The project is a solution to the problem of a limited offer of support for NGO operating in Warmian-Masurian Province and their minor institutional potential. This is reflected in e.g. a small share of organizations in the implementation of public tasks (0.5% of the budget of local governments) or a small number of NGO specializing in protecting supervising legal provisions.
Non-governmental organizations in the region are weak – this stems from the lack of both funds for their ongoing operations and dedicated training courses for leaders. This is confirmed by a study conducted in 2020 by the Council of NGOs in the province monitoring the activity of the third sector in the region, which showed that 85% of the respondents had reported the need for increasing qualifications of staff. The study conducted by Klon/Jawor indicated that as many as 61% of the NGOs in the region do not employ personnel at all. As a result, non-governmental organizations are not important social partners.
We will establish the Regional Network of Social and Civic Activities, whose task will be to provide services supporting the institutional development of NGO, conduct activities with regard to not only strengthening the potential of social organizations, but also monitoring local law, which is stipulated and implemented by local governments. We will also train 45 leaders in the region and establish 3 sub-regional centers for NGO.
The main benefit of the project will be increasing NGO in Warmia and Masuria as well as controlling the activities of local and governmental authorities in a better manner. This will translate into more activities undertaken by inhabitants as well.
The project is implemented in partnership with the Local Government of Warmian-Masurian Province as it is an institution which has the largest experience in building cooperation between local governments and non-governmental organizations and which has been working on building civil society in the region for years now.