Civitas Status

Project initiator

Period

1 May 2023 – 31 December 2025

Budget

308,240 $

Funder

Romanian-American Foundation

Partners:

Community Safety and Mediation Center

Romanian Center for European Policies (CRPE)

CoopNet 3.0 comes as a result of the efforts we have made over the last 10 years in order to grow the agricultural cooperative sector in Romania, together with the Community Safety and Mediation Center (CMSC) and the Romanian Center for European Policies (CRPE).

The project is a new phase of the CoopNet initiative, through which we aimed to create a community of experts in the field of the establishment and operation of agricultural cooperatives, to support the association and collaboration between farmers in Romania and to contribute to the creation of agricultural cooperatives. In the first phase of the program, we focused on increasing the number of cooperatives at the national level, but also on their stability. Through CoopNet 2.0, we moved to the next level, where we focused on developing the professional skills of cooperative members, with an emphasis on managers and presidents.

The number of cooperatives and their impact on the economy has steadily increased. We witnessed a greater interest on the part of farmers to associate, but also on the part of the authorities to support their activity. Even if a positive trend is observed, the field is full of challenges. Currently, it is necessary to create an ecosystem to support cooperatives. The interests of the cooperatives are not publicly represented, and the common actions of the cooperatives are difficult to initiate or sustain. Many cooperatives (which are actually startups) struggle to become sustainable.

What do we aim to achieve?

Starting from existing needs, through CoopNet 3.0, we aim to strengthen the agricultural cooperative sector in Romania through representation, training and networking activities.

Our objectives are:

  • To represent the interests of cooperatives in relation to various stakeholders.
  • To professionalize of the sector of agricultural cooperatives.
  • To encourage a more organized sector of agricultural cooperatives.

How will we achieve our goals?

To achieve our goals, we will carry out a series of activities in which the cooperatives will participate:

  • We will conduct at least 10 training courses and study visits for the professional development of cooperating members.
  • We will develop a unique online platform and free learning materials for the professionalisation of the sector.
  • We will support cooperatives to carry out at least 15 promotional campaigns and 10 projects to access funds.
  • We will facilitate the participation of cooperatives in over 25 public events at national and international level.
  • We will facilitate their participation in over 10 networking events.
  • We will research and advocate for the evolution, needs and future of cooperatives in Romania.

More than 100 representatives of the cooperatives will participate in the project activities, training courses and study visits, for an economically consolidated and stronger associative sector in Romanian agriculture!