Grupa Zagranica Association of Polish NGOs Working Abroad

Legal form: association of organizations, established on July 1, regular members 13 associated members 4 supporting members = 38 NGOs Regions and countries where our members are present: Eastern Europe (Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Kaliningrad) Balkans Caucasus & Central Asia Middle East, South-East Asia and Africa

Aims: fostering a dialogue with authorities, especially with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – advocacy for establishing Polish ODA system consisting of two main components: assistance to countries in transition and development cooperation sensitising Polish public opinion to the issues of international aid and forming the solidarity approach towards other nations supporting the exchange of information and experiences between Polish NGOs working abroad and introducing common standards for their work

Advocacy in 2005 Dialogue on Framework Plan of Polish international assistance in 2005 Attempts to enact a bill on development cooperation Establishing links to parties before and after the parliamentary elections Dialoguing on procedures for Calls for Proposals

Advocacy in 2006 Efficient system of development assistance ● act on development cooperation ● implementing institution Framework Plan for 2006 ➢ instruments ➢ programmes ➢ countries ➢ thematical areas

Priorities for 2006 Advocacy for establishing legal and institutional basis of Polish international assistance system Strengthening our dialogue with authorities, increasing our visibility at Polish social and political scene Further internal development of the Group; fostering internal discussions, flow of ideas between member organizations and internal integration