Communication Support

What is Communication Support?

The public and CSOs across Cyprus can all benefit from the various communication activities under the Civic Space project. 

By implementing communication activities, Civic Space aims to achieve the following: 

Further increase the visibility of Civic Space and EU support to civil society by improving outreach and public engagement.

Foster visibility of CSOs' activities and outputs and increase their engagement with the community and other CSOs.

Increase CSOs' communication capacity directly by guiding them on how to create their communication strategies.

What have we done so far?
  • The visibility of NGOs was supported through the organization of 4 Open Door Festivals (AKF) between 2016-2019. Each festival had between 37 to 72 participating NGOs. In total, 238 NGOs participated in the four Open Door Festivals, where more than 350 activities were carried out. To introduce NGOs, 19 videos/films were prepared during the Open Door Festivals. Special Fairs for NGOs were organized in Lefkoşa/Nicosia, Mağusa/Famagusta, Lefke/Lefka, Mehmetçik/Galateia, and İskele/Trikomo. 
  • Promotion of the rights-based approach through many videos/films production (see Civic space YouTube channel). 
  • Social media was extensively used (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, X) to highlight the support given by the EU to civil society.
  • www.civicspace.eu website created. 
  • Collaborative efforts with the media: Increasing the visibility of NGOs in radio, television, and print media. Collaboration with TV channels for the broadcast of various videos produced by the project. BRT has prepared 8 documentaries about NGOs supported by the EU.
  • Collaborative efforts with the private sector: supporting innovative resource development methods (such as crowdfunding); organizing resource development training for NGOs; promoting the culture of Corporate Social Responsibility through workshops and training sessions.
  • Collaborative efforts with youth: Youth (including those under the age of 18) can benefit from the Civil Growth program; providing support to NGOs addressing issues related to youth; bringing NGOs and university students together by facilitating the participation of NGOs in higher education career fairs and creating internship and volunteer opportunities within NGOs.
  • Trainings on social media, digital activism, digital campaigns, and digital tools and post-training tailor made coaching sessions upon request.
Upcoming Events

Civic Space is developing a communication strategy for the new phase of the Project (2023-2025) aimed at making the funds provided by the EU to civil society more visible and promoting the role of NGOs in bringing about democratic changes and in confidence-building measures. The communication strategy is developed to increase the visibility and accountability of the project as well as to inform the public about the activities, achievements, roles, and participation of NGOs in the democratic process. 

CSOs, responsible bodies, media, private sector, and youth across Cyprus will be included among the target groups of the communication component with the aim of developing a rights-based culture in Cyprus and increasing the visibility of civil society activities.

Campaigns

During the implementation of the project, Civic Space will develop specific communication strategies on some key issues to ensure outreach of specific project activities and components to specific target audiences. These specific communication strategies will be updated during the project implementation.

Communication campaigns, along with video series containing explanatory information on the topic, will be organized on social media a few times a year (2-4). Campaigns conducted by CSOs supported within the Grow Civic program will also be shared. You can follow these campaigns on Civic Space’s social media channels throughout the implementation period of the project.

Do It Yourself (DIY) tools and methods

Useful and easy-to-follow self-learning materials, namely DIY guides, will be prepared. DIY guide methods such as mainstreaming guides will ensure ongoing utilization and decrease the tailor-made demand while serving for the sustainability of capacity building support after the end of the Project.

These tools will be identified and prepared in line with the needs of NGOs and activists

Because the needs are constantly changing surveys will be made from time to time to identify current needs.

In addition, sectoral research and feedback from training sessions will play a key role in determining the need. 

You can download all the DIY tools at the library