Strengthening NGOs to change the world
13 million people lives at risk of social exclusion in Spain. NGOs play a key role to fight this problem, but economic crisis has also taken its toll in these organizations. EEA Grants has contributed with 4.6 million euros to strengthen their role in Spain through a programme with excellent results.
28.03.2016
Active Citizenship Programme, funded by the EEA Grants and managed by the NGO Platform of Social Action, aimed at supporting the sector in order to better address social justice and cohesion through four outcomes: fostering active citizenship, increasing involvement of NGOs in policy and decision making, developing cross sectorial partnerships as well as networks and coalitions of NGOs.
The result: more than 230 project applications, 38 of them were finally developed involving 160 entities working in partnership and more than 400 people, with a direct impact on 115,000 people. 45% of the projects will continue beyond the EEA Grants, according to Marisa Gómez, NGO Platform of Social Action director, in the closing event “Sharing lessons learned from the Active Citizenship Programme”, held on 17th March in Madrid.
Objectives have been met and even exceeded, with a considerable impact on the whole sector. “Thanks to the programme, we have reinforced our capacity of involvement in policy and decision making processes”, explained Estrella Rodríguez, President of the Platform. Project promoters agreed with the benefits and necessity of developing networks –not only among NGOs but also with public administrations- in order to obtain better results. As the Norwegian Ambassador in Spain, Johan Vibe, pointed out: “States can’t reduce disparities all by themselves, NGOs and links are needed”. “Social needs rapidly change so we should renew our priorities”, highlighted Salomé Adroher, General Director for Family and Children in the Spanish Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality.
Active Citizenship Programme has served, for example, to 69 organizations in the field of inclusion of people with disabilities to create a central purchasing body that has allowed them to save 10% on their bills so far, money that will revert in their activities. Or more than 500 entities that have joined Creactiva Network for social innovation and entrepreneurship to offer innovative solutions to social problems, some of which have been included in political programmes in the past elections. Or to place hate crimes against homeless in the political agenda and in the media in a project which is going to spread into Europe.
Furthermore, an innovative Study of the Third Sector in Spain was developed within the Programme, reflecting the situation and challenges for the sector. In addition, the Library of the Third Sector in the web of the Platform was presented, which comprises all the programme outputs like manuals, guides, studies, campaigns and strategic planning tools and advocacy tools which can be used by all the NGOs and will help to improve their work in transforming society.
Pilar Soler, representative from the EEA Grants Spanish Focal Point, added that “the EEA Grants ends for Spain, but it is the moment to take the lessons learnt and make them a new way of social action”.
Active Citizenship Programme has also contributed to the general objective of reducing social disparities, since the projects have been developed with priority groups such as youth, childhood, family and women.