Executing Agency: Swiss Partner: Project Title: Special Allocations: National Society of Conservationists (NSC) (www.mtvsz.hu) Pro Natura (www.pronatura.ch) Continuation of Cooperation between National Society of Conservationists and Pro Natura in order to improve human and financial resources of biodiversity protection Twinning and Partnership Block Grant / Partnership Summary/Context: Biodiversity conservation faces severe challenges. Feedbacks of nature are increasingly concerning and with the economic crisis deepening chances of conserving biological diversity are decreasing as the use of natural resources intensifies and it becomes increasingly hard to raise financial resources. The crisis affects the NGO movement in particular. The decrease of financial resources means less staff and an increasing role for volunteers at NGOs. Obviously, scarce financial resources also result in challenges regarding financial planning and efficiency of NGOs. Goals: The overall objective of the project is to further strengthen the cooperation between the National Society of Conservationists (NSC) and Pro Natura. Especially an experience exchange in the practical implementation of biodiversity conservation programmes is envisaged. As practical programmes often face important challenges in the sector of financing and human resources, the focus of this project lies on these critical issues, namely efficient financing and effective organisation of volunteers. The direct objectives are double. First, Swiss experience in efficient finance management and fundraising will be learned by the Hungarian partner and then embedded in both the organisational structure and in the planning of the National Biodiversity Strategy. Second, Swiss knowledge about the organisation and mobilisation of volunteers will be transferred to the everyday work of NSC member groups. Activities: One two-day study trip of four experts to Switzerland in order to study the financing of nature protection programmes and volunteer coordination experience. A 20-page study about strategic and effective financing of biodiversity will be developed and presented to the Ministries and officials on a national conference Training on volunteerism including a two-day training to improve volunteering in nature protection for the NSC member groups. Six NSC member groups will present a volunteer strategy. Based on the training and the volunteer strategies, the six NSC member groups will organize nature protection volunteer actions in 6 cities, involving at least 300 volunteers. Expected Results: Further strengthening of the cooperation between Pro Natura and NSC NSC and member groups conduct their biodiversity conservation work and organizational development work more professionally Better applications are written and thus more funds received Volunteer hosting and organizational skills are improved and the organizations can therefore increase their human resources and contribute to the sustainability of the NGO and to the achievement of its aims. Skill development and knowledge transfer on every level and for both partners Target Groups: Total Budget: Amount of Swiss Grant: Planned Date of Completion: Intermediate Body: NGOs, environment- and development-related Ministries CHF 32’580 / HUF 6’982’240 CHF 29’322 30.08.2013 VATI Ltd. (www.vati.hu)