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Peer learning

The European hub for third sector leadership

Why leaders?

Euclid Network (EN) focuses on leaders to ensure that its work - to build European civil society - has the greatest impact.

By working with leaders, the barriers of organizational politics are removed resulting in individuals being able to implement change both in their own organizations in the sector as a whole. Where leaders are able to better lead their own organizations means they are better able to serve their own beneficiaries.

Why peer-learning?

  1. The learning is tailored to each participant and host
  2. It is a two way learning process
  3. Learning often goes beyond the initial expectations
  4. Relationships are formed
  5. Truly international

Activities

Peer-learning

Events

Creating national groups 

EN has supported the creation of independent national bodies of leaders both within and outside of Europe.

  • Leader2Leader in Italy
  • Slovenian Association of NGO Managers in Slovenia
  • Bodies in Portugal and Germany are underway

Outside of Europe, EN in partnership with ACEVO, has helped to set up bodies in Nigeria (NACEVO), Kenya (Achievers) and, most recently, Japan (JACEVO)

Resources    

The four pillars 

EN believes there are four main challenges for civil society leaders, which they should build upon in order to create an influential and sustainable pan-European civil society with a global outlook:

  1. Peace
    Reconciliation and cooperation is embedded in the EU's ethos. The foremost aim of the EU has been to ensure lasting peace across a Europe that has seen two devastating world wars. For more than half a century civil society has been a vital component in facilitating the EU's most successful output - Peace.  Furthermore, civil society will continue play a pivotal role in ensuring continued peace in an enlarged EU. 
  2. Democracy
    In addition to championing peace, civil society has also been the defender of democracy. This is an indispensable tool for introducing standards of good governance and implementing modes of good practice. It is the bedrock upon which a transparent and accountable civil society can be built and thrive.
  3. Poverty Eradication
    Next year will be the year of Poverty Eradication in the EU. This is supported by the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, which has outlined Poverty Eradication as one of its major campaigns. Civil society has already done much to introduce innovative ways of solving this global issue, where so often governments and markets have failed to do. In order to ensure the success of this campaign, leaders will need to continue to be evermore socially innovative and adapt to the economic and political repercussions of global migration and an ageing population. 
  4. A Green Future
    The coming century will be dominated by the effects of  climate change. Civil Society leaders must take the lead to fight climate change and helping those who might be affected by it. They must support the aims of Copenhagen Climate summit, but also be ready to respond to the outcomes and build an environmentally sustainable world post-Copenhagen. This includes establishing a green economy, which is global in its outlook and takes the needs of developing countries and poorer nations into account