PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS INVOLVED

• Monika Kovacova, Danube Regional Project (Danube Environmental Forum)

HOST INSTITUTION

• The Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development

INTRODUCTION, PURPOSE: WHY AN EXCHANGE

The exchange facilitated cross-regional knowledge sharing between two networks of environmental non-governmental organizations in two European regions. In particular, the DEF benefited from increased knowledge from the more established and experienced NGO network, the MIO.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Public Participation
• Knowledge Management or Knowledge Sharing
• Information Management, Data Management or Databases
• NGO involvement in EU Water Framework Directive Implementation

OUTPUTS/OUTCOMES

The knowledge gained through experience sharing between the well developed Mediterranean NGO network - MIO (fully operational since 1992) and the Danube Basin NGO network - DEF (established in 1999, fully operational since 2002) made DEF to benefit from the rich MIO networking experiences gained during 11 years of existence. This will enable the DEF to prevent inefficient steps in further network development and will increase the effectiveness of DEF especially in the area of knowledge management and information sharing within but also outside the network. Through this exchange DEF had the opportunity to compare its way of development with one of the well established, well known and successful international NGO networks in another region of Europe. At the same time the representatives of the MIO have obtained the detailed information about the UNDP/GEF Danube Regional Project. Special focus was given to the NGO role and involvement in this Danube Basin-wide project.

The 3 weeks exchange period provided space for the deep comparison of both networks’ structures, development strategies and the core activities in the selected themes of the exchange (selected Dalian priorities). Each of the topics for discussion and analyses has brought new components into the approaches applied especially by the DEF network.

Related content

DEF Bulletins

Project Output 3.1. Support for the Institutional Development of NGOs and Community Invovlement: Developing the DEF Network

DEF Leaflet

Institutional strengthening - support to the Danube environmental forum

International Development of NGOs: Danube Environmental Forum (DEF)

DEF Bulletins

DEF Bulletins