Course Content
Understanding the Policies Impacting on Project Choice and Necessary Research
Understanding the Policies Impacting on Project Choice and Necessary Research aims to increase your skills in understanding the environment in which your typical NGO CSO project operates. ABOVE ALL Hopefully, these lessons will inspire you to improve your projects and provide stimulation for new project ideas.
0/13
Understanding the project Context
Why understanding the Policy Context is important
Chronology of key international agreements that underpin the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and associated human rights
Key Resources – The enabling environment SDGs and Rights
How the EU has aligned to Agenda 2030
Integrating Key International Agreements into European Policy Frameworks
Reporting on SDGs
The UN System and SDGs
The Three Pillars of Sustainability
Localising SDGs
Resources Council of Europe Youth, Development and Democracy
Guides and handbooks
Participation at the lowest possible level – Leave no one behind.
Context Analysis and Problem Identification
Introduction to Context Analysis Context analysis is the process of understanding the external environment in which your project operates. This includes examining Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, and Legal (PESTEL) factors. Context analysis helps you anticipate challenges and leverage opportunities. Example: In a project that promotes renewable energy, a context analysis might reveal government incentives for solar energy, which could be leveraged to enhance project outcomes.
0/2
Problem Identification and Situation Analysis
04:33
Defining Objectives and Vision
Strategy Development and Choice of Interventions
This module focuses on developing effective strategies and selecting appropriate interventions that align with the project’s objectives and vision. Participants will learn how to create a coherent and practical strategy, choose interventions that are evidence-based and sustainable, and ensure that these interventions are feasible within the given resources and constraints.
0/6
Problem Identification and Situation Analysis
Strategy Development and Choice of Interventions
Developing the Logical Framework (LogFrame)
Introduction to the Human Rights Based Approach
Integrating the Rights-Based Approach into Project Development
Developing a Project Concept Idea
Project Design and Action Planning
Key Elements of Project Design Project design involves creating a detailed plan for implementing the project, including its goals, objectives, activities, and resources. A well-designed project aligns with strategic frameworks like LFA and PCM, ensuring all elements work together to achieve the desired outcomes. Example: The design of a food and nutrition project might include objectives such as reducing malnutrition rates, activities like nutrition education and food distribution, and resources such as staff, materials, and funding.
0/4
Project Design and Implementation Planning
Budgeting and Financial Planning
Strategy Development and Choice of Interventions
Budgeting and Financial Planning
Introduction to Proposal Writing for NGOs and CSOs
To be completed
0/5
Introduction to Proposal Writing for NGOs
09:44
5 Tips to Write Great Proposals - Funds for NGOs
Why Projects go wrong
Inspirations
Understanding the Broader Context
Writing the Proposal: Structure and Style
6.1 Structure of a Winning Proposal A well-structured proposal is critical for clearly communicating your project’s goals and objectives to potential donors. Each section of the proposal should be concise, well-organized, and aligned with the donor’s priorities. Typical Structure: • Executive Summary: A brief overview of the project, including its objectives and expected outcomes. • Problem Statement: A clear articulation of the problem the project seeks to address, supported by data and evidence. • Project Objectives: Specific, measurable goals that the project aims to achieve. • Methodology: The approach and methods that will be used to achieve the objectives. • Budget: A detailed breakdown of the costs involved in the project. • Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Plan: A plan for tracking progress, evaluating outcomes, and learning from the project’s implementation. Example: In a proposal for a gender equality project, the problem statement might highlight disparities in education between boys and girls, the methodology could include community-based education programs, and the MEL plan might track enrollment rates and academic performance.
0/2
Writing the Proposal: Structure and Style
Integrating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Human Rights
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)
7.1 Introduction to MEL Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) are critical components of project management. MEL helps ensure that the project stays on track, meets its objectives, and generates valuable insights for future projects. Monitoring involves tracking the project’s progress, evaluation assesses its outcomes, and learning involves using the findings to improve future initiatives.
0/1
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)
The Importance of Partnership and Collaboration
This module is designed to emphasize the significance of partnership and collaboration in project management and development work. Participants will learn the benefits of forming strategic partnerships, understand the key elements of successful collaborations, and gain skills in identifying, building, and maintaining effective partnerships.
0/3
Working with Private Donors and Foundations
Working with Donors and Sponsors
Working with Private Donors and Foundations
Case Studies and Practical Examples
In this module, you will explore real-world case studies to see how the concepts from previous modules are applied in practice. Analyzing both successful and unsuccessful projects will help you identify key lessons that can improve your project planning, implementation, and outcomes. By understanding what works and what doesn’t, you can apply these insights to your own projects.
0/1
Presentation of Case Studies
How to write a project
About Lesson

Introduction

This Lesson provides an in-depth analysis of how the Council of Europe and the European Union have incorporated vital international agreements that underpin the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and associated human rights into their policy frameworks. It also emphasises labour market policies, ILO conventions, decent work, safety and health as fundamental rights, violence and harassment, youth rights and engagement in local democracy, and environmental sustainability.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this guide, you should be able to:

  1. Understand how the Council of Europe and the European Union have integrated key international agreements into their policies.
  2. Identify how labour market policies, ILO conventions, decent work principles, and environmental sustainability are reflected in European frameworks.
  3. Analyse incorporating violence and harassment (including C190), health and safety at the workplace, environmental protection, and youth rights into European policies.
  4. Engage in tasks that deepen your understanding of these integrations.
  5. The Council of Europe

The Council of Europe (CoE) is pivotal in promoting and protecting human rights, democracy, the rule of law, and environmental sustainability across Europe. Below, we explore how the CoE has integrated various international agreements into its policy frameworks, emphasising labour rights, decent work, environmental protection, and youth engagement.

1.1 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) – 1948

  • Incorporation: The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) (1950) is the cornerstone of the CoE’s human rights protection mechanism, deeply rooted in the principles of the UDHR. The ECHR includes provisions interpreted to protect labour rights, such as the right to strike and freedom of association, and is increasingly linked to environmental rights.
  • Student Task: Research and present how the European Court of Human Rights has ruled on labour and environmental rights cases, citing specific cases.
  • Link: European Convention on Human Rights
  • Reference: CoE, European Convention on Human Rights, 1950.

1.2 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) – 1979

  • Incorporation: The CoE’s Istanbul Convention (2011) is a legally binding instrument to combat violence against women and domestic violence, reinforcing the principles of CEDAW. It also addresses workplace violence and harassment, linking gender equality with labour rights and environmental justice.
  • Student Task: Create a report on how the Istanbul Convention has influenced national policies on workplace harassment and environmental protections for women in CoE member states.
  • Link: Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention)

1.3 Convention on the Rights of the Child – 1989

  • Incorporation: The CoE’s Strategy for the Rights of the Child 2022-2027 aligns with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, promoting child protection and participation in democracy. This strategy emphasises the role of education, vocational training, and environmental sustainability in protecting youth rights.
  • Student Task: Draft a local youth engagement project proposal that aligns with the CoE’s Strategy for the Rights of the Child and includes environmental education components.
  • Link: CoE Strategy for the Rights of the Child 2022-2027

1.4 ILO Conventions and Decent Work

  • Incorporation: The CoE’s European Social Charter (Revised) (1996) incorporates several ILO conventions, particularly those related to decent work, non-discrimination in the workplace, and the right to safe and healthy working conditions. The Charter supports the rights to fair remuneration, collective bargaining, protection from workplace discrimination, and environmental protection in the workplace.
  • Student Task: Analyse how a specific ILO Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise is reflected in the European Social Charter, emphasising environmental considerations.
  • Link: European Social Charter
  • Reference: CoE, European Social Charter, 1996.

1.5 C190 – Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190)

  • Incorporation: The CoE has integrated the principles of ILO Convention No. 190, which addresses violence and harassment in the world of work, into its broader framework for protecting human rights and promoting gender equality. This includes ensuring safe, respectful, and environmentally sound working environments across member states.
  • Student Task: Review how C190 has been implemented in at least two CoE member states, including its impact on environmental health and safety, and present your findings.
  • Link: ILO Convention No. 190
  • Reference: International Labour Organization, Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190).

1.6 Environmental Protection: The European Landscape Convention – 2000

  • Incorporation: The CoE’s European Landscape Convention (2000) focuses on the protection, management, and planning of European landscapes, emphasising the relationship between environmental sustainability and human rights. It aligns with the principles of ecological protection outlined in international agreements like the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21.
  • Student Task: Analyse how the European Landscape Convention has influenced national environmental policies in CoE member states and propose a local environmental project that aligns with the Convention.
  • Link: European Landscape Convention
  • Reference: CoE, European Landscape Convention, 2000.

1.7 Youth Rights and Engagement in Local Democracy

  • Incorporation: The CoE’s Revised European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life (2003) promotes youth engagement in democracy, emphasising the importance of youth participation in decision-making processes at all levels, including environmental decision-making.
  • Student Task: Organise a youth forum in your community where young people can discuss local environmental issues and propose solutions in line with the Revised European Charter.
  • Link: Revised European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life
  • Reference: CoE, Revised European Charter on the Participation of Young People, 2003.
  1. The European Union

The European Union (EU) has developed comprehensive policies that reflect its commitment to human rights, labour standards, environmental sustainability, and sustainable development. The following sections explore how the EU has incorporated international agreements into its frameworks, focusing on labour market policies, decent work, environmental protection, and youth engagement.

2.1 Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union – 2000

  • Incorporation: The Charter enshrines a range of civil, political, economic, social, and environmental rights, reflecting the principles of the UDHR. It includes rights related to labour, such as the right to fair working conditions, the right to collective bargaining, protection from unjustified dismissal, and the right to a healthy environment.
  • Student Task: Compare the labour and environmental rights outlined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights with those in the UDHR and the Rio Declaration. Identify similarities and differences.
  • Link: Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
  • Reference: EU, Charter of Fundamental Rights, 2000.

2.2 ILO Conventions and Decent Work

  • Incorporation: The EU’s European Pillar of Social Rights (2017) incorporates the principles of decent work as outlined in ILO conventions. This includes commitments to fair wages, secure employment, safe working conditions, and work-life balance, emphasising the integration of environmental sustainability into workplaces.
  • Student Task: Research how the European Pillar of Social Rights has influenced labour and environmental policies in your country. Provide examples of changes or initiatives that reflect decent work and environmental sustainability principles.
  • Link: European Pillar of Social Rights
  • Reference: EU, European Pillar of Social Rights, 2017.

2.3 Health and Safety at the Workplace as Fundamental Rights

  • Incorporation: Following the 110th International Labour Conference, the EU has recognised safety and health as fundamental principles and rights at work. This is reflected in the EU’s Framework Directive on Safety and Health at Work (1989), which aligns with ILO Convention No. 155 on Occupational Safety and Health. The directive ensures workers have a right to a safe, healthy, and environmentally sustainable work environment.
  • Student Task: Conduct a safety and environmental audit of a local workplace and report on compliance with EU health, safety, and environmental standards. Suggest improvements based on your findings.
  • Link: EU Framework Directive on Safety and Health at Work
  • Reference: EU, Framework Directive on Safety and Health at Work, 1989.

2.4 C190 – Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190)

  • Incorporation: The EU has incorporated the principles of ILO Convention No. 190 into its legislative framework, mainly through the EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025. This strategy aims to eliminate violence and harassment in the workplace, ensuring that all workers, particularly women, are protected from such abuses, including in environmentally hazardous conditions.
  • Student Task: Develop a workplace policy that addresses violence, harassment, and environmental health, ensuring it aligns with C190 and the EU Gender Equality Strategy.
  • Link: EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025
  • Reference: EU, Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025.
  • In October 2023, the Commission became a party to the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence.

VIDEO

2.5 Environmental Protection: The European Green Deal – 2019

  • Incorporation: The European Green Deal represents the EU’s commitment to addressing environmental challenges through sustainable economic growth. It aligns with international environmental agreements such as the Paris Agreement and the SDGs. The Green Deal integrates ecological sustainability into all EU policies, including labour and social rights, emphasising the transition to a green economy.
  • Student Task: Analyse how the European Green Deal has influenced your country’s national environmental and labour policies. Propose a local initiative that supports the Green Deal’s objectives.
  • Link: European Green Deal
  • Reference: EU, European Green Deal, 2019.

2.6 Youth Rights and Engagement in Local Democracy

  • Incorporation: The EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027 promotes the active participation of young people in democratic processes and decision-making at local, national, and European levels. It strongly emphasizes environmental issues and sustainability and encourages youth involvement in shaping climate change and environmental protection policies.
  • Student Task: Create a plan for a youth council in your community that would advise local government on environmental and sustainability issues in line with the EU Youth Strategy.
  • Link: EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027
  • Reference: EU, Youth Strategy 2019-2027.

Conclusion

The Council of Europe and the European Union have systematically integrated key international agreements related to labour market policies, decent work, the recognition of safety and health as fundamental rights at work, violence and harassment (including C190), environmental protection, and youth rights into their policy frameworks. These integrations ensure that their policies are aligned with global human rights standards and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), providing a comprehensive approach to promoting human rights, environmental sustainability, and social justice across Europe.

Key Student Tasks Recap

  1. Research and Present: European Court of Human Rights rulings on labour and environmental rights.
  2. Create a Report: Impact of the Istanbul Convention on workplace harassment and environmental protections for women.
  3. Draft a Proposal: Local youth engagement project aligned with the CoE’s Strategy for the Rights of the Child, including environmental education.
  4. Analyse: The reflection of ILO Conventions in the European Social Charter, emphasising environmental considerations.
  5. Organise a forum for youth discussion and proposal on solutions to local environmental issues.
  6. Compare Rights: Labor and environmental rights in the EU Charter vs. the UDHR and the Rio Declaration.
  7. Research: Influence of the European Pillar of Social Rights on national labour and environmental policies.
  8. Conduct a Safety and Environmental Audit: Workplace compliance with EU health, safety, and environmental standards.
  9. Develop a Policy: Addressing violence, harassment, and environmental health in the workplace, aligned with C190 and the EU Gender Equality Strategy.
  10. Create a Plan: Establish a youth council for local government advisory on environmental and sustainability issues.

References and Further Reading

  1. Council of Europe Documents:
    • European Convention on Human Rights
    • European Social Charter
    • Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention)
    • CoE Strategy for the Rights of the Child 2022-2027
    • European Landscape Convention
    • Revised European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life
  2. European Union Documents:
  3. ILO Conventions:
    • C190 – Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190)
    • Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise
    • ILO Convention No. 155 on Occupational Safety and Health
  4. Environmental Agreements:
  5. Videos:

This comprehensive guide, along with the accompanying tasks and resources, will help you to engage deeply with the content, analyse the integration of critical international agreements into European policy frameworks, and apply this knowledge to real-world contexts focusing on human rights, environmental sustainability, and social justice.

 

Previous
Next
0% Complete