During September – November, 15 members of the two networks at the Black Sea have acquired new online cooperation knowledge and skills within the Digital Competencies Training Program.
The Digital Competencies Training Program had a total of 10 training modules, from which 3 focused on Cyber Security and 7 on Online Facilitation Skills, as follows:
Besides the training component, members of the two networks worked together within several online meetings with the purpose to consolidate the cooperation and develop future plans, using the newly acquired digital collaboration and facilitation skills.
Desislava Petrova, Program Director and Event manager within the Economic Policy Institute (Bulgaria) who is one of the Program beneficiaries expressed her appreciation stating that “The DCT Program was very useful and practice-oriented! In the current times of pandemic, when most of the events are happening online, it is really important to know how to effectively facilitate an online discussion, how to be creative and engage participants during the sessions, which digital facilitation tools to use and how to conduct such online events safely. In this regard, I really appreciate the valuable tips and advices of our well-prepared and open-minded facilitators within the DCT Program, as well as the fruitful cooperation and networking with the other NGO representatives from the Black Sea Region.”
The project „Network in Times of Pandemic: Beyond Collaboration 2.0” aimed at supporting the two networks members to effectively continue to work together among themselves and with their beneficiaries, by moving their activities online, in order to adapt to the new conditions imposed by COVID-19 pandemic - social distancing, travel, face-to-face meetings restrictions.
Diana Enachi, the project manager mentioned that „The Digital Competencies Program have been designed to cover the current needs of the civil society members in the Black Sea region meaning cyber security, online facilitation, online cooperation knowledge and skills. We very much hope that we succeeded not only to raise the capacities of the two networks’ members but also we brought them together and build new bridges in the region.”
The project „Networks in times of pandemic: Beyond collaboration 2.0” was implemented by the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives „Viitorul” from Moldova, in cooperation with „The Institute of Regional Media and Information” from Ukraine and the „Cooperation for Democratic Development” from Georgia. It was financed through the Black Sea NGO Forum Sub-Granting Scheme for Activities that Support the Development of CSO Regional Networks, in the frame of the „Building CSO Capacity for Regional Cooperation within the Black Sea Region” project, implemented by the Romanian NGDO Platform – FOND with the financial support of the European Union.
