NGO Consortium
The NGO Consortium was formed in spring 2018 by six experienced Latvian civil society organizations: Civic Alliance-Latvia, Latvian Rural Forum, Dienvidlatgale NGO Support Centre, Kurzeme NGO Centre, Valmiera Region Community Foundation and Zemgale NGO Centre.
Joining forces, we took part in an open call for the role of operator of the EEA / Norwegian Financial Mechanism program “Active Citizens Fund” in Latvia. Our objective was to pool the experience of our organizations in civil society development issues and project management, regional expertise and the personal skills of leaders for promoting systemic change in Latvian civil society.
In the autumn of 2018, the EEA / Norwegian Financial Mechanism Office selected us as winners of the competition, based on our previous experience and our vision of the challenges that civil society faces in Latvia. Together we started working on the Active Citizens Fund program.
On December 27, 2019, the Consortium signed an agreement on the implementation of the Active Citizens Fund in Latvia, thus concluding the preparatory phase and starting the practical implementation of the program in Latvia.
The NGO Consortium will run until 31 December 2024, when the program “Active Citizens Fund” will end.
On daily basis, all of the Consortium member organizations continue working towards their individual goals and carry out their own activities.
NGO Consortium’s experience in civil society development
Civil-Alliance Latvia (leading partner)
www.nvo.lv
Civic-Alliance Latvia (established in 2005) is a national scale organization – the umbrella for CSO sector’s advocacy in Latvia. Its objective is to strengthen civil society in Latvia, to support the common interests of NGOs and to create a favorable environment for their activities. It has a public benefit organization status in the area of “Civil Society Development”.
Civic Alliance Latvia has 132 members. Main areas of activity: advocacy for civil society and CSOs, ensuring public participation in political processes in the country, CSO accessibility to finances, capacity building of CSOs, explaining and promoting CSO activities in the society. Since 2014, the Alliance is delegated by the Ministry of Culture to promote the development of civil society and intercultural dialogue in the Riga Planning Region.
CAL is a member of:
- European Civic Forum – an organization that develops tools for national NGO networks to improve their dialogue with the European Commission;
- CIVICUS or World Alliance for Citizen Participation that promotes and develops civic participation and active citizenship on a global scale;
- ALDA or Association of Local Democracy Agencies, aimed to promote good governance and citizen participation at the local level, as well as cooperation between local authorities and civil society;
- AGNA or Affinity Group of National Associations, a network that brings together national and regional platforms from around the world to promote greater cooperation across national and regional borders, including new ways for civil society organizations to collaborate;
- CBSS or NGO network of the Baltic Sea states.
Dienvidlatgale NGO Support Centre
www.nvoc.lv
Dienvidlatgale NGO Support Centre (established in 2000) is a regional organization whose aim is to contribute to the sustainable development of the region and the development of an active society.
The organization consults CSOs, provides various support, educational and cultural activities. In 2011, the organization proposed the establishment of a Memorandum between Latgale Planning Region and CSOs in Latgale region. The organization emphasizes the support for minority NGOs and networking. Since 2014, Dienvidlatgale NGO Support Centre is delegated by the Ministry of Culture to promote the development of civil society and intercultural dialogue in the Latgale region. Dienvidlatgale NGO Support Centre is a member of Civic Alliance Latvia.
Kurzeme NGO Centre
www.kurzemesnvo.lv
Kurzeme NGO Centre (established in 1998) is a regional organization. Its objective is to promote the development of civil society, active citizenship and participation. It has a public benefit organization status in the area of “Civil Society Development”.
The organization has 58 members, and it is based in Kuldiga. It provides consultations, informational and educational, networking activities for the development of CSOs throughout the region. It also advocates for civil society development.
Since 2014, Kurzeme NGO Centre is delegated by the Ministry of Culture to promote the development of civil society and intercultural dialogue in the Kurzeme region. Kurzeme NGO Centre is a member of Latvian Rural Forum, Civic Alliance Latvia and the Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation.
Latvian Rural Forum
www.laukuforums.lv
Latvian Rural Forum (established in 2004) is a national scale organization. Its objective is to promote the sustainable development of rural territories and to strengthen civil society. It unites 70 rural communities and organizations for local development, including local action groups that implement the LEADER approach in Latvian rural areas.
Latvian Rural Forum is a member of several major networks of European associations of rural organizations, as well as the European Movement – Latvia, Civic Alliance Latvia, Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation, Latvian Agricultural Organization Cooperation Council.
Valmiera Region Community Foundation
www.vnf.lv
Valmiera Region Community Foundation (established in 2005) is a regional organization. Its objective is to develop community philanthropy and giving culture in Vidzeme, as well as to promote the development of the local community. It has a public benefit organization status in the area of “Charity”, “Civil Society Development” and “Sport Support”.
In addition to philanthropy activities, Valmiera Region Community Foundation operates as a Vidzeme Regional NGO Support Center, by advising and training, networking and strengthening regional organizations. Since 2014, Valmiera Region Community Foundation is delegated by the Ministry of Culture to promote the development of civil society and intercultural dialogue in the Vidzeme region.
Valmiera Region Community Foundation is a member of Community Foundation Movement in Latvia, European Community Foundation Initiative, WINGS Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support and YouthBank International.
Zemgale NGO Centre
www.zemgalei.lv
Zemgale NGO Support Center (established in 1998) is a regional organization. Its objective is to promote the development of civil society and the representation of CSOs in the Zemgale region.
The range of organization’s experience and activities is wide – from information days for local CSOs to intercontinental long-term cooperation projects. Since 2014, Zemgale NGO Centre is delegated by the Ministry of Culture to promote the development of civil society and intercultural dialogue in the Zemgale region. Zemgale NGO Centre is a member of Civic Alliance Latvia.
