Democracy Network II A program financed by USAID America’s Development Foundation’s Democracy Network II is a project designed to develop and strengthen local non-governmental organizations through Bosnia and Herzegovina. The program aims to help local NGOS and civic organizations strengthen their organizational capacity to achieve financial and institutional sustainability, and to address citizen needs through education, advocacy, and the provision of services. The United States Agency for International Development has competitively selected America’s Development Foundation, an international NGO, to implement the program through a Cooperative Agreement beginning June 1, 2001. During the three years of this program, ADF will focus on three NGO beneficiary groups: (1) NGOs selected to receive the Integrated Assistance Package, (2) graduates of the Democracy Network I program and (3) Additional Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). Each group will be eligible for the assistance as set forth in the following table: Assistance to be Provided Under the DemNet II Program IAP NGOs DemNet I Graduates Larger CSO Community  Integrated Assistance Plan, consisting of: - Training workshops - Technical assistance - Eligibility for grant support for institutional development - Eligibility for grant support for civic action partnership activities - NGO mentoring - NGO internships  Support for networking and coalition building  Participation in regional and national dialogue fora  Development of civil society support structures  Grant support for advanced training  ½ to 1 day mini-workshops  Grant support for civic action partnership activities  Support for networking and coalition building  Participation in regional and national dialogue fora  Development of civil society support structures  Grant support to civic initiatives in rural areas  ½ to 1 day mini-workshops  Coalition building with DemNet NGOs  Participation in regional and national dialogue fora  Development of civil society support structures PRIMARY TARGET: IAP NGOS The primary target is NGOs selected to receive Integrated Assistance Packages. These are NGOs who have the greatest potential for bringing citizen participation into the public sphere and those that serve a support function for the development of civil society in BiH as a whole. Types of organizations that would fall under these categories include membership-based organizations (whose primary purpose is to further the interests or resolve the problems of their members), NGOs that are part of existing sectoral networks or coalitions, advocacy or public interest oriented NGOs, intermediary level organizations (for example, associations or unions of organizations) that represent numerous smaller associations in both Entities and training institutions and resource centers. During the three years of the program, ADF and USAID and a selection panel composed of other stakeholders nominated by the NGO community and others will select approximately 40 local NGOS as partners to participate in an Integrated Assistance Package program. The NGO partners and ADF will develop an Integrated Assistance Plan that will include customized technical assistance and training delivered by ADF staff. ADF staff is based in Sarajevo, Sanski Most, Tuzla, Mostar and provide services throughout Bosnia-Hercegovina. The NGO partners will also have the opportunity to apply for Institutional Development Grants and Civic Action Partnership Grants and NGO mentoring and NGO Internships. They may also participate in the dialogue fora and mini-workshops. Institutional Development Grants (IDGs) $1,000 - $15,000 The purpose of IDGs is to provide financial support that will enable IAP NGOs to develop the capacities specified in their Integrated Assistance Plan. IAP NGOs are eligible to apply for IDGs after the IAP is developed. Civic Action Partnership Grants (CAPs) $500 - $15,000 Civic Action Partnership Grants will help IAP NGOs and DemNet I graduates to strengthen collaboration with other civil society organizations and with government and the business sector. With CAP support, NGOs can undertake activities that contribute to increased public discussion of policy issues; consultation and dialogue between government and civil society; and the provision of valuable services to NGO constituents. CAPs will provide tangible learning experiences to NGOs. IAP NGOs may apply for CAPs after they have completed advocacy and coalition building training. NGO Mentoring: A mentoring program between DemNet I graduates and IAP participants will be developed, through which IAP participants are paired with graduates to help reinforce and implement lessons learned and to establish cooperative partnerships and networks among NGOs. Regional Internships: placement of an IAP NGO staff member to work with another NGO in BiH or in the region for up to six weeks. In-country and regional internships will enable NGO staff to both gain skills and new perspectives on their work. SECONDARY TARGET: DEMNET I GRADUATES The secondary target group is BiH NGOs who participated in and graduated from the Democracy Network I Program. In addition to being eligible for certain types of grant support, they may also participate in the dialogue fora and mini-workshops. Advanced Training Grants (ATGs) $500 - $5,000 The purpose of ATGs is to support the continued professional and institutional development of DemNet I graduates. ATGs will furthermore reinforce practices within both BiH NGOs and training service providers for continued institutional development and support beyond DemNet. Civic Action Partnership Grants (CAPs) $500 - $15,000 Civic Action Partnership Grants will help IAP NGOs and DemNet I graduates to strengthen collaboration with other civil society organizations and with government and the business sector. With CAP support, NGOs can undertake activities that contribute to increased public discussion of policy issues; consultation and dialogue between government and civil society; and the provision of valuable services to NGO constituents. CAPs will provide tangible learning experiences to NGOs. NGO Support Institution Grants (SIG) $10,000-$15,000 The long-term development of civil society in BiH will depend upon the existence of indigenous support structures that can provide training of various kinds; information and coordination; advocacy for the sector; and research on civil society issues. The purpose of the SIG grants is to support the development of these indigenous institutions. TERTIARY TARGET: LARGER CSO COMMUNITY The tertiary group includes civil society organizations, which did not participate in the DemNet I program and were not selected to receive the IAP. Civic Initiatives Microgrants (CIMs) $500-$2,000 The purpose of the CIMs is to support local initiatives that encourage and facilitate civic involvement, and may contribute to the beginnings of civil society in rural communities. NGO Support Institution Grants (SIG) $10,000-$15,000 The long-term development of civil society in BiH will depend upon the existence of indigenous support structures that can provide training of various kinds; information and coordination; advocacy for the sector; and research on civil society issues. The purpose of the SIG grants is to support the development of these indigenous institutions. Dialogue Fora: ADF will sponsor three (3) series of regional and national dialogue fora will take place over the life of the DemNet II program – one per year. Each series will consist of four regional fora and one national forum. The first series will focus on NGO legal and regulatory reform issues. Interested DemNet I graduates and DemNet II NGO participants will serve as sponsors for the events. Participants will be invited from all relevant stakeholder groups, and may include local government officials and business leaders as well as NGOs and other civil society representatives. Each forum be an opportunity for (a) developing a common level of knowledge about the issue or theme, (b) discussing different aspects of the issue in small groups, (c) bringing this reflection to the plenary level, and (d) coming to agreement on what next steps should be taken. Participants in regional fora will delegate representatives to attend the national forum. DemNet II and the NGO sponsors will prepare a written report on each forum that will be distributed to all participants. The fora will be publicized through the media and a comprehensive public information strategy. Mini-workshops: To expand networks beyond the DemNet NGOs and to serve civil society more broadly, ADF will offer half-day and one-day training sessions open to any interested NGOs or community organization, as well as DemNet II NGOs and DemNet I graduates. Mini-workshops be held once every quarter. Topics to be covered will be decided on in consultation with BiH NGOs, and may include: the role of CSOs in civil society and sustainable development, demystifying popular participation in public decision-making, developing membership, basic accounting, internet resources for NGOs and how to design a Web site. The first cycle of IAP NGO recipients will begin in August 2001 with the submission of applications. ADF will solicit applications from DemNet I graduates for Advanced Training Grants and Civic Action Partnership Grants in beginning in September 2001. ADF will solicit applications for Civic Initiative Microgrants and Support Institution Grants in the form of an Annual Program Statement beginning October 2001.