The AdvocaCY project, implemented by AKTI Project and Research Centre in collaboration with the Turkish Cypriot organization MASDER (Famagusta Walled City Association) and the Norwegian non-profit media organization Norsenus Mediaforum, has demonstrated that sustainable development is a human right and essential tool for peace. Over its 20-month duration, AdvocaCY successfully trained 3395 individuals on political and human rights issues, engaged 370 volunteers and representatives from NGOs and informal groups in training and capacity-building workshops, established over 12 new partnerships between small and large NGOs, and contributed to the creation of 2 new methods jointly developed by Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot entities to support intercommunal cooperation.

One of the main actions of the AdvocaCY project was the recognition of the needs and challenges faced by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities through the development of a questionnaire. Results showed that the 65 participating organizations identified funding as the primary issue, followed by a lack of support from public authorities. Discouragement due to limited impact on policy-making and inadequate knowledge within the organization were cited as the third and fourth problems, respectively. Differences between the communities were evident, with Greek Cypriot organizations ranking bureaucracy and Turkish Cypriot organizations citing volunteer shortage as the fifth major issue in the sector.

A significant question addressed by the AdvocaCY project concerns why young people do not participate as active citizens in environmental protection issues. The answer, derived from 3 participatory workshops involving 58 young people aged 18-35 from organizations and informal groups focusing on the environment and human rights, highlighted lack of time and indifference/apathy/lack of personal responsibility as the primary reasons. This was followed by a lack of information about the actions of organizations and the feeling among youth that their voices are not heard as additional reasons for their inactive participation.

The culmination of the successful AdvocaCY project was a multifaceted event on active citizenship, sustainability, and innovation, held on January 25 at the House of Cooperation. The event, titled "Advocating Together for a... Sustainnovative Future," brought together NGOs, event organizers, and informal groups active in areas of active engagement, sustainability, and digital communication. The aim was to exchange views and experiences and contribute to the collective creation of a mosaic for society, sustainability, and innovation. Through participatory decision-making workshops provided by AKTI and Norsenus Mediaforum, participants collectively developed policy tools to transform events into sustainable experiences and strengthen the digital presence of NGOs.

Maria-Christina Constantinou, Chemical Engineer and Project Manager at AKTI stated: "The 20 months of the AdvocaCY project have shown that the motto 'Knowledge leads to awareness, and awareness leads to change' can be put into practice through substantial intercommunal cooperation and targeted awareness-raising, information, and education actions for citizens and organizations. Today's event seals excellent cooperation and friendship with MASDER and Norsensus and is evidence that together we can advocate for a better environment and democratic participation of citizens."

The AdvocaCY project: Participate, learn, decide, challenge: Stronger Cypriot Civil Society for Sustainability, Advocacy, and Change! is funded under the Active Citizens Funds Cyprus program, financed by Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway through the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021."

The AdvocaCY project benefits from a grant under the Active Citizens Fund Cyprus programme, funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, through the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021. The project is implemented by AKTI Project and Research Centre, The Famagusta Walled City Association (MASDER) and Norsensus Mediaforum.

The Active Citizens Fund (ACF) in Cyprus is supported through a €1.5m grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway under the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021, aiming to contribute to reducing economic and social disparities and strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation between the beneficiary states and the donor states. ACF Cyprus recognizes the fundamental role the civil society sector plays in ensuring democratic governance, human rights and social cohesion and focuses on the following two main objectives: strengthening civil society and active citizenship and empowering vulnerable groups in Cyprus.

The Fund Operator for the Active Citizens Fund in Cyprus is NGO Support Centre in consortium with GrantXpert Consulting. For more information, visit www.activecitizensfund.cy