Successful and difficult situations for the LAPAS/ Latvian NGDO Platform during 2006 in developing the Platform as Network Tallin, 26 March 2007

Macro-economic conditions Inflation – highest in over 10 years Average wage > by 25% Migration Lowest unemployment rate in years Building & credit boom

Changes in comparison to 2005 Turnover 35% higher Soros Foundation Latvia support - still main carrier of administrative costs Seed money supplemented by Ministry of Foreign Affairs support for – salaries, Concord membership fee, office rental 3-5 new main projects MFA priority countries – Georgia, Moldova (2006) + Ukraine, Belorussia (2007)

Challenges of expansion Human resources Human resource funding disbalances Overburdened administration Not enough programme implementation people Short-term/ part-time – due to remuneration levels

LAPAS profile Founded by 21 organisations, currently 23 members NGOs – donor funding disappears, EU funding appears – capacity issue Council – active, different types of NGOs Satisfying needs of different types of NGOs

LAPAS to network members Study – reveals expectations of members, non-members Booklet – member profiles in English and Russian Participation in World Day, university lectures CONCORD/TRIALOG opportunities Forum engagement – Georgia (2005), Moldova (2006)

Challenges to network Membership fees Members’ “demography” Finding the “right shoe” for each member

LAPAS main directions in Network building 2. Information flow 3. Concept development and dissemination 4. Providing real opportunities 5. Policy development and influencing policy

Network building Introduce development cooperation concept to even more NGOs Get other NGOs to join Membership drive – meetings at regional NGO centers, fee strategy. Ensure more interaction by current members

Information flow Booklet on members in English and Russian Weekly newsletter Information on international events

Concept development and dissemination Development education strategy - initiated 6 seminars on different issues Three “World Days” – in Riga, Aluksne and Liepaja – autumn 2007

Providing real opportunities - “Opportunity agency” Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine

Policy development and influencing policy MPs, MEPs AIDWatch Round table discussions

Under construction NGO role in policy development Northern and Baltic Cooperation Role of Global South MDG shadow report

Thank you! LAPAS Director Ms Māra Sīmane