Societal

EIS ALP is one of the top innovator projects awarded with a grant in 2013. There are many reasons on our innovation list, but a top achievement is the integration of societal responsibility (SR) and quality principles and tools and to transversally integrate them in the project management activities.

How did we come up with this idea? Since 2010 CPIP is partner in REPER21’s SOCIETAL network, a network that promoted the introduction of social responsibility indicators in the life of nongovernmental organizations. With this project, we have planned to bring it one step further, and integrate these indicators in the lifecycle of the project management, an endeavor new to the EU funded projects.

What do we want to achieve with this idea?

1. Maximize the societal contribution of the project:

• social (decent labor conditions, H&S, equal opportunities, respect of private life, intercultural dialogue, universality of human rights). Here our intercultural dialogue will play a big part, as we are 11 institutional partners from 5 EU member states, and we are as diverse as they get.
• economic (sustainability, cost efficiency, stability of workplaces, impact on the local community, promotion of CSR, green and solidal economy),
• environmental (reduce-reuse-recycle, protection of biodiversity and ecosystems, responsible acquisitions, promotion of Rio principles) and
• governance (ethical communication, involvement of stakeholders during the project lifecycle, transparency, accountability, coordination with other similar projects, lobby and advocacy). A major part of our project is co-developed with the direct involvement of our stakeholders. They play an essential role, as we believe that only through their direct involvement; our products will be put to good use and developed correctly. We also have a strong linkage with a lot of European initiatives developed on our subject, as we believe we need to build upon the developments made by our partners. And we will implement the project in the most transparent and accountable manner possible, with agreed decisions by partners, with access to all the developments made through public money.

2. Guarantee that the project results are timely, relevant, and feasible, reach the planned objectives and contribute to the sustainability of the project. Because we do care about the public money, the way they are spent and the results they produced. And we want to see if and how  this can be improved.

How do we plan to do this?   

1. Developquality and SR policies that will encompass objectives, implementation tools and responsible teams. The quality policy will be based on the principles of relevance, feasibility and efficiency, whereas the SR policy will be based on the principles of stakeholder involvement, respect for human rights, transparency and ethical behavior. Here you can download out EIS ALP SR policies under the form of a Guide: download societal-guide.pdf
2. Developquality and SR dashboards based on OVI (Objectively Verifiable Indicators) for the project general results (defining the quality, quantity and delivery time for each output) and for the key SR measures that will be agreed and adopted by the project teams for each WP based on a set of SR indicators already developed by REPER21 based on GRI and ISO 260000. The quality instruments will be further agreed with the external evaluator whose audit will strengthen the team efforts to provide high quality results.
3. Periodical monitor the respect of the quality and SR OVI. The main tools used for the monitoring phase are periodical in situ visits and questionnaires. The monitoring phase will enable to develop and undertake corrective measures based on the discrepancies between the quality and SR policies and dashboards and the implementation realities that will support a constant improvement of the project developments and sustainability.
4. Assess the project’s success in terms of quality and SR based on the PCM criteria of efficiency, effectiveness, impact, relevance and sustainability. The project final quality evaluation will be preceded by a final quality evaluation report that will encompass a specific section of societal responsibility describing the applied SR measures.

SOCIETAL MISSION

We strengthen the organisations which are part of our network by endowing them with instruments and by training their teams to carry out projects with a high degree of quality and responsibility.

Our main references are, at normative level, Europe 2020 strategy (which promotes «intelligent, inclusive and sustainable» projects) and, at managerial level, the international standards of Societal Responsibility (ISO 26000, Global Reporting Initiative).

SOCIETAL VISION

It is only through the « triple performance » – economic, environmental and social, that our projects can help the Europeans to overcome the current crisis through integrated and efficient solutions, which do not ignore any of these three spheres.

In order to identify these solutions, Societal counts on education! Why? Because, before anything else, our teams have to climb a steep learning curve. However, for the majority of our organisations, the nose gear of the airplane begins to lift from the ground, but the aircraft has not yet taken off.

THE APPROACH

We place ourselves within the framework of EU & national programmes in order to assist the beneficiaries who seek to break down the priorities and objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy into operational measures and indicators at the concrete level of each project.

At first, our organisations « launch » into Societal Responsibility because they are aware of the role they can play in its promotion. Afterwards, with the instruments and the support of the Societal network, they will progressively build up on the field their Societal Responsibility, adapt it to their activities and train their teams.

SOCIETAL AIMS

At the organisational level, Societal improves the strategic planning, as well as the operational planning of its partners.

At the individual level, Societal systematically strengthens the transversal and specific competencies that everybody needs in order to identify his/her own needs, to plan, cooperate, implement, evaluate and improve his/her contribution to Societal Responsibility.

SOCIETAL HISTORY

REPER21 launched and developed the Societal network in partnership with the Romanian Agency which is in charge with the management of the Erasmus+ program.

Between 2010 – 2013, Societal benefited from the financing of the Social European Fund (FSE). Up to now, our main results are:

A management method for Societal Responsibility based on the main international standards (ISO 26000, Global Reporting Initiative), but simplified and adapted to the needs and structure of not-for-profit projects ;

• 20 pilot projects, financed through Grundtvig and Youth in Action programmes, which tested out our responsible management method during their implementation ;
• 80 « Societal managers » who learned the method during the implementation of the pilot projects and thanks to a training program ;
• More than 800 members, employees and volunteers in the organisations which took part in the seminars and workshops organized by Societal in all regions of Romania ;
• The Societal Responsibility Methodology  of several Romanian cultural festivals which Societal has reunited in a smaller specific network called «Responsible Event» ;
• The Societal Responsibility Methodology  in the candidacy form which helped the city of Cluj-Napoca obtain the title of «European Capital of Youth 2015».