Students of Polis University, professors and Co-Plan representatives, organized on 22th of April several activities in the premisses of Polis University. First there were several presentations on the significance of the Earth day and on some environmental issues as energy efficiency etc. Then an open activity at the university backyard with barbeque and several games, followed the rest of the day.
In the context of preparations for the 2014 EU Progress Report, the Delegation of the European Union in Albania is currently launching the round of consultations with the civil society. In this context, Co-PLAN was one of the CSOs invited to submit a written contribution to the 2014 EU Progress Report on environmental issues and/or European standards.
Co-PLAN – ENV.net Albania, prepared and sent to EC Delegation in Albania, a written contribution to the 2014 Progress Report- Chapter 25 Energy (Energy Efficiency and Renewable energy) and Chapter 27 Environment and Climate Change (Horizontal legislation, waste management, air quality, water quality, nature protection, climate change).
On 19 of Aprill 2014, under the subgrant awarded by ENV.net in Albania , Ekolevizja organized a workshop with 7 organization of ECIM network on renewable energy potentials in the country, and how NGOs can contribute on promoting these potentials by implementing small pilot initiatives.
The first photograph is from TEMA Ankara and TEMA Sivas City Volunteer Representatives; it was taken at the saplings plantation event in Sarkısla. Kids were competing against each other to plant saplings.
Second photograph is from Istanbul Beylikdüzü City Volunteer Representatives. 8 year ago, new saplings were planted in this area and now TEMA Kids were taken there for nature watch. What would be the thoughts of the ones that had planted those saplings when they could see how the saplings had grown and see the reflection of them as a smile on the faces of these kids?
The last photograph of the week is from Eskisehir City Volunteer Representatives. In this photo we see TEMA Kids from Ahmet Sezer Middle School. Here we see TEMA Kids at the “Day in a Forest” nature education camp.
On 15-17 of April, the ENV.net team started the first round of capacity building of NGOs, in Tirana – Albania, with three days of training session on “EU project design process and environmental policy implementation”.
14 NGOs from Albania, from different geographical locations, followed the training session delivered by punto.sud and EEB in collaboration with Co-PLAN, while bringing their own experiences and gaps they had encounter on designing a project for an EU grant and understanding what are the main EU environmental policies that we have to keep in mind during our process to enter EU membership.
During the three days of training the participants were able to be introduced, as the first part, with EU institutional structure, main sources where potential candidate country can get funds from EU, the practical process on writing a project proposal according to EU guidelines for call for proposal, and as introduction to logframe approach and how to develop it. TACSO representative followed almost the first day of this training session, through providing useful tips and clarifications for several subjects.
The second part of the training was more related on environmental policy implementation in the EU member countries, their achievements and gaps and how potential candidate countries can be positioned in this context to best fulfill EU accession requirements. More specifically trainers of this session focused on EU climate change policy, adapted by the end of 2013 and the 7th environmental action program, which is too adapted lately by EU. Along with explaining the EU context of these two subjects, the trainers developed practical exercises to contextualize them with the Albania context.
At the end of the training participants were awarded with a certificate!
Applications for the ENV.net training in Istanbul are open now!
The 2-day training session will be organized in Istanbul from 7th to 8th May 2014 , targeting key staff of Turkish environmental CSOs (NGOs/CBOs, youth organizations, academic institutions, and other type of no-profit organizations).
Overall aim of the course is to encourage environmental NGOs to be involved in the EU processes and become more competent while doing so. The course will consist of 2 modules delivered by ENV.net staff.
First module shall provide brief introductory information on EU and its main institutions, EU
programming system and financial decisions. This would enable participants to actively participate in calls for proposals launched by the European Commission and the EU Delegation for projects to be implemented in Turkey and abroad.
Second module shall provide a general understanding of the monitoring of EU accession process (monitoring of authorities’ activities etc.) and provide further information on the channels NGOs can use in the approximation process and the NGO relations with the EU during their country’s candidacy.
See the invitation to the course and the specific training outline.
To participate to this course please fill in the application form. The deadline for application is the 28st of April 2014.
The first photograph is from TEMA Muş-Hasköy City Volunteer Representatives taken at the saplings plantation event at garden of Hasköy village school. A Junior TEMA volunteer recites a poem about love of nature.
Second photograph is from Istanbul. Here are the Young TEMA Volunteers from a walking action to get attention and create awareness on the importance of water. They have created an “Awareness Chain for Water”. This photograph is photo of belief.
The last photograph of the week is, from Kahramanmaraş TEMA Foundation City Volunteer Representatives. In this frame TEMA Kids, embrace the soil with concern and curiosity.
ENV.net team is currently delivering a 3-day training session in Tirana.
The title of the course is: EU project design process and implementation of environmental policy
The main aim of the course is to provide a general understanding of the necessary steps to be successful in getting funds from the EU and enable participants to actively participate in call for proposals launched by the European Commission and the EU Delegation for projects to be implemented in Albania or abroad. Moreover, participants will improve their capacity in preparing effective project proposals by using the logframe approach.
The second part of the training focus on selected areas of the EU environmental policy – namely the EU Climate and Energy policy and 7th Environmental Action Programme – and enable participants to understand better how to get involved in the work on environmental policy at both the EU and national levels and monitor country’s progress to comply with the EU requirements.
A TACSO representative joined our team the 1st day to support the presentation of the EU new programmes.
Within the context of ENV.net project, TEMA Foundation called for a round table to discuss possible input to 2014 EU Progress Report of Turkey. Representatives of different CSOs and experts from universities were invited to the meeting. Input collected will be shared with fellow CSOs for further contribution and the resulting document will be shared with the EU Delegation in Turkey and other stakeholders.
The ENV.net project team from Macedonia, together with the Environmental organisation “Vila Zora” from Veles and other civil society organisations (over 25), launched a joint action to present the Platform “Green Macedonia”.
The action is also part of the program “Strengthening the capacity of civil society organisations to participate in the legislative process,” implemented by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and financially supported by the USA National Endowment for Democracy (NED).
The aim of this joint action for the establishment and presentation of the Platform “Green Macedonia” is to intercept and to point out to the political parties participating in the upcoming early parliamentary and regular presidential elections on important issues related to the “hot” spots as pressing environmental problems that seriously affect, and if not addressed, will further deteriorate environment .
At the first working meeting, held on 5th April 2014 in Veles, we had representatives of more than 21 civil society organisations from over 15 cities from the Republic of Macedonia. Participants agreed upon the 10 “hottest” spots to be included in the Platform and provided recommendations on how the existing problems are to be solved. The platform also offers recommendations for future actions that should be undertaken in terms of addressing and improving the environment and the quality of life of all citizens in Macedonia.
The Platform “Green Macedonia” was presented in a press-conference held outdoors, at a location near Veles, known by the environmental organisations as an “Eco – Monument”. The place got its title after the local initiative started by the host organisation of this meeting – Vila Zora and Green Power from Veles , which resulted in deletion (and dislocation) of the smelting plant “Toplinica” from the Detailed Urban Plan of Veles . The event was featured by six national and two local media.
The next step is the formal signing of the Platform “Green Macedonia”, and call on all political parties participating in the early 2014 parliamentary elections to signed and support the platform.
The event (working meeting and presentation) will be held on 22 April 2014 in Skopje.