20/10/2008
The second edition of
the Conference on Community Development in Romania, entitled „Community
Development and Community Programs in Europe”, took place in Iasi on
the 17th and 18th of October. The event was organized and hosted by
RuralNet - the network of organizations active in the community
development field in the rural environment, which aims to undertake an
active role in influencing public policies concerning rural development
and in promoting best practice models of community development. The
network has been active since 2002 and presently counts 17 member
organizations from all regions of the country.
The conference had the objective to provide an overview as realistic as
possible on community development in Romania, presenting key factors,
standards, models and process framework, as well as the experiences of
the organizations involved in this sector of community development. The
event reunited the members of RuralNet, representatives of the civil
society, representatives of the rural communities and of other
organizations and public institutions in Romania and the Republic of
Moldavia.
The conference offered a proper environment for debating certain
subjects in the field of community development, directly related to the
European Community Programs, among which: rural development - Leader
program, local economic development, micro-regional development,
sustainable development, financing community development projects with
local funds, monitoring community programs and projects, CSR programs
in community development, involving the citizens in the development of
community projects.
The conference also hosted the launch of a study on „Community
Development Models Implemented in Rural Communities in Romania”, signed
by Vasile Deac - president of the Romanian Association for Counseling
and Support in Drobeta Turnu Severin. On this occasion, CIVITAS
Foundation (Cluj-Napoca) made a presentation of its most recent report
on “Evaluating the Experience of Administrative-Territorial Units in
the Rural Environment with Implementing Development Programs Financed
through National Public Funds, as well as Pre-adhesion Programs”.
The event was supported by Charles Stewart Mott Foundation in the
United States, within the RuralNet Action project, developed during
2006-2008.
