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At the regional level, the Bank continued to conduct a dialogue with a group of ECA-based CSO representatives, the so-called ECA NGO Working Group. In the course of FY05, the group held one meeting, in December 2004 in Tbilisi. The meeting reviewed the implementation of the Working Group’s Action Plan, and focused on the preparation of the international Forum on CSO Sustainability.
The Forum took place in June 2005 in Bratislava. It was convened under the auspices of the ECA NGO Working Group, the European Commission and the World Bank. Approximately 250 participants attended the meeting, representing CSOs from all ECA countries, central and local governments, international NGOs and foundations as well as intergovernmental donor agencies. The discussions centered on five dimensions of CSO sustainability: (a) the enabling environment and CSO legal framework, (b) social accountability and governance, (c) delivery of social services, (d) financial sustainability, and (e) cross-country networking and knowledge sharing. The bulk of the discussions took place in parallel break out sessions, with more than 90 resource persons moderating.Â
In conjunction with the Bratislava event, a Knowledge Forum was held, in which a number of ECA CSOs participated as well. In addition, coordination meetings of the governmental and intergovernmental agencies attending the meeting were held immediately prior to and after the Forum. The Bratislava meeting was sponsored by thirteen private foundations and international organizations.
In response to the Bratislava event, the European Commission pledged financial resources for strengthening coordination among donor agencies that actively support civil society development in the region. The exact modalities of a 3-year donor coordination program will be discussed at a donor working roundtable in October 2005 in Paris.
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