The bilateral cooperation initiatives that have been approved under the Fund for Bilateral Relations are the following:
Partners: Drug Free Treatment Unit, Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, University Hospital of North Norway, Norway
Summary:
Close cooperation between Lithuanian and Norwegian organisations working in the field of human rights and mental health was established, knowledge and good practices were shared, and a joint project proposal was developed and submitted to ACF.
Granted amount: 3 231,91 EUR
Implementation period: 2020-02-03 – 2020-03-03
Partners: Oslo/Fusion International Film Festival, Norway
Summary:
During the visit, the planned socio-cultural activities and possible areas of cooperation were discussed. Activity strategies and plans were shared, that could be applied to represent and empower members of the LGBT + community individually and in partnership, the basis for further cooperation was strengthened.
It was decided to create conditions for the representatives of the partners to visit the organized LGBT + festivals, to involve them in the creation of programs, sharing the recommendations of films and creators. The initiative refined ideas for perpetuating LGBT + history, collecting and presenting archival material at cultural and social events. Contacts with two local organizations were established. Opportunities for wider cooperation in the Nordic and Baltic region refined, identifying other partners in Sweden, Denmark, and Finland.
An application for a project to improve the representation and empowerment of vulnerable groups has been submitted to ACF, involving cooperation between organizations.
Links:
Granted amount: 806,65 EUR
Implementation period: 2020-02-27 – 2020-03-03
Partners: Norwegian Neighbourhood Organisation; Bodø Commune, Norway
Summary:
During the visit meetings with three Norvegian organizations were held, discussing on heritage destruction, preservation and restoration, analysing local problems, presenting Kaunas project concept, discussing possible joint activities. A lot of attention were putted to analyse and understand socio-cultural context of both sides in other that good practices of how to mobilise active citizens, how to reconcile the interests of all: protecting cultural heritage and allowing the city to continue to develop in a new way could be adjusted. A project application together with Norwegian partners to ACF Fund Lithuania has been submitted.
Links: Genius Loci - Šančių bendruomenė (sanciubendruomene.lt)
Granted amount: 2 287,69 EUR
Implementation period: 2020-05-02 – 2020-05-03
4. Partnership of Lithuania and Iceland for Multiple Sclerosis (Lithuanian multiple sclerosis union)
Partners: Multiple Sclerosis Society of Iceland, Iceland
Summary:
Implemented visit of the representatives of Lithuanian multiple sclerosis union to Icelandic counterparts. During the visit, meetings with MS society of Iceland were held to discuss Lithuanian and Icelandic experiences in social integration of MS patients. New knowledege and experience gained and shared. Established partnership between Lithuanian and Icelandic multiple sclerosis organisations led that a project proposal for ACF fund LIthuania has been submitted.
Links: http://www.liss.lt/2020/02/24/startavome-dvisalio-bendradarbiavimo-projektulietuvos-ir-islandijos-partneryste-del-is/
Granted amount: 2 975,79 EUR
Implementation period: 2020-02-17 – 2020-02-20
Partners: Associasion Blå Kors Norge, Norway
Summary:
The Bilateral Cooperation Initiative aims to support and strengthen bilateral cooperation with existing partners Blakors. During the initiative, the charity support fund Dienvidis traveled to Norway for new ideas and approved public inclusion practices. Also, the search for new methods of working with a vulnerable group - young children from families at risk, thus strengthening the qualification of specialists.
Links:
Granted amount: 4000 EUR
Implementation period: 2021-10-11 – 2021-12-17
Partners: Bjerkaker LearningLab – BLL, Norway
Summary:
The main aim of the bilateral cooperation initiative is to exchange practices of SOCIAL SMART in Lithuania and BLL in Norway in developing adult education, methods applied, and to find common practices and ways to apply peer methods to our trainings (both online and face-to-face) in a long-term partnership, especially in working with vulnerable groups living in the regions and/or remote areas.
Results: exchange good practices of NGOs and their activities for adults, older people in the social, educational field, especially in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic benefited for more than 10 experts in Lithuania and Norway.
Links: https://www.facebook.com/social.smart.idea/posts/707808933908623
Granted amount: 3 987,94 EUR
Implementation period: 2022-01-07 – 2022-04-07
Partners: Bjerkaker Learning Lab, Norway
Summary:
The bilateral cooperation initiative was beneficial for the exchange of practices of SOCIAL SMART in Lithuania and BLL in Norway in developing adult education. Representatives of SOCIAL SMART analysed and applied in practice study circles method.
On September and October the partners met online to discuss the ideas and to plan the study visit meetings in Oslo. Study visit took place on 2nd-5th November 2022 as four representatives of SOCIAL SMART visited the partner – BJERKAKER LEARNING LAB and other NGOs in Norway. In the extensive meetings with the National Association for Adult Education and the representatives of Central Party Study Association the SOCIAL SMART team got knowledge not only about the study circles and their organisation in practice, but also about NGO development, various activities and relevant issues to NGOs in Norway. SOCIAL SMART also presented its activities as well as discussed Lithuanian NGO practice and issues in providing services to vulnerable groups.
To follow, BJERKAKER LEARNING LAB and SOCIAL SMART discussed further learning opportunities and long-term cooperation initiatives in order to promote study circles, organise trainings on study circles in several European countries.
Links: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=928085464985859
Granted amount: 5 944,24 EUR
Implementation period: 2022-09-01 – 2023-02-28
Partners: Samtökin ’78 – The National Queer Organisation of Iceland, Iceland
Summary:
The initiative "Development of LGL and Samtokin78 Partnership: Exchange of Best Practices and Identification of Strategic Partnership Directions" aimed to strengthen the partnership between LGL and Samtokin78 by exchanging best practices in the field of LGBTI human rights and identifying strategic partnership directions.
After the implementation of the project activities, LGL and Samtokin78 employees are better informed about the situation of LGBTI rights in Lithuania and Iceland, the priority directions of the organizations' activities and can identify the strategic directions of LGL and Samtokin78 partnership when submitting joint applications. The representatives of the organizations participating in the project are more motivated to strengthen the long-term partnership between LGL and Samtokin78 and feel more satisfied with the partnership.
The main target group of the initiative was employees of LGL and Samtokin78. As a result of the activities carried out during the project implementation period, representatives of the public are indirectly benefited and are better informed about Iceland's best practices in the field of ensuring LGBTI human rights and the situation of LGBTI people in Lithuania.
Links:
- https://www.lgl.lt/naujienos/nacionalinio-zmogaus-teisiu-forumo-diskusijoje-aptarta-pirmoji-es-lgbtiq-lygybes-strategija/
- https://www.lgl.lt/naujienos/lgl-komanda-dalyvavo-idahot-forume-reikjavike/
Granted amount: 5 840,10 EUR
Implementation period: 2022-12-01 – 2023-05-31
Partners: The Norwegian Queer Archive, Norway
Summary:
The bilateral cooperation initiative was aimed at exchange of experience, strengthening the bilateral ties and quality cooperation between the Association “In Corpore” in Lithuania and the Norwegian Queer Archive. Achievements of the initiative:
- Expanded opportunities for cooperation and higher level of satisfaction with the partnership;
- Knowledge gained to be applied in the long-term activities of the organisations.
Representation and empowerment of the LGBT+ community will be improved in the long term.
The project included preparation for and implementation of the exchange visit. 6 representatives of organisation participated in the exchange of experiences, knowledge, best practices, learning about SA's resources and collection, while discussing opportunities for further collaboration.
Links: facebook.com/isgirsti/posts/pfbid0TWjv6wekZ3BLxi2KvhsqD2xUazR3SUNcU7acBuzeCgziDtAyShLPtwbXj2dqmGjSl
Granted amount: 3 092,46 EUR
Implementation period: 2023-04-01 – 2023-05-31
Partners: Wayback, Foundation For Life After Imprisonment, Norway
Summary:
The relationship between NKC and „Wayback“ began to develop in 2021, when the
delegation from „Wayback“ visited Caritas Center. Cooperation continued during
two visits to Norway by the director of NKC and another meeting in Vilnius when
“Wayback” director visited Caritas Centre.
Working with convicted persons is still a new area of social services in Lithuania. The
number of NGOs working in this field is very small and their experience is still quite
short. NKC seeks to learn from “Wayback's” twenty years of experience in organizing
various activities for convicted persons and those after the sentence is over in order
to build a supportive relationship with every person in need of such services.
During the four days of the training, “Wayback” staff members who participated in
the cooperation programme gave NKC staff a detailed presentation on the history
and development of “Wayback”, its principles, values, activities, achievements and
challenges, and answered participants' questions. The participants took part in
“Wayback's” daily activities, visited a halfway house, observed “Wayback's” service
delivery to beneficiaries, and took part in “Wayback's” organized activities and
leisure activities. The knowledge and competences acquired will be applied by NKC
staff in their workplace in Lithuania and will be used to develop new methodologies
for working with convicted persons.
Links: https://www.facebook.com/VilniausarkivyskupijosCaritas/posts/694282336076844
Granted amount: 5 966,00 EUR
Implementation period: 2023-06-01 – 2023-09-01
Partners: Hamarinn youth center, Iceland
Summary:
In order to gain more experience and to find an experienced partner, NGO Užtaisas carried out a visit to the Hamarinn Youth Centre in Iceland, which has a lot of experience and its young people are active in the politics of the town of Hafnarfjörður, with a Youth Council that is active in the political governance process. The main objective of the initiative was to strengthen quality cooperation in the democratic participation of young people and to plan a joint project in the future that would promote active and effective activities of the Youth Council of Palanga Municipality and other youth self-government bodies from all over Lithuania. During the initiative, meetings were held to learn about the model of Youth Councils in Iceland, discussions were held on different forms of youth participation in the democratic process, partnerships were established, and activities, goals and objectives of a possible future project were discussed and analysed. The initiative served as an excellent springboard for the realisation of a project of interest and relevance to both partners. Currently, intensive cooperation is underway and the project application is being prepared for the call for proposals in February. The project will aim at empowering young people in Lithuania and Iceland to actively participate in civic initiatives, direct democracy and strengthening their role in policy decision-making.
Links: https://www.musupalanga.lt/news/3672755/nauju-veju-ir-ideju-paieskos-islandijoje
Granted amount: 4 425,00 EUR
Implementation period: 2023-09-05 – 2023-12-05
Partners: Citizens Foundation Iceland, Iceland
Summary:
In 2022, the Index of Civic Empowerment decreased to 35.9 points out of 100. The latest review of participatory budgets has shown that the biggest challenges municipalities face are the lack of high-quality citizen involvement and civic technologies. These issues were also highlighted by participants during the workshop facilitated by TI Lithuania at GovTech Leaders 2023. Therefore, this initiative aims to provide insights on how to enable civic technologies for sustainable citizen engagement.
Reached results: Strengthened partnership and knowledge in the field of 3 organizations (1 experience sharing visits); Created partnerships between CSOs and institutions (at least 10 meetings during the visit); Strengthened advocacy efforts carried out by TI Lithuania.
Granted amount: 5 976,75 EUR
Implementation period: 2023-07-27 – 2024-02-29
Partners: Welfare Alliance, European Anti-Poverty Network, Norway
Norway
Summary:
The bilateral initiative was aim to improve the quality of social services. The knowledge gained from the analysis of the Norwegian quality standard will be used in the process of creating and implementing the Lithuanian national quality standard for social services.
Granted amount: 2 824,82 EUR
Implementation period: 2023-08-16 – 2023-11-30
Partners: Icelandic Lithuanian Youth Association, Iceland
Summary:
The aim of the bilateral cooperation initiative "Knowing me, knowing you" was to strengthen cooperation ties between the Society and Enterprise Development Institute (Lithuania) and the Icelandic Lithuanian Youth Union (Iceland), with discussions on the possibilities of joint activities in the future and potential sources of funding during the study visit in Iceland on September 14-21, 2023. Participants of the study visit in Iceland also got acquainted with the good practices in youth policy and work with youth in Iceland, both in the capital, Reykjavik, and in regional towns. During the 'Šiaurės sriuba' summit of Lithuanian youth unions from the Nordic countries, a working group focused on closer cooperation between the Lithuanian youth unions of the Nordic countries and youth and organizations working with youth in Lithuania, where trainings on funding opportunities were also held. All these efforts were aimed at encouraging more active participation from the Lithuanian diaspora's youth in community and civic activities, thereby deepening their connection with youth organizations active in Lithuania.
Links: http://vvpi.lt/knowing-me-knowing-you/
Granted amount: 5 274,00 EUR
Implementation period: 2023-07-21 – 2023-12-01
