The Wielkopolska CSO Advocacy and Cooperation Academy project was devised based on experience of the PISOP Center Association. Working with local government authorities, social organizations, and people facing social exclusion, the Association has observed that there is little activity with respect to contracting services from social enterprises.
The project aims to include vulnerable persons in advocacy for contracting public duties to CSOs and social enterprises in municipalities in Wielkopolska, with the support of a representative of a local government authority and a person representing a local CSO.
In the project, we will organize training for advocates (people in vulnerable groups) on public consultation and the role of community organizations, and training for members of social organizations and government authorities, and residents of particular municipalities on trilateral cooperation, formal and legal contracting of duties, and negotiations. The project participants will take part in a webinar conducted by the Norway-based Partner on issues including local cooperation and advocacy activities, and also a study tour to learn best practices when CSOs cooperate with the municipal authority. We will also provide coaching support.
Due to the project, people facing social exclusion will form, working with members of CSOs and local government authorities, a cooperation network to work together to increase the number of services performed for vulnerable groups by social organizations and social enterprises.
36 people in 12 Wielkopolska municipalities will be helped by the measures: 12 vulnerable persons, 12 members of CSOs working to help those persons, and 12 representatives of municipal authorities.
The project is being implemented in partnership with the Norwegian Oslo-based Newschool, which provides support in the introduction of modern, innovative methods of working as a group and in involvement in creative types of education.