A shrinking space for civil society is one of the biggest threats for the protection of the Union values. Small grassroots Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) often face structural challenges such as limited resources, corruption, and insufficient public support.
To tackle these trends, two organisations based in the Netherlands, the Stichting Nederlands Helsinki Committee and the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law Stichting, have joined forces in the “Catalyst of Change” project. The aim is to contribute to creating an enabling environment for civil society in five EU Member States that are in acute need of civil society strengthening: Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, and Portugal.
The project started in January 2023 and is providing trainings, workshops and coaching to organisations and movements. Additionally, it has launched two calls for proposals to distribute funding to civil society organisations working on women’s rights, environmental justice, and anti-corruption to be more effective in the promotion of EU values, be more resilient to threats, and respond quickly to concerning trends.
The “Catalyst of Change” project has funded 44 projects across Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, and Portugal with a maximum grant of 15 000 euros per project. Learn more: Supporting Catalysts of Change | Women's rights grassroots initiatives in Romania and Bulgaria - Netherlands Helsinki Committee.
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