New opportunities for the exchange of experience and share of good practices in the areas of the Local Development Programme
In November, the Joint Committee for the Bilateral Fund approved the supplementation of the Fund for Bilateral Relations allocated to the Local Development Programme with over 950,000 euros, for new bilateral activities, meant to facilitate the exchange of experience and transfer of good practices between entities in Romania and the states. donors, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway. These funds are in addition to the 350,000 euros initially allocated to the Bilateral Relations Fund under the Local Development Programme through Memoranda of Understanding signed on October 13, 2016 between the Government of Romania and the donor states.
45% of the additional funds are destined to the organization of training sessions for the specialists involved in the implementation of the projects financed by the Programme. Training programs are provided in the areas of inclusive education, empowerment of minority groups, human rights and anti-discrimination. Teachers in schools with high drop-out rates, involved in projects funded under the Programme, will also be trained on Council of Europe (CoE) education tools and the Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture (CDC).
21% of the additional funds will be used for the organization of three international conferences on good practice in good governance, in the protection of human rights and for the dissemination of experiences and results of bilateral initiatives and projects with partnerships with entities from donor states funded under EEA and Norway Grants, in the areas of action of the Local Development Programme. Three other meetings / workshops between representatives of local authorities in Norway and Romania are planned to be organized in order to identify common solutions to support Roma integration in Romania and / or Norway.
11% of the additional funds are allocated for the organization of four study visits for representatives of the Promoters and project partners, two visits to the CoE and two to the donor states.
Also, part of the additional funds will be able to be used by POs for the training of their own staff and for activities of experience sharing and transfer of good practices in which relevant entities from donor and beneficiary states will be involved.
More information on the planning and development of bilateral activities organized by POs can be found by consulting the section dedicated to them on the website of the Local Development Program.
Fund for Bilateral Relations
Component of the Local Development Program, the Fund for Bilateral Relations aims to contribute to strengthening bilateral relations between Romania and donor states. To this end, bilateral funds support, through two continuous calls, the identification of partners from donor states for projects funded under the program (Appeal 1) and the transfer of information and best practices between promoters and project partners in Romania and relevant entities in donor states (Appeal 2).