- Program Civil Society
- Program Area Strengthening Civic Space
- Grant Amount $60,000
- Grant Period January 1, 2006–December 31, 2007
- Location Osijek, Croatia
- Geographic Focus Croatia
About this grant
Multiyear funding will enable the Organization for Civil Initiatives (OCI) to work with local community leaders and grassroots citizen groups in Croatia to build capacity for identifying community needs and implementing long-term and lasting solutions. In addition, the center provides information, training and consultations to local government authorities and a wide range of non-governmental organizations on community organizing, cross-sector cooperation, local resource development and rural economic development.During the past two years, OCI worked directly with local NGOs and community leaders in seven counties in eastern and southern Croatia. OCI provided training for community organizers in 26 local communities and provided direct, follow-up assistance to many of these communities; participated in the distribution of approximately $300,000 to 42 community projects and provided technical assistance to 150 NGOs in association with the Academy of Educational Development; and worked with local governments to strengthen town councils and village boards.OCI, created in 1992, is part of a network of community development organizations in Croatia and Central and Eastern Europe.