Project Title: Reconciliation Now! (proposal dated September 30, 2003) Project Start Date: October 15, 2003 Project End Date: April 15, 2005 Other NGO Partners Identified for Implementation: The Youth Centre and The Management Centre
Article 1. Scope of Parties’ Understanding
The Parties have agreed to collaborate to promote peace and reconciliation in Cyprus through the initiation of three specific projects as described in the attached proposal, Reconciliation Now! (dated September 30, 2003). This MOU covers activities that will take place in the United States and Cyprus for the following projects:
1. Media Development Project (including follow-up projects/activities related to the 2002 Young Journalists Project) 2. North-South Economic Cooperation Project 3. Improving the Capacity of Cypriot NGOs to Plan and Manage Bicommunal Projects
Article 2. Personnel and Responsibilities CNTI will be represented by Dr. Yiannis Laouris, president or George Tziapouras, project manager. HasNa will be represented by Patricia Scheid, executive director or Nevzer Stacey, president. 1. As the main point of contact in Cyprus, Dr. Laouris will be responsible for ensuring that the overall project goals, objectives and results are achieved, and that all reports are submitted in a timely manner.
2. Dr. Laouris will recruit a project team and submit a staffing plan to HasNa no later than December 20, 2003. The project team will meet the criteria for bicommunality as described in the proposal, and will be co-located in Northern and Southern Cyprus.
3. Dr. Laouris will be responsible for arranging the planning and coordination of all project activities with the other NGO partners identified herein, will provide overall oversight and direction to project staff and will arrange appropriate and transparent banking, accounting and financial management arrangements to ensure effective, efficient and responsible use of all project funds.
4. The Parties agree to share information and to collaborate to support both organizations’ efforts to identify potential funders and submit proposals that will lead to achievement of the agreed co-funding targets.
5. The Parties agree that an Advisory Council, composed of equal numbers of Greek and Turkish Cypriots, as well as a few external experts, will be formed to provide guidance and advice on project strategies, monitor progress and assist with outreach to local officials, community leaders and businesses and corporations. HasNa and CNTI will work together to identify and recruit members of the Advisory Council. Prospective members will be vetted and agreed on by both Parties before being an invitation to serve on the Advisory Council is made.
6. In addition, each of the three projects may also form a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) composed of experts in the relevant field who can act as resource people, as deemed necessary. HasNa, CNTI and other partners may recommend members for the TACs to the project team.
7. HasNa will be responsible for assisting in identifying and arranging technical assistance, consultants and/or training providers, as well as other resources for specialized professional training and skills building workshops for journalists and editors under the Media Development Project.
8. HasNa will be responsible for providing a facilitator for at least one Training of Trainers on conflict resolution and mediation.
9. HasNa may also assist in arranging other technical support or specialized training, as mutually agreed by the two parties.
10. The Parties agree to work jointly to develop evaluation indicators and an evaluation plan to assess the project’s progress and to evaluate impact. The evaluation plan will be developed no later than April 15, 2004. Ongoing monitoring of the program will be the responsibility of both Parties, and the Advisory Council.
11. The Parties agree that regular and timely communications (in the form of emails and telephone conversations) will be critical to the success of the project.
Article 3: Financial Arrangements
1. HasNa will provide up to $105,150 to CNTI for project management and expenses related to the activities described in the proposal.
The current project has three goals. Within each of these goals are also included specific objectives.
1. Create a critical mass of senior and young journalists within Cyprus’s leading media organizations who share a culture and have acquired new skills for practicing more responsible and objective journalism.
1. Introduce more journalists to the concepts of peace-building and provide them with practical skills in non-violent problem-solving and conflict resolution that are relevant to their professional needs.
2. Create a network of "friendly" journalists within leading media organizations and develop mechanisms and opportunities to use this network to increase understanding of critical issues related to peace and conflict resolution, and bicommunal relations.
2. Facilitate the creation of joint Turkish and Greek Cypriot business ventures that are committed to integration and skills building of their workforce.
i. Support small micro-enterprises (SMEs), especially young business people, in forming joint ventures, with a special emphasis on those businesses that will enhance economic development and job opportunities in the North.
ii. Provide conflict resolution training to business people and, where relevant, to their employees, to enhance productivity and increase the likelihood of success of bicommunal business ventures.
iii. Provide information, training and support to SMEs and young business people seeking to benefit from relevant EU- and UN funding opportunities that are now becoming available for business development.
3. Institutionalize the reconciliation process by tapping into and benefiting from existing Cypriot expertise and building more sustainable bicommunal support mechanisms.
i. Create an efficient and more permanent bicommunal structure with appropriate human and capital resources, that will: a) immediately serve to formalize strategic planning, project development, project management, resource allocation, evaluation and public relations functions; and b) be positioned in the future to evolve into Cyprus’s first truly national-level, bicommunal NGO.
ii. Create synergies, facilitate interaction and promote the development of “collaborating networks” between various peace and reconciliation projects.
iii. Foster professional and management skills development for people directly involved/employed in peace and reconciliation projects/initiatives, with a special emphasis on overcoming disparities that may exist between the North and South.
iv. Form a group of senior peace builders certified to deliver courses in conflict resolution using the HasNa-training model.
v. Develop a longer-term plan (including sources of funding) and take initial steps towards the establishment of an International Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation Center that can deliver training and mediation services as well as serve as a focal point for networking to large numbers of citizens, NGOs and business groups.