Consolidating Sustainable Development of National Equality and Diversity Forum (NEDF) 2014 10 – 2015 11

eea_grants_logo_2014Strengthening the performance of an already functioning National Equality and Diversity Forum (NDEF), i.e. NGO coalition LGL takes part in, requires for additional measures in order to ensure Forum‘s sustainable development and closer cooperation among participating organizations with the purpose of promoting human rights and equal opportunities in the Lithuanian society.

Purpose:

To strengthen NEDF through ensuring its sustainable development by increasing the capacities of the participating organizations and building upon the cooperation potential.

Goals:

  • To increase the effectiveness, skills and public visibility of the NEDF through the application of internal measures
  • To improve the skills of the participating organizations with the view of taking part in the policy-making and decision-making processes in order to represent the general priorities of NEDF efficiently.

The proposed project activities are directly linked with the goals of the project:

  1. Team-building training for the participating organizations,
  2. National conference on the promotion of equality and diversity in the Lithuanian society,
  3. NEDF Strategy and Action Plan 2014-2015 (development, publishing and distribution),
  4. Publicity of NEDF activities and its presentation to the public,
  5. Workshops on the exchange of experience through sharing good practices and knowledge among the partner organizations and
  6. Advocacy training for the participating organizations.

The proposed project indicators:

  • Advocacy training for non-governmental organizations – NGO coalition is able to demonstrate an increased capacity of involvement in policy-making and decision-making processes.
  • Developed human rights NGO coalitions and networks and their enhanced sustainable development – a change in the approach by the participating organizations towards cooperation, establishment of human rights networks and their maintenance and active NGO coalition support.

The projects will last for the period of 12 months. Its activities will be evenly distributed in the course of the implementation period in accordance with the above described proposed activities.

The project is funded by EEA Grants and Norway Grants. Through the EEA Grants and Norway Grants, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway contribute to reducing social and economic disparities and to strengthening bilateral relations with the beneficiary countries in Europe. The three countries cooperate closely with the EU through the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA). www.eeagrants.com

For the period 2009-14, the EEA Grants and Norway Grants amount to €1.79 billion (support to Lithuania amounts to €84 million). Norway contributes around 97% of the total funding. Grants are available for NGOs, research and academic institutions, and the public and private sectors in the 12 newest EU member states, Greece, Portugal and Spain. There is broad cooperation with donor state entities, and activities may be implemented until 2016.