquainted from previous research and good practices among the participants from the academia and the civil society; educating public opinion and promoting tolerance, pluralism, and diversity.

21.Early Education For European ValuesEnhancing Management for Urban Development in Small Cities of Moldova, Romania and Ukraine
    Organizer: Association of Romanian Municipalities
    When: November-December, 2005
    Where: Romania, Moldova, Ukraine
    EE Budget: 12280
The project aims at international co-operation between small and disadvantaged municipalities by using possible synergies, exchange of practical experiences and best-practice solutions in the areas of sustainable planning of cities, urban planning and spatial planning, services of general interest for the local communities  (transport, water and waste management, social services etc). By disseminating practically relevant information and contacts in these mentioned areas, it will support and accelerate the necessary development of municipalities from Romania, Moldavia and Ukraine involved and encourage investments and secure employment. The project will involve over 25 cities from 3 countries. The specific objectives are to identify common problems of the small local communities and posible solutions that could be adressed by common cooperation projects; to identify sustainable methods for good local governance and share from country experience; to improve the quality of life in the cities based on sustainability principles;  to establish common interests for cooperation in the social, cultural and economic domains and possible town twinning projects in this respect.