ESTONIAN ROUNDTABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION (AKÜ) Anu Eslas AKÜ Coordinator March, 2007 Trialog Central Training

What is AKÜ? AKÜ is a network of Estonian NGOs who are interested and/or engaged in development cooperation and - education. AKÜ has currently 10 member organizations.

AKÜ’s organizations 1.E-Governance Academy Estonian Green Movement - FoE Estonian Society for Nature Conservation – 4.Estonian Women’s Studies and Resource Centre European Movement Estonia Jaan Tõnisson Institute Peipsi Centre for Transboundary Cooperation People to People Estonia Women’s Training Centre – 10.NGO Fenno-Ugria Foundation –

AKÜ’s officials AKÜ’s Council Nele Leosk E-Governance Academy Arvo Raudsepp Estonian Society for Nature Conservation Arvo Anton European Movement Estonia AKÜ’s Coordinator Anu Eslas Skype:anueslas

AKÜ’s history -AKÜ was established on civic initiative in 2002 to create a policy dialogue on Estonian Principles of Development Cooperation -From that on AKÜ was an open forum of NGOs and qualified individuals for advocacy, public awareness and joint development projects till 20th December 2006 when AKÜ was established by ten Estonian NGOs. Officially AKÜ was registered on 5th of February 2007.

AKÜ’s mission and objective AKÜ's mission is to promote and develop the Estonian State and Society's active participation and involvement in international development cooperation. The main objectives of AKÜ are strengthening and enhancing of development policy, practical development cooperation and implementation of development education and awareness raising projects.

AKÜ’s fields of activity Participating in policy making processes and in the implementation of development policy; Monitoring of national DC projects. Development education and awareness raising in Estonia amongst different targetgroups. Information exchange and cooperation with organisations, individuals and networks engaged in development cooperation in Estonia and elsewhere.

AKÜ’s fields of activity Facilitation of information exchange and cooperation between members. Preparation of development cooperation projects and their implementation in areas where member organisations are not active. Capacity building of members.

Peaks and nadirs of AKÜ in 2006 Situation in January 2006 Autumn 2005 – previous activists’ (2002 – 2005) motivation run out and the newly hired coordinator turned to be incapable. Result: network almost dissolved in the autumn of 2005, institutional memory lost. New people with limited experiences but high motivation– Sue Tack and Arvo Anton – picked the organisation up in January 2006.

Peaks and nadirs of AKÜ in 2006 From January till May 2006 Writing a successful project to the Presidency Fund. Ensuring the continuation of GLEN. Preparations for the 2nd World Day. Re-establishing contacts with international networks. Re-establishing contacts and ensuring the recognition of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Start of the FEST project in European Movement Estonia.

Peaks and nadirs of AKÜ in 2006 From May till December 2006 New people in AKÜ. Preparations and implementation of World Day (and linked activities). Clear aim – establishing AKÜ NGO.

Peaks and nadirs of AKÜ in 2006 Conclusion AKÜ NGO established (it took 4 years!). Important DE/AR activities implemented professionally; Widened network of interested NGOs and individuals. Support from international community. Good and open communication with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Parliament. Team started with learning by doing but managed just fine. Massive problems with institutional support.

Fresh start 2007 AKÜ Coordinator Council Member organizations Activity plan for 2007 Some projects (but still no institutional support)

The main challenges facing AKÜ Building up the AKÜ secretariat. Strengthening the cooperation and enhacing the communication within the platform and its members. Capacity building of member organisations and AKÜ secretariat. Ownership building of NGOs. Developing the members’ services (e.g. members’ database). Ensuring the continuation and professional implementation of traditional DE/ AR projects.

The main challenges facing AKÜ Working on the AKÜ’s homepage and on overall visibility. Active participation in the international networks (e.g. the CONCORD Working Groups, ad hoc initiatives). Building the analytical capacity of AKÜ to be more successful in advocacy. AKÜ Resource Centre. Baltic/Nordic cooperation.

Thank you! For more information on AKÜ: