4. Dialog and cooperation of CSOs with the government, businesses, media and the general public
Activities for dialog and cooperation planned in the Programme range from public perception survey, publications and other promotional materials and press-conferences targeting the general public, as well as other activities such as meetings and conferences targeting other actors such as local-self government and businesses.
Megjashi will be responsible for coordination and will implement activities in cooperation with MCIC, FOSIM, CIRa and Polio plus.
4.1. Public perception survey
The question that very often emerges is how much public is informed about CSOs, how they perceive them, their role and how much they believe that CSOs represent citizens’ interests. This survey should give a picture on the public perception on CSOs and should form a basis for development of CSOs strategies for adequate promotion, identity-building and image-creation.
The survey will be conducted based on previously prepared and agreed ToR on a representative national sample. Analysis of the data will be done and summarised in a survey report. The survey report will be published in 1000 copies in Macedonian language. It will be promoted and distributed to CSOs and media.
4.2. Publications for promotion of positive examples
Presentation of results from activities of CSOs would contribute to the image of the civil society sector. That is why four publications covering positive examples of successful CSOs initiatives will be published in 2000 copies each in Macedonian language. Each publication will cover several case studies that will be proposed by CSOs themselves and further explored and analysed by professional journalists. These publications will be promoted to the public and distributed to the media, government institutions, businesses and CSOs. Positive examples will focus on the impact of CSOs activities, individual and corporate philanthropy etc.
20 regional promotional events with be organised around the country with about 100 participants on each. Also other promotional materials will be presented and distributed at these events.
4.3. Info package of CPM
Special visibility package of CPM will be developed in order to create its identity and promote its vision and mission.
Identity logo will be developed and will be applied to all its published materials.
Promotional package will consist of: leaflet, memorandum, pen and notebook. Promotional package will be distributed at debates, trainings and other events organised by CPM.
4.4. Together for transparency
Together for transparency has become traditional action of one group of CSOs aiming to promote transparency among CSOs and set example for other actors in the society. Each year, these CSOs publish their financial and audited reports in daily newspapers and send their message for transparency and accountability to the public through press-conference. This practice will continue during this Programme and will be further complemented with publishing special issue - CPM annual bulletin. This issue will cover main activities and budgets from previous year of CPM members. With this activity, CPM will also motivate other CSOs to join and increase their transparency and at the same time ask the Government and business to adequately address the question of their own responsibility, transparency and accountability towards the citizens of Macedonia.
4.5. Survey and meetings for the cooperation with the LSG units
In order to have comprehensive information of available sources, existing opportunities for cooperation and support on the local level, survey of Units of Local-self Government (LSG) will be made. The survey will result in inventory of existing mechanisms in LSG for cooperation with CSOs and citizens, funds available for support of CSOs, plans for joined activities etc.
The survey will be followed by debates to gather representatives of CSOs and LSG to broadly promote and discus the situation and draw recommendations for possibilities to organise structures on for support of CSOs on local level. Some of the crucial issues will be: establishing community development funds, equal access of CSOs to calls for proposals for provision of social services etc. Members of the CPM will be responsible to ensure follow-up on these discussions.
4.6. Conference and meetings for the cooperation with the business sector
This activity aims to set up mechanisms to improve communication and cooperation among CSOs and business sector by providing space for debate on common meetings and conference.
CPM’s member Center for Institutional Development (CIRa) will undertake the Research on Philanthropy Development in Macedonia, in period between April to June 2006 within USAID funded Macedonian Civil Society Strengthening Program. Based on the findings and conclusions from this research, one conference for further exploring the issues of establishing specific mechanisms for cooperation between both business and civil society sector and broader promotion of the issue of corporate responsibility will be organized. At this conference apart from CSOs, representatives of business community in and outside of Macedonia will be invited, as well as local and international experts in the field. 80 participants are expected at the conference. It is expected that as a result of the conference a joint CSOs – business working group is to be established. The Group will work on implementation of conclusions from the conference and provide solutions for the issues defined. Series of follow-up joint meetings will be organized in a period of one year with the CEOs of companies and representatives of already established CPM‘s working group for cooperation with the businesses sector. These meetings will aim at providing possibility for sharing information, improving mutual understanding, providing possibilities for cooperation and debate issues of common interest. Every meeting will have specific topic of interest for both sides (i.e. assessment of the societal issues and needs of joint interest of CSOs and business sector, how corporate socially responsibility can be promoted through cooperation of business and CSOs, etc.)
4.7. Meetings of the working group for cooperation with the media
This activity aims at setting up mechanisms to improve communication and cooperation among CSOs and media by providing promotional materials and space for debate on common meetings.
CPM has established working group for cooperation with the media. This group will plan the meeting agenda for promotion. These meetings will aim at providing possibility for sharing information, improving mutual understanding, providing possibilities for cooperation and debate issues of common interest. Set of promotional materials will be prepared and distributed to the media as well.
4.8. Guide book and meetings for promotion of volunteerism
In order to promote and motivate broader citizens’ participation and support for CSOs, a brochure on volunteerism and an on-line database will be produced.
The brochure is planned to include step-by-step guidelines on recruiting and motivating volunteers, as well as how to manage and evaluate their work. It will be distributed through the members of the CPM and the NGO Support Centres. The brochure will be published in Macedonian (12000 copies) and Albanian (3000 copies) language.
The database will available on-line through the CPM website and will provide data for members of CPM that have need or look for volunteers and data of citizens/students that are interested in becoming volunteers. |
