Who are We
Led by
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TechSoup Europe
believes in the power of civil society and supports civil society organisations to use the best technology for social change. TechSoup Europe is a network of 23 civil society organisations working in 48 countries in Europe and powering up social impact serving 512,000 local nonprofits.
TechSoup Europe helps grass-roots, small, local organisations and nonprofits in Europe with capacity building, civic engagement, social innovation, and digital inclusion. Through collaboration and partnership, it breathes life to the social side of technology and connects unlikely collaborators, such as social activists, hackers, designers, government, local authorities and business partners to generate innovative solutions to social challenges.
TechSoup Europe is a part of the TechSoup Global Network which connects 1,200,000 nonprofits and delivers more than US$10 billion in technology tools and philanthropic services from over 90 corporate and foundation partners all over the world for the last 30 years. After 30 years, TechSoup still believes that changemakers all over the world need access to technology, knowledge, and tools to help them accomplish their mission and work to make it happen.
In partnership with
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ePaństwo Foundation
Was established in 2010 in Poland, a nonpartisan, nonprofit civic tech organization supporting democracy development through promoting government transparency, accountability and citizen engagement. ePanstwo believes that the lack of these key ingredients of democracy results in distrust, weak position of citizens and predominance of private interest over common good. Its mission is to foster competent citizens engaging in the country’s administration management, leading to better and fairer decision-making processes. Since bringing issues of openness and transparency into the public eye is crucial for democracy, ePanstwo has diagnosed systemic gaps and proposed substantive solutions. In collaboration with Polish cities it initiated and supported the implementation of Open Data policies. With a focus on sharing knowledge and competencies with other CEE and EU organizations, ePanstwo works on policy papers and conducts research on topics at the intersection between democracy and technology.Among ePanstwo’s projects, Rejestr.io uses open data for economic growth and strengthening the security of business transactions. Rejestr.io is a search engine for data about companies and organisations registered in the National Court Register in Poland. Thanks to the portal, citizens can conveniently search and view data that are difficult to locate. tenders.guru is another open source tool created within the RECORD project to reduce corruption risks in public procurement. The project is funded by the EU Internal Security Fund and is led by the ePaństwo Foundation with 4 other NGOs from Hungary, Romania, Spain. Based on the findings, ePanstwo is developing a series of recommendations for local and national governments and for the EU on the legal framework for public procurement, monitoring of EU funds, protection of whistleblowers, and more. -
NIOK Foundation
The non-profit NIOK Foundation has been working and developing its programmes, in order to support the Hungarian civil society in becoming more resilient, more relevant, stronger and more visible thanks to the work of the non-profit organizations. Consequently, we provide specialized services and capacity building initiatives to NGOs, thus contributing to improving their efficiency and credibility, as well as strengthening the relationships between the civil sector and a society as a whole. NIOK has developed and continues to operate one of the first and most popular fundraising platforms in Hungary. It provides not only crowdfunding, or other tools such as the matchfunding campaigns, but also text- or call-to donate systems, which are widely available for NGOs.We have also created and are in fully engaged in the activities of web portal for non-profits, where we share updates on calls for proposals, legislative changes, civil society events, as well as on training and networking opportunities. We have foreseen the portal to serve as a knowledge base, with up-to-date content on a variety of topics relevant to non-profits. As a partner of the TechSoup Global Network, NIOK continues to equip non-profits with transformative technology products and services.On top of that, NIOK Foundation provides intensive mentoring and consultancy support for NGOs via its internal and external experts. We focus mainly on the areas of communications and fundraising in the framework of relevant programmes, as well as on the provision of training courses and networking opportunities.In order to raise awareness about the unique and innovative non-profit initiatives, NIOK has established the Civil Society Awards. Each year, they are being handed out in eight different categories, to programmes and civil society initiatives which have achieved the exceptional impact. -
MAKAIA
MAKAIA is a non-profit organization created and based in Colombia that strengthens capacities for social development through technology, innovation and international cooperation, with the vision that every person and organization have the information and knowledge to transform themselves and their communities. MAKAIA has two action lines through which already reaches civil society organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean:
- International Cooperation and Partnerships: We improve the capacities of social organizations and projects to mobilize national and international human, financial and information resources.
- Technology for Social Change: We improve the living conditions of people and communities as well as the capacities of social organizations through the use and adoption of technology, digital contents and applications.With our projects and programs we reached 22 departments of Colombia and have presence in other 13 countries of Latin America benefiting 20.167 organizations, 62.815 people and sensitizing 238.550 more, with a social investment of 1.25.To achieve the use and technology adoption, we have a model through which a person starts with needs for social, economic and cultural development and through sensibilization, training and self-study processes, reaches a state of ICT appropriation which can be applied immediately. With this methodology we have reached and improved digital skills of educational institutions, libraries, civil society organizations and community-based organizations and also have trained on ITC knowledge boys, girls, youth, women, men, elderly people, indigenous, people with disabilities, farmers, among others.Since 2019, we implement a project to train children and young people in a set of life skills that allow them to use internet in a responsible, safe and creative way. -
West Africa Civil Society Institute
The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) was established by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) in 2005 to reinforce the capacities of civil society in the sub-region. The Institute became operational in July 2007. WACSI envisions a peaceful and prosperous West Africa where development is driven by its people.WACSI’s mission is to strengthen civil society in West Africa to be responsive, collaborative, representative, resilient, and influential through knowledge sharing, learning, connecting, and influencing.Since the institute became operational in 2007, it has responded significantly to the prevailing dearth of skills and capacity within civil society in West Africa through a three-pronged intervention strategy: Capacity Development; Knowledge Management; and Policy Influencing and Advocacy. The institute designs and delivers customised trainings and technical assistance programmes that respond to performance gaps within the CSO sector.The Institute consistently receives referrals from partners and development stakeholders that are familiar with its work across and beyond West Africa. Some of the courses the Institute regularly delivers, include; governance and leadership, proposal writing, project management, financial management and grants reporting, results-based monitoring and evaluation, communicating impact, community mobilisation, local fundraising and resource mobilisation, social accountability, policy research and analysis, policy advocacy and engagement, networking and alliance building, and civil society sustainability, among others. WACSI designs and adopts innovative frameworks and approaches that support operational and institutional standards of civil society that promote leadership, diversity, excellence, ethics, non-discrimination and people-centred values.Since inception, the Institute continues to work with the civil society community to constantly respond to the complex development needs and evolving environment through engagement with the sector and partnerships with various institutions. WACSI remains a thought leader, a go-to knowledge hub and indigenous resource for civil society and development in West Africa, through knowledge curation, sharing, impartation, and policy influencing. Four main thematic areas of interest catalyse the engagement of the Institute during the ongoing and third strategic cycle (2018-2022), including Civil Society Sustainability, Enabling Environment, Technology for Development, and Women and Youth Development. -
Funky Citizens
is a Romanian NGO founded in 2012, working to promote human rights, sustainable development and social and individual responsibility through active citizenship, civic and cultural education, both through its own activities and by supporting similar initiatives in their endeavour. Funky Citizens is the meeting place of citizens that aren’t happy with maintaining the status quo—but want to assume their full role as civically fit and involved citizens in a democratic state. Throughout the years the organization, versed in data-based advocacy, communication and civic education remained focused on the needs of its public and the political and social reality. Funky Citizens implemented various educational and advocacy projects, building on the expertise of its members in fields such as public budgets, public administration, the justice system and civic education, continuously promoting transparency, integrity and civic participation.The main drive of Funky Citizens is to have efficient and accountable institutions that manage their budgets and actions with transparency. The organization collaborates with investigative journalists, given its expertise on topics such as the judiciary, public administration and public budgets. Funky Citizens is part of different international coalitions such as the International Budget Partnership and TransparenCEE.Starting in 2014, Funk Citizens created and fostered the only political fact-checking platform in Romania. Responding to an ever growing interest in local politics, spendings and insights, Buletin.de/bucuresti was also launched in 2019, a local data journalism project dedicated mainly to the citizens of Bucharest. -
RNTC
the internationally renowned training centre of RNW Media, provides career-boosting courses and tailor-made trainings to media professionals from all over the world. Over the past 50 years, we have trained journalists, social activists, programme-makers and communications professionals in achieving social change through media. Our vision is to contribute to a world where media makers confidently claim their rights, assume their place in society, and shape a better future.As the world struggles to cope with the persuasive powers of extremists and state actors seeking to gain influence, RNTC Media Training Centre offers media and communications professionals a methodology to counter disinformation. We use a combination of approaches to verify content, stimulate critical thinking, challenge harmful social norms and break through echo chambers, to ensure that people have access to fact-based information, and the skills they need to identify it.Combining state of the art techniques on media literacy, alternate and counter messaging and campaigning, our unique approach sets out proven strategies to respond to the distortions of misinformation, disinformation and propaganda. -
CEPA
The Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) is a non-partisan organization dedicated to the transatlantic relationship. Headquartered in Washington, DC and led by a new generation of leaders from both sides of the Atlantic, CEPA brings an innovative approach to the policy arena. Its cutting-edge analysis and timely debates galvanize communities of influence while investing in the next generation of leaders to understand and address present and future challenges to transatlantic values and principles.CEPA has extensive experience in researching and analyzing disinformation narratives, tactics, and techniques. This allows CEPA to gain technical expertise in identifying, analyzing, and exposing current and emerging trends in disinformation and propaganda. CEPA also regularly engages a vast network of partners across Europe and in allied nations around the world, including subject matter experts, policymakers, various industry representatives, scholars, journalists, and civil society. -
Zasto Ne
CA Why not is an organization that works on the creation of a safe, secure, healthy, active, efficient and accountable BiH society through increasing civic participation, influencing government accountability, use of new technology tools and promotion of socially engaged culture on the whole territory of BiH together with other interested groups, organizations, institutions and individuals. Zašto ne’s goals are to promote political accountability through fact checking and to encourage civic participation. Through research, advocacy and continuous monitoring of the government and political processes, Zašto ne provides transparency in the political scene. Additionally, Zašto ne created the Why Not Knowledge Factory – to share experiences and knowledge to increase the quality of work of other organizations and groups.Among Zašto ne’s programs, the flagship product is Raskrinkavanje – fact-checking media manipulations and fighting disinformation. In addition, Zasto Ne hosts an educational platform for media literacy and organizes training and different events on the topic. The organization is also part of a regional SEE-Check network that is composed of disinformation debunking portals from 6 countries in the region – N. Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, BiH, Croatia and Slovenia. -
Metamorphosis Foundation
is an independent organization working in North Macedonia and its wider European home to strengthen the awareness and capacity of citizens and civil society to assume their fullest possible role as activists for democracy while supporting the government to fulfil its democratic role in serving society. As a key partner with citizens and institutions, it advocates for this work, by serving as a leading national and regional advocate for citizen engagement and government accountability with a particular emphasis on the use of information technology and knowledge-sharing.As freedom of expression began backsliding in North Macedonia after 2008, Metamorphosis countered the prevailing spiral of silence by establishing/supporting credible online media outlets (Meta.mk News Agency, Portalb.mk News Portal and the political fact-checking website Truthmeter.mk) and creating a space for public discourse, which continue to flourish and to contribute to the diversity and quality of the media ecosystem to date. Hand in hand with the regular news and educational content of the media outlets, Metamorphosis works toward increasing media literacy; recognizing and combating disinformation; combating hate-speech as well as protection of privacy and cyber security. Most recently, Metamorphosis together with 8 other CSOs from five countries of the region founded the Anti-Disinformation Network for the Balkans (ADN-Balkans) in April 2020 to form a wide front on countering disinformation. Metamorphosis’ work is enhanced through its engagement in multiple other international civil society networks as IFEX, APC, EDRI, Global Voices, Creative Commons, ACTION SEE, TransparenCEE and the Internet Freedom Platform of Eastern and Central Europe and Eurasia.