Alliance for Sustainable Local Development
Ongoing rural abandonment, a lack of an integrated policy of “top-down” support and the underdevelopment of civil society actors leads to a shrinking of the dynamism and development prospects of regional areas. Rural sustainability can only be achieved through endogenous sustainable local development initiatives that motivate and empower local populations – for which active, local Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are a prerequisite.
The Alliance for Sustainable Local Development (SymATA) that will be created through the project aims to strengthen 12 regional CSOs- the so called “Members Network” – that operate locally for sustainable development with an emphasis on three pillars: nature, culture and the primary sector.
Empowerment will be achieved in two ways:
(a) through networking amongst them but also with reputable national and supranational bodies – the so called “Initiative Team” – of which MedINA (Project Promoter) will be a member, in order to exchange know-how, information and good practices. As part of the project, two networking meetings (D4, D10) and three participatory workshops (D5, D7) will be organized for the members of SymATA.
(b) by capacity building and support provision on matters of advocacy- led by the specialized project partner (Green Tank)-, sustainable local development, internal organization and governance -through collaboration with the “Support Tank” consultants. The aim is to strengthen the operational and participatory capacities of the “Members Network” as well as advocacy skills that will enable an active stance on matters of interest. As part of the project, six capacity building seminars (D6) and provision of consulting services and / or mentoring (D8) will be organized.
The Captain Vassilis & Carmen Konstantakopoulos Foundation and the American Farm School have expressed their interest in joining the “Initiative Team”, whereas six regional organizations in joining the “Members Network”.
