Period for implementation:  June 2014-December 2015

RuralNet, the network for community development, was a project through which PACT Foundation together with Center of Rural Assistance Foundation and Civitas Foundation for the Civil Society- Cluj subsidiary wanted to support small organizations and informal initiative groups from rural areas and small urban areas.

In order to gain support, the project team enhanced the capacity of RuralNet network to influence public policies that affected small organizations and, at the same time, promoted practices, principles and results of community development as solutions to the problems of former public policies.

Established in 2002, RuralNet is an informal network of NGOs that worked in community development in rural areas in Romania. The goal of the network was to support community development in the rural areas of Romania through the increase and capitalization of the competences of the actors in this field. Also, it was the only network for rural development that actively took part in the making process of the National Program for Rural Development.

The project increased the capacity of the network to be sustainable and also the capacity of the members of the network. 11 organizations, 115 entities from civil society in both rural and small urban areas and other NGOs with little financial capacity benefited directly from the project.

Also RuralNet monitored and evaluated the relevant public polices, created and implemented an advocacy campaign, promoted details about the communities through an interactive map, a set of stories and models of success and it brought the communities together in an event.

The project was financed through SEE 2009-20014 grants, from the NGO Fund in Romania.

For more details about the SEE and Norwegians grants please visit the following websites:www.eeagrants.org and www.fondong.fdsc.ro