World Bank announces winners of this year’s Small Grants Program

Contact: Mihaela Dumitraşcu 

mdumitrascu@worldbank.org

Bucharest, April 14, 2008 - The World Bank announces the winners of this year’s Small Grants Program (SmGP).  More than 18 program proposals from as many NGOs participated in the contest which aims to recognize the importance allocated to projects focused on grassroots organizations mainly from small towns and from rural areas, as well as those focusing on marginalized groups such as the Roma, elderly and disabled persons which need not only bring improvement in living standards but also empowerment and voice to increase their capacity to access and influence policy and program. 

This competition has accentuated the inventive ways in which Romanians are pursuing new ideas to better meet the pressing demands for life improvement.

A number of eight NGOs were awarded grants of various amounts totaling US$ 35,000  .  The winners are:

• Increasing capacity of rural communities to decide their own fate proposed by Asociaţia Grupul de Acţiune Locală “Podişul Mediaşului” (com. Mosna, jud. Sibiu) – USD 4600
• My countryside vacation proposed by Asociaţia “Mâini Intinse” (Tulcea, jud. Tulcea) – USD 4800
• “Wake up” Project proposed by Asociatia ghidelor şi ghizilor din România (AGGR) (Bucharest) – USD 4900
• Increasing stakeholders’ involvement in solving marginalized groups’ problems proposed by Centrul de Resurse pentru organizaţiile Non-profit din Oltenia (C.R.O.N.O) (Craiova, jud. Dolj) - USD 4800
• Education by awareness proposed by Fundaţia pentru Tineret ELMI (Slatina, jud. Olt) – USD 4500
• Increase the capacity of youth organizations (formal and informal groups) to get involved in the life of rural communities to benefit the disadvantaged categories: roma, disabled persons, and elderly people proposed by Asociaţia Grupurilor Locale de Tineret (AGLT) – USD 4800
• Rural participatory democracy 2008  proposed by Asociaţia pentru Dezvoltare Comunitara Panaghia (A.D.C. Panaghia) (sat Panaghia, comuna Calopar, jud. Dolj) – USD 2340
• Hope for mother-girls proposed by Asociaţia “Familia şi viaţa” (Roman, jud. Neamţ) – USD 4260

All applications received were evaluated by a group of experts from the local World Bank Office.