Partnership for the Professionalisation of the Third Sector

The OPAL programme was developed as part of the „Partnership for the Professionalisation of the Third Sector” (PTS) project as a solution that is well suited to the needs of small and medium-sized organisations operating at a local level.

The aim of the Partnership for the Professionalisation of the Third Sector was to develop, test in practice and promote effective support measures designed to significantly improve the operating conditions for local non-governmental organisations. Thus, in the sub-project dedicated to training, the selection of topics and the programme content are designed to improve participants’ substantive preparedness for the current and changing operating conditions in the third sector, thereby ensuring the best possible support for skills development. As part of the IOP (Non-Governmental Organisation Incubators) sub-project, it was essential to develop solutions providing either periodic (focus: self-reliance) or permanent (aim: use of shared resources) comprehensive support for local non-governmental organisations, by providing them with the opportunity to share premises, equipment and office services, as well as training, consultancy and other forms of assistance.  In the IOP sub-project, the provision of infrastructural support at local level should be emphasised.

Thanks to these training courses, the skills of non-governmental organisations will improve, and the opportunity to use premises and equipment provided free of charge or at a low cost – as the fee is shared amongst users – will minimise organisational problems in their operations. There remains one significant problem to be resolved, which also determines the quality of local non-governmental organisations’ work – their limited access to financial and material resources, as well as the irregular nature and limited scope of this support. At the same time, organisations highlight the need to create conditions for fundraising that enable smaller local organisations to respond more effectively to identified needs, addressing issues of importance to the local community through their own projects and programmes.

The OPAL sub-project includes a funding programme designed to support the creation of the necessary conditions for the implementation of local initiatives, in particular projects in which non-governmental organisations play a leading role.