Effectiveness

Euclid Network constantly looks for new ways to connect and facilitate knowledge sharing across borders and boundaries, and helps members to develop their skills and vision through peer learning, subsidising such activities when possible.

For civil society to be effective, we focus on three key areas:

1. Leadership through peer-learning

By developing 'leadership' in individuals, the barriers of organizational politics are removed resulting in individuals being able to implement change both in their own organizations and across the sector. Where leaders are able to lead their own organizations more effectively, they are better able to serve their own beneficiaries.

In 2010 Euclid Network provided bursaries for 30 members on exchange across Europe through our Leader Twinning Programme. We will be sending 60 members on exchange through the 2011-2012 period, through Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs. We also coordinate pan-European blogs, online forums and events to connect members and publish publications on cross-border European Leadership. Members can access Leadership Development courses such as Harvard Kennedy School, and are informed of opportunities (most often funded) to attend workshops, events and high-profile conferences.

This methodology is integrated in to all of our projects to support civil society.

2. Building and Developing Networks

Euclid Network has supported the creation of independent national bodies of leaders both within and outside of Europe:

We have developed partnerships with numerous National Umbrella bodies across Europe in order to facilitate greater cross-border knowledge sharing and increase the representativeness of our work in policy and projects. We look to develop country champions across Europe to act as Ambassdors for both Euclid Network and civil society in their countries.

Visit our Partners page to see all our affiliated partners.

Are you interested in being a champion? Do you want to be an active member of our growing network? Contact Ivelina.Fedulova@euclidnetwork.eu for more information.

We also develop projects and actions with other civil society organisations, from DenokInn's Social Innovation Park in Bilboa to DemNet in Hungary. We work with our members organisations in given projects to help leaders learn from each other and strengthen European civil society.

Outside of Europe, in partnership with ACEVO, we have set up bodies in Nigeria (NACEVO), Kenya (Achievers) and, most recently, Japan (JACEVO)

3. Impact and Governance

Impact measurement and good governance are crucial for civil society's effectiveness as well as for developing a professional and transparent sector.

Euclid Network has been working with partners and members to identify a pan-European code of good governance. This started with two workshops in Paris in 2008 and 2009 to explore commonalities of governance across Europe. This has resulted in several resources on pan-European governance and the research will be continued once funding has been secured. Euclid Network continues to facilitate member sharing on good governance and incorporate it in to our events and projects. We have also had an article published comparing European and US governance models - available here.

We are now working on the impact of NGO legislation from the European Commission on governance of civil society - in particular, the anti-terrorism legislation that has the potential to undermine the effectiveness and transparency of civil society organisations.

Euclid Network will also be developing pan-European tools and resources on impact measurement.

Read more about Impact and Governance here

Related Projects

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs

Leader Twinning Programme

Related Policy

Impact and Governance

Related Partnerships

Harvard Kennedy School