Project The Care Project Civic Actors for Rights and Empowerment Citizen participation Good Governance and Citizen Participation Partner Fondazione Realizza il Cambiamento Donor European Commission - The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) Stakeholders 70 local communities, 70 local municipalities Objective of the project We want to enhance the capacities of CSOs in Italy to uphold the promotion, protection and respect of EU fundamental human rights and values at national, regional and local level with a specific focus on marginalized areas Abstract of the project The project aims at promoting the protection and respect of EU Rights and Values at national and local level through CSOs and rights holders’ empowerment. The intervention strategy is based on three interconnected lines of intervention: financial support to small and medium grass root level civil society organizations an extensive capacity building program including training and mentoring on relevant thematic and organizational areas the creation of an informal supporting network among the CSOs involved Context analysis According to the FRA report Challenges facing civil society organisations working on human rights in the EU, it is not possible to give a complete overview of the dependence on public funds by CSOs, however it seems that it ranges between 56% and 85% with only one exception (FRA report 2017) in which it seemed that 86.1% of CSOs funds come from the private sector (businesses and individuals). This is in line with the latest ISTAT census which highlights individual or business donations as the main source of funding. Italy The project is implemented in Italy Implementation Period 01/01/2023 - 31/12/2025 Beneficiaries Direct 70 CSOs funded and involved in the capacity building program and networking activities 140 Staff and volunteers involved directly in the capacity building program and networking activities Indirect 70 local partners of funded CSOs (at least one local partner per funded organization who will benefit from working together with a CSO which increased its capacities) 140 peer staff/volunteers (at least 2 additional ones with the respect to the direct target per funded organization) Project Strategy Activities Capacity Building activities: Training on awareness raising and communication Training on specific thematic areas, such as participation framework, gender mainstreaming, intersectional analysis and social integration of migrants. Training on target’s specific needs: fundraisin public and policies on rural areas and campaigning Financial Support activities Dissemination, outreach and networking activities Outputs 70 projects implemented A capacity building handbook produced One project webpage reporting on the progress of the 70 projects implemented 70 capacity development projects (one for each financed CSOs) completed 140 staff duly trained on relevant thematic areas and CSOs management topics Outcomes To strengthen the sustainability of 70 small and medium grassroot CSOs promoting EU Rights and Values. To enhance the capacity of CSOs to deliver more effective and accountable projects, programs and initiatives. To promote the creation of a network of CSOs who can support each other in their communication, lobby and advocacy actions. To develop CSOs capacities of outreach, engagement and promotion of participatory processes To ensure project outreach and dissemination of results