CSOs driving rural development

Helping CSOs contribute more effectively to Montenegro’s rural development

CNVP and its partners, the Regional Development Agency, BKP and the Union of Farmers, Montenegro, are implementing the EU-funded project Helping CSOs contribute more effectively to Montenegro’s rural development. The 30 month project started on 1 October 2017.

The overall objective of the project is to enhance the involvement and impact of rural CSOs in the development of public policies and decision-making processes.

The project has four expected results:

  1. Enhanced transfer of know-how among rural CSOs related to rural challenges and decision-making, achieved by: strengthening the exchange of best practices among rural CSOs; creating a register of active CSOs working in rural development; and sharing information through e-bulletins and a webpage.
  2. Increased management capacity of rural CSOs to lead rural development processes, achieved by: training rural CSOs on how to manage cross-sector partnerships and rural development issues; and providing a sub-granting scheme to enhance cooperation and networking.
  3. Improved research and analysis capacities of rural CSOs, achieved by: providing training and coaching on research and policy formulation; and preparing policy briefs on topics related to rural development.
  4. Better dialogue between rural CSOs and local/national government, achieved by: conducting a survey to identify topics relevant for rural CSOs; organising workshops to define priority issues; and, finally, organising a “National Rural Parliament”.

The action will involve rural CSOs and other stakeholders from Montenegro in various capacity building and skill/knowledge transfer activities e.g. training, coaching, learning-by-doing, advocacy, lobbying and networking, in order to empower them in decision-making processes at national and local levels, as well as increase their voice in society.

Target groups will include at least 40 grass-root rural CSOs, with a minimum of 8 CSOs from each of Montenegro’s 3 planning regions. Final beneficiaries are the 50% of people who live in the country’s rural areas.