Foundation

Once again, the mOWES – Mazovian Social Economy Support Center managed by our Foundation has obtained accreditation granted by the Ministry of Family and Social Policy. Accreditation confirms that the activities we conduct are of high quality and comply with the standards set by the Ministry of Family and Social Policy. It is also a commitment – to develop social entrepreneurship in “our” subregions: Radom, Ostrołęka and Ciechanów with unwavering energy!

More: HERE.

We concluded the Conference “Challenges and Trends in the Development of Local Government Partnerships” – a summary of the Advisory Support Center Plus (CWD Plus) project. Over two (June 19-20, 2023) very intensive days in Katowice, local government partnerships, representatives of the Marshal’s Offices, the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policies, the Union of Polish Cities, the Co-operation Fund Foundation, as well as specially invited guests summarized a year of activities within our project.

More: HERE.

The Advisory Support Center project has entered another phase. The CWD 2022 edition is a substantive continuation of advisory services for partnerships participating in CWD Plus. The main goal of CWD 2023 is to support local government partnerships in bringing prepared development strategies and projects to a stage enabling them to apply for financial resources from regional and/or national cohesion policy programs of the EU 2021-2027 and to strengthen the basic competencies and skills of LGUs regarding cooperation, joint project management and partnership work.

More: HERE.

Contemporary local communities face many challenges: from ensuring high-quality healthcare, through supporting the elderly and people with disabilities, to combating social exclusion. In response to these needs, the Ministry of Family and Social Policy planned the “Social Premium” project, whose goal is to use the potential of the social economy sector to implement social services, while generating a number of social benefits. Thanks to support from European Funds and the state budget in the coming years, local governments will receive approximately 300 million PLN for commissioning social services to social economy entities.

More: HERE.

The Co-operation Fund Foundation together with the Association of Polish Cities and the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy is starting the second edition of advisory support for local governments under the strategic project of the Strategy for Responsible Development – Advisory Support Center (CWD) Plus.

More HERE.

The 2022 DemoDay took place at the “Factory Full of Life” in Dąbrowa Górnicza – an event where our innovators had the chance to present their projects. The main goal was to showcase ideas addressing social challenges affecting the Silesian Voivodeship, their development and implementation concepts, which our innovators had the opportunity to test.

More: HERE.

We are pleased to report that in July we completed the long process of signing grant entrustment agreements under the Accessible School project. As a result of the call, which attracted over 120 governing bodies of schools, we signed agreements with 43 of them! The total value of grants we will pay out (or have already paid) is 54,068,969.06 PLN.

More: HERE.

A new coworking space for startups from Ukraine was officially opened at the headquarters of the Co-operation Fund Foundation. During the opening, a discussion was held on how Ukrainian startups are coping during the war and what support is currently most important for them.

More HERE.

On 16 November 2022, at the Marshal’s Office of the Lubuskie Voivodeship in Zielona Góra, the first Experience Exchange Forum was held in the Lubuskie region – an opportunity for Partnerships to meet representatives of the Marshal’s Office and the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy.

More: HERE.

The Housing First project team, led by Agnieszka Siekiera, received nearly 120,000 PLN in additional funding – support for people affected by homelessness. For over two decades the team has been initiating and implementing projects aimed at combating social inequalities.

More: HERE.

The publication summarizing the Mazowsze Lokalnie 2020 project is available for download HERE.

The competition for the most interesting social innovations within the project Silesian Innovation Space has been decided! On the project website we present the list with the results of the substantive evaluation of the 2nd recruitment stage. Our congratulations to the laureates!

More: HERE.

On 31 August in Wieluń the first grant agreement was signed, initiating the process of adapting two schools to the accessibility standards contained in the Accessible School Model. A grant of 1,350,000 PLN will be transferred to the Wieluń County Office.

More: HERE.

On 26 October 2021, at the Kadr Culture House in Warsaw, the festive Gala of the 5th edition of the Vocational School of the Highest Quality contest took place, co-financed by the Mazovian Voivodeship Self-Government and ANG Group S.A. During the Gala, good practice diplomas and statuettes for 7 finalists were awarded, and the winners of the main prizes in 3 areas were announced and honored.

More: HERE.

The Co-operation Fund Foundation together with the CRIS – Center for Development of Social Initiatives launched the Social Innovation Incubator in Silesia. Its main thematic focus is the creation of “white” and “green” jobs in the region.

More about the launch in the article or on the project website Silesian Innovation Space.

We organized another edition of the key event supporting young entrepreneurs from Ukraine. KYIV TECH HUB 2020 was held in a hybrid format on 22–23 Oct 2020.

KTH 2020 summarized another year of the Polish-Ukrainian Startup Bridge project – more on the project website.

More: HERE.

On 22 October the grant application call opened in the Accessible School project (Operational Programme Knowledge Education Development, Priority Axis IV, Social Innovations and Transnational Cooperation, Action 4.1). Governing bodies of primary schools across Poland could apply. The call ran until 2 November.

More: HERE.

The Foundation together with OIC Poland Foundation launched a 3‑year project (planned to March 2023) focused on increasing competencies of Social Economy Support Centre (OWES) staff.

In this edition it covers Macroregion IV: Pomorskie, Warmińsko‑Mazurskie, Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeships.

In a slightly adjusted formula we held the micro‑grant competition for local activists – Mazowsze Lokalnie.

In 2020 we received 269 applications and funded 91.

The pilot project Housing First is implemented in several Warsaw districts. Project leader: Co‑operation Fund Foundation. Partners: The Y‑Foundation (Finland), City of Warsaw Housing Policy Office, and Housing First Poland Foundation.

Good practices, inspiring experiences, ambitious plans for coming years – and one clear conclusion: vocational education is a crucial part of education in Poland whose further development we want and will support. We present the laureates of the 4th edition of the Vocational School of the Highest Quality competition! Congratulations – and see you at the jubilee 5th edition!

“Właśnie po to” (“That’s Exactly Why”) is a campaign initiated by organizations supporting social enterprises in Mazovia, endorsed by popular film and theatre actor Artur Barciś.

The campaign has both nationwide and regional (Mazovian) scope. Its initiators: BORIS Association, Co‑operation Fund Foundation, Foundation for Social and Economic Initiatives, Civic Development Foundation, Ośrodek Kultury i Aktywności Lokalnej w Krzesku Association, Europa i My Association and the Mazovian Centre for Social Policy.

More: HERE and on social media under hashtag #WlasniePoTo.

The Foundation signed three new agreements with the Mazovian Voivodeship represented by the Mazovian Centre for Social Policy (MCPS). They provide for continued development of the social economy in the Ciechanów, Ostrołęka and Radom subregions. Continuously since 2012 we have been carrying out activities there under the Mazovian Social Economy Support Centre (mOWES).

On Tuesday 16 April 2019 at Golden Floor Tower Conference Centre in Warsaw the conference “HR 2019: law, inspiration, tools” was held – organized by Confederation Lewiatan and the Foundation under the project “Equality of Opportunities in Business”.

The exhibition “Art of Equality” crowned the project “Equality of Opportunities in Business” implemented by the Foundation with partners – drawing social attention to (in)equality of opportunities for women and men in many areas including employment, career development and work–life balance.

On 21 March in Vinnytsia the first 2019 regional meetup (Regional Meetup) of the Polish-Ukrainian Startup Bridge project took place.

Organizers: Co-operation Fund Foundation & Simpact VC, supported by the Polish National Centre for Research and Development, Warsaw Stock Exchange (GPW), RE: ACTOR and Polish Institute in Kyiv.

By decision of the Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy, the Mazovian Social Economy Support Centre (mOWES) retained the status of High‑Quality Social Economy Support Centre.

On 14 October the two‑day 3rd National Networking Meeting of OWES began with representatives of accredited centres, local governments, NGOs, social economy entities, other networks, social partners and academia.

International conference KYIV TECH HUB 2019 held in Kyiv – organized for the first time by the Foundation team – gathering Polish VC funds, entrepreneurs, startup founders and researchers engaged in the Polish‑Ukrainian Startup Bridge project.

The Ministry of Investment and Development signed an agreement for the partnership project Accessible School. The Co-operation Fund Foundation and the Regional Development Institute Foundation manage a 50 million PLN budget. Part of the “Schools without Barriers” pilot. At least 60 schools will be directly supported and the innovative “Accessible School Model” tested.

As Grant Operator the Foundation opened submission of concept notes and applications to expand standard ESF projects with a transnational cooperation component. More: https://www.sciezkiwspolpracy.pl

Another edition carried out – supporting grassroots civic initiatives in Mazovia.

We completed training for 60 experts testing the cooperation model and started a 14‑month pilot in 31 municipalities. They identify key actors, initiate cooperation, and assess feasibility and risk for implementing procedures.

The “Equal at Work” campaign is part of the “Equality in Business” project (since 2016). It promotes free e‑learning courses on labour rights and anti‑discrimination at www.rowniwpracy.pl and www.rownoscwbiznesie.pl for employees, employers and trade unions – plus an online knowledge base.

At our stand visitors met a career advisor (“Education Loans” project), experienced “Forest School Center” attractions (forest orchestra, stone painting), took part in a rights & equality quiz (“Equality in Business”), saw the “Art of Equality” poster exhibition and an educational path presenting “Paths of Cooperation”.

Although the project finished in June 2018, only in January 2019 did the Regional Labour Office in Łódź confirm full and correct financial settlement.

On 14 June in Tbilisi a conference summarized the 4‑year police cooperation project among Eastern Partnership States.

On 27 June during the National Stakeholder Forum for Agenda 2030 at the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Technology we joined the “Partnership for Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals”.

On Thursday 19 July together with Stocznia Foundation we held a meeting summarizing two projects co‑financed by the City of Warsaw: “Senior – act and change your city” (Co‑operation Fund Foundation & Jeden Muranów Foundation) and “AS in participatory budget” (Stocznia Foundation).

On 22–23 May in Berlin another coordination meeting of “Social(i)Makers” project partners took place. The Foundation was represented by Dorota Nowicka and Jacek Ostrowski and external expert Mirella Panek‑Owsiańska.

On 12–13 June in Warsaw the 2nd national networking meeting for Social Economy Support Centres (OWES) was held to intensify cooperation and exchange experience among centres, local government, NGOs, social economy entities, partners and academia.

Kick‑off for cross‑border startup support – Polish‑Ukrainian initiative began.

We support delivery of the 5th edition of FIO‑Mazowsze Lokalnie implemented by Europa i My Association with BORIS and SOKiAL Associations.

More: mazowszelokalnie.pl

We run the 3rd edition of our proprietary competition promoting good practices in vocational education across Poland – www.najlepszazawodowa.pl

We, together with OIC Poland Foundation (Project Leader) and FAOW, obtained funding for the “Forum of Social Economy Support Centres Activity” project (PO WER 2014–2020, Axis II, Action 2.9).

Within the Innovation Space platform we and Ashoka Poland organized the competition “Share Your Innovation – how to solve social problems in new ways”.

Project actions focus on developing solutions for medium‑sized enterprises to make them attractive, inclusive workplaces for current and future employees.

Since August 2017 we participate in “Social(i)Makers” (Interreg Central Europe Priority 1). 19 partners from 7 countries (PL, AT, DE, SK, SI, HU, IT); leader: Democenter Foundation (Innovation Centre).

Innovative project to design and pilot social impact bond model improving alignment of vocational education with employer needs – details under project.

We started a 3rd mOWES project “Incubation and Support of Social Economy in Radom Subregion” – complementing twin projects in Ciechanów and Ostrołęka subregions. More: www.mowes.pl

2nd edition running – www.najlepszazawodowa.pl

4th edition under way – more: article

On 18 September recruitment opened for the Education Loans project enabling financing of any course, training or postgraduate studies with up to 25% remission! National pilot under PO WER – partnership: Regional Development Agency in Starachowice & Co‑operation Fund Foundation (loan system operator).

In March 2016 by decision of the Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy our OWES again obtained High‑Quality Social Economy Support Centre status.

We began two twin mOWES projects: “Incubation & Support of Social Economy in Ciechanów Subregion” and “… in Ostrołęka Subregion”. More: www.mowes.pl

Under the agreement signed 29 Feb 2016 between Poland’s Supreme Audit Office (NIK) and the Foundation, our International Cooperation Office provides administrative & financial support for the twinning project for the Albanian Supreme Audit Institution – covering IT support, financial audit, anti‑corruption and more.

In 2015 the “grassroots initiatives” path allocated 585,000.00 PLN funding 124 applicants. The “organization development” path awarded 47 micro‑grants from a pool of 225,000.00 PLN.

We delivered a training cycle for OWES Business Advisors (social economy support).

On 26 June 1990 Minister & Member of the Council of Ministers Witold Trzeciakowski established the Co-operation Fund Foundation.

Original statutory aim: “…to stimulate and support democratic transformation and development of the Polish economy and social development based on funds (incl. foreign currency) from international and foreign governmental & private institutions and other sources.”

Initial founding capital: 5 billion PLN (old denomination) sourced “from the sale of plant protection products under an EEC assistance programme”. We successively published archival materials throughout the jubilee year.

On 24–25 June the conference “Co‑decision. Fashion or modern self‑governance?” summarized nearly 5 years of the “Let’s Decide Together” project (lead: Co‑operation Fund Foundation) under the honorary patronage of the President of Poland.

Project ESQA implementation begins within Erasmus+ – focusing on European approaches to quality assurance in education.

In the first NGO elections to the Monitoring Committee of the Smart Growth Operational Programme (PO IR), Foundation representatives Jacek Ostrowski and Agnieszka Siekiera secured one of four seats.

Within the “Integrated System of Social Economy Support” project we developed and delivered nationwide seminars for local authorities on applying social clauses in public procurement – training nearly 1,300 participants.

Start of the cross‑border cooperation project among Police forces of Eastern Partnership countries.

Launch of the FIO Mazowsze Lokalnie programme supporting young NGOs and informal groups across Mazovia (national FIO 2014–2020 framework).

Foundation begins cooperation with the Implementing Authority for European Programmes (WWPE) as an Intermediate Body for the Operational Programme Innovative Economy.

Within the “Integrated System of Social Economy Support” project we organized the nationwide meetings with Social Economy (OSES 2013) in Szczecin & Nowe Warpno.

Start of “Innovative system of social economy support in Southern Mazovia” and “…in the Ostrołęka subregion” (PO KL funded) – multi‑level free assistance for residents of Radom and Ostrołęka regions, strengthening existing & new social economy entities.

Start of partnership project “Equality & Diversity – Practically” (2011–2013) with Anti‑Discrimination Association (TEA) – combating discrimination (including multiple), embedding equality in education & labour market policies, and building trainer competences; Foundation led creation & operation of the Network and the ROWNOSC.INFO portal.

Agreement signed with National Centre for Research & Development: financial documentation verification (PO IG Priority I & II) for universities, research institutes and enterprises.

Renewed role as Polish leader of CEDEFOP’s ReferNet – educational policy review, VET & labour market data gathering, documentation and dissemination.

Launch of project supporting 45+ entrepreneurship in Mazovia via training, advisory and seed grants (up to 40k PLN) – 36 companies created and additional jobs generated (project later recognized as EFS good practice).

Activities for Ministry of Science & Higher Education: media campaigns, educational monitoring and project selection committees (PO KL Priority III).

Implementation begins for “EQF – linking different training systems for production process organizers” and “Accessibility of hotel & restaurant sector for persons with disabilities – ACAD”.

Public participation & local governance improvement pilot kicks off.

Nationwide system‑building project for social economy development initiated.

National Supporting Institution (KIW) established to assist innovation & transnational cooperation principles under ESF (guidelines, training, analyses, promotion).

Foundation set up Joint Technical Secretariats for selected European Territorial Cooperation Programme components and an information point for INTERREG IV C (commissioned by Ministry of Regional Development).

Certificate FS 507968 obtained for organizational quality system.

Start of two system projects (2007–2009) disseminating social economy models including rural areas based on EQUAL results.

Project promoting model solutions combating labour market discrimination and adjusting to changing employment conditions.

Development of systemic strategy integrating gender mainstreaming into project planning, implementation & evaluation.

Pilot training of local partnership animators from PL, SK, HU, CZ, SI – creating trainer pathway for rural/local development networks.

Foundation becomes one of the operators of the Fund for NGOs under EEA & Norwegian Financial Mechanisms 2004–2006 supporting civil society and bilateral cooperation.

After three years of preparation and audit, the Financing & Contracting Unit (JFK) received European Commission accreditation for the Extended Decentralised Implementation System – increasing national responsibility for Programme implementation.

Ministry of National Education assigns Foundation as National Europass Centre to standardize presentation of education, experience & language competences for European labour market.

Initiated with Foundation support to build protection system for traditional regional & local food products – raising producer and consumer awareness.

Foundation joins European network for VET information exchange as Polish consortium leader.

Foundation becomes National Support Structure for EQUAL – implementing innovative & transnational cooperation projects combating labour market inequalities.

Euro Info programme (business EU integration support) handed over to Polish Agency for Enterprise Development.

Polish‑American “Agro‑Smak” programme (1 Feb 2003 – 31 Mar 2005) supports building Polish system for protection & promotion of regional/local food products (expert cooperation, documentation & producer network).

Foundation’s rural development experience led to creating FAOW – first national coalition of rural NGOs (12 organizations signed Cooperation Declaration in Dec 2002).

Nationwide information programme for farmers & rural communities on EU accession aspects – building 63 local EU info centres (“Agro‑Info”) embedded in rural institutions.

Continuation of EU vocational education cooperation – exchanges, pilots, language projects, networks and studies across 31 participating countries.

Set up (Feb 1999) to coordinate & service Phare Institutional Building and Transition Facility projects – managing procurement, contracting, monitoring and finance (ultimately 263 projects, incl. ~200 twinning contracts).

24 Dec 1998 MoU commits Poland to create a single multi‑sector JFK for all Institutional Building projects (centralizing Phare implementation for transparency & control).

Foundation designated National Agency for the Leonardo da Vinci vocational training programme.

Implementation of “Pro‑European Initiatives” component: 244 projects; 85 conferences; 1,785 trainings/seminars (≈50k participants); 315 EU info points established nationwide – accelerating accession preparedness.

Foundation awarded 500 grants supporting civil society development, democratic infrastructure and inclusion of socially excluded groups.

Established to analyse VET system, identify development priorities & cooperate internationally (ETF) – data & policy support for labour market alignment.

Continuation of earlier agricultural credit line – supporting modernization of Polish agriculture via revolving PHARE funds and training.

Foundation co‑creates and prepares the first nationwide Forum of NGO Initiatives (held Sept 1996) – thousands of participants, 800+ organizations.

SME support programme team spun off, forming the Polish Foundation for SME Promotion & Development (later transformed into PARP in 2001).

Ongoing substantive and organizational support for civic dialogue platform.

Foundation financed creation of 5 regional Euro Info Centres – first steps to nationwide SME EU information network.

Support for pilot local development & employment programmes – initial edition in 9 municipalities (advisory, training, tourism promotion, investment).

National centre established to gather and share publications for civil society organizations (collections later transferred to COP “Szpitalna”).

Creation of CARESBAC‑Polska (SEAF, Foundation, FDPA, EBRD shareholder) offering VC finance & technical assistance to Polish SMEs – fostering market economy growth.

Launch of JAWOR – pioneering database of NGOs and civic activity (now a major portal accessed by millions annually).

First pre‑accession grant programme (PHARE ’90) begins – supporting structural & institutional reforms and later accession preparations.

Warsaw Euro‑Info Centre launched (later networked with regional offices) preparing SMEs for Single Market integration.

On 26 June 1990 Minister Witold Trzeciakowski founded the Co‑operation Fund Foundation to support democratic transformation & socio‑economic development.

Foundation entrusted with managing national currency proceeds from foreign in‑kind assistance (EC and bilateral donors) – a role continued to present.

BKKK (created Dec 1989 by Ministry of Education) joins Foundation structure – coordinating international educational programmes.

Launch of first PHARE‑funded programme aiding Poland in vocational education & training reform – followed by UPET, MOVE, IMPROVE sequences.

Start of scholarship, internship & course programmes funded by Germany, France, Japan, Sweden, UK (British Know‑How Fund) continuing until EU accession.

First Polish SME support project funded by PHARE – later forming basis of Polish Foundation for SME Promotion & Development (and ultimately PARP).

Launch of comprehensive support (credit access to modern production inputs) for Polish agriculture – later evolving into Agrolinia 2000 revolving scheme.