Strategy

The Mission

CeRe's mission is to support NGOs and public institutions in acquiring the principles and applying methods of public participation.

The Vision

In our vision, NGOs, citizens and public institutions assume the responsibility of public participation and use the rights it implies. We believe public participation is an essential principle of good governance. By public participation we understand the process by which citizens and NGOs:

• state their needs;
• defend their interests and their rights;
• make a contribution in elaborating public policies and in the decision making process;
• react and hold accountable the officials
  
  and public institutions:
• confer with the citizens and the NGOs in designing public policies and in the decision making process;
• use the expertise that can be found in the community.

In order for the process of public participation to be possible and for the NGOs to be real partners in the act of governance, the public institutions must be:

• receptive
• transparent
• responsible and accountable before the public.

The organizations must have a good visibility in the public area, must know how to make themselves well-heard, to bring their issues on the public agenda and to advocate for their cause. The actions the NGOs undertake shouldn't only be reactive, but also proactive. The NGOs have the necessary proficiency and a good knowledge of the communities they are working in. They can have an important contribution in creating public policies that truly respond to the existing needs.

Identified premises/needs

• The national watch-dog organizations, although visible and with access to a wide range of resources, still have a relatively low capability to organize, build coalitions, advocate and react to common interest events.
• In Romania there are efficient organizations, which are active in various fields (social, environment, etc) and do many important things for their beneficiaries. However, they lack the tools and know-how with regards to representing the rights of the beneficiaries and the impact on sectorial public policies. These organizations are a very important not-used resource in designing public policies.
• Small-scale organizations, that are active on a local level, represent an important element of the non-profit sector in Romania. Even if their impact is not striking, even if they don't have the same visibility as the large Bucharest-based organizations, their work is very valuable for the communities where these NGOs are active in. Nonetheless, their access to any kind of resources and to advocacy or public participation programs in particular, is very low.
• Even if consulting the community when making public decisions is required by law, transparency and receptiveness are not priorities for the public institutions, while a pro-active attitude still remains the exception that confirms the rule. Public participation is still seen as an item on a check-list and approached with a high degree of formalism. Almost no interest is given to efficiency and citizens and NGOs are considered rather a burden than a resource

For 2009 and 2010, CeRe has set the following objectives:

1. to provide constant training and consultations on public participation to interested NGOs and public institutions.
   
2. to work with at least 10 organizations a year in order to increase their capacity for advocacy:
   
   1. In 2009 we have been working with organizations that are less experienced at influencing public decision making. They are provided with training and consultations in order to organize their own advocacy campaigns. Little strokes fell great oaks
      
   2. in 2009 and 2010, along with many other organizations, we will be trying out innovative methods of advocacy - PhotoVoice and the urban exploration competition. CeRe different! Youth participation through pictures
      
   3. in 2010 we will work with organizations that are active in the social field and that need assistance to persuade public authorities to assign resources for supporting social services provided by non-governmental organizations or to outsource social services.
      
3. one more objective for 2010 is to work with the citizens of Bucharest in order to help them get organized in groups and influence the way our city is managed.
   
4. to get the public involved in the activity of the administration in order to raise awareness within public institutions:
   
   1. in 2009, along with 5 local organizations, we have been trying out a method of monitoring and raising awareness on the activity of local councillors. Local Council in the spotlight
      
   2. in 2010 we will promote our methodology within other organizations.
      
   3. in 2010, along with 6 local organizations, we will try out a method of involving citizens in the way public resources are being used
      
5. to facilitate public participation on subjects selected by public institutions and organizations in at least 10 communities:
   
   1. in 2009 we have been working in a number of communities to help the administrations improve their practices of communication with people and set up consultations on topics of interest to the citizens. Public participation from story to reality
      
   2. in 2009 we worked with the Medias town hall to set up the first Citizens' Jury in Romania on the subject of renovating the town's historical center. CeRe different!
      
   3. in 2010 we will work with 6 local communities to help the administration develop participatory strategies for local development
      
   4. in 2010 we will continue to help interested town halls use innovative methods of public participation - Citizens' Jury, The World Café, Citizens' Panel. CeRe Offers.
      
6. to learn and try out new methods of public participation:
   
   1. in 2009 we turned the World Café into a method that is often used by NGOs and public institutions.
      
   2. in 2009 we learned about the Citizens' Jury and organized the first such event in Romania. CeRe different!
      
   3. in 2009 we learned about PhotoVoice and tried it out together with the Partner for You Association and the SCUT Association. CeRe different! Youth participation through pictures
      
   4. in 2010 we will attempt to set up the first Citizens' Jury at the level of the central administration.
      
   5. in 2009 and 2010 we will be working with the Ministry of Labour and a group of NGOs in order to enhance the National Action Plan for Social Protection and Social Inclusion in applying the Open Method of Coordination in Romania. The Open Method of Coordination
      
7. to promote the concept of public participation
   
   1. collect and document success stories on public participation and advocacy. CeRe Warehouses
      
   2. organize the Public Participation Awards annually
      
   3. create and promote manuals in the field of public participation
      
8. to pay attention to the involvement of non-governmental organizations in programming and managing structural funds. 112 for Structural Funds
   

Services

The Center offers the following services for public institutions and NGOs: training, consultancy, coaching, mentoring, information and promotion.