INTRAC-Case-Study-1-MC-Med

The texts compiled in this publication including the terminology use lay in the sole responsibility of the author(s) and/ or the
International NGO Training and Research Centre (INTRAC) as one of the beneficiaries of the EU-funded EC Cypriot Civil
Society in Action Programme 2010–11. In no way can the content of this publication be attributed to the European
Commission. The EU does not recognise the ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ but only the Republic of Cyprus, its
Member State. Article 1(3) of Council Regulation 389/2006 applies which reads: "The granting of such assistance shall not
imply recognition of any public authority in the areas other than the Government of the Republic of Cyprus".
Building Trust across the Cyprus Divide
Case Study 1: Management
Centre of the Mediterranean
September 2011
EC Cypriot Civil Society in Action Programme 2010–11

Contents
Introduction.....................................................................................................................................3
Background: MC-Med and its activities ...........................................................................................3
Rationale for this case study ...........................................................................................................4
Methods..........................................................................................................................................5
Findings 1: increasing social capital for peacebuilding ....................................................................6
Bonding.......................................................................................................................................6
Capacity building .....................................................................................................................6
Connectedness and trust .........................................................................................................7
Increasing engagement: quantity and quality ...........................................................................8
Sharing of information and resources.....................................................................................10
Bridging.....................................................................................................................................10
Understanding interdependence and separation, promoting willingness to engage ............... 12
Linking ......................................................................................................................................12
Formal contacts .....................................................................................................................13
Increasing resource value......................................................................................................13
Influencing policy ...................................................................................................................14
Findings 2: challenges ..................................................................................................................15
Organisational challenges.........................................................................................................15
Communication and outreach challenges..................................................................................16
Political/contextual challenges ..................................................................................................17
Further challenges ........................................................................................................................17
Conclusion....................................................................................................................................18
Front cover photo credit: Vasiliki Georgiou, INTRAC 2011

http://ec.europa.eu/cyprus || www.intrac.org 3
Introduction
This is one case study from a series of seven, which together form an integral component of
INTRAC’s research project on the role of civil society in building trust and reconciliation in Cyprus.
The project is part of an EU-funded programme which aims to strengthen “the role of civil society in
the Turkish Cypriot community and to promote the development of a conducive environment for the
further development of trust, dialogue, cooperation and closer relationship between the Turkish
Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities as an important step towards a solution to the Cyprus
problem”.1
The INTRAC project builds on previous work in 2006–08 through the Cypriot Civil
Society Strengthening Programme that brought together civil society workers from both sides in
common activities.2
In the course of that programme, INTRAC, with its Greek Cypriot and Turkish
Cypriot consortium partners, observed some of the trust building effects of civil society interaction
and the implications of these. This research takes these observations forward by providing more
in-depth analysis about how trust-building takes place, including the factors that support or hinder
it, the challenges that this presents, and how these challenges may be addressed.
The overall aim of the research project is to strengthen the process of reconciliation in Cyprus by
enhancing the role played by civil society. The specific objective is to develop a greater
understanding of this role so that stakeholders (civil society organisations [CSOs], civil society
support organisations, those involved in policy development, and government and funders,
including international bodies) can carry out that role more effectively in the future. This research
will also contribute to more effective use of trust building techniques for CSOs and for civil society
support agencies, thus increasing the likelihood of bicommunal cooperation and improving the
efficiency of trust building elements in civil society support programmes. Finally, the project will
make a significant contribution to the body of knowledge and learning on policy and practice in
bicommunal and related civil society trust building and cooperation.
The main activities of the project centre on participatory research into the factors supporting and
inhibiting bicommunal civil society activities in Cyprus and abroad. This includes: a literature
review; semi-structured interviews with 105 stakeholders (including CSO representatives, donors,
and policy makers); and seven case studies of CSOs in Cyprus.
The findings are being disseminated in a number of ways, including the case studies, policy
recommendations, practical tools for CSOs, academic journal articles, a practitioner workshop, and
intensive, interactive CSO visits.
Background: MC-Med and its activities
The Management Centre of the Mediterranean (MC-Med or The Management Centre) was
established in 2003. It was initially founded as The Management Centre in 2001. It is a non-
governmental and non-profit support centre in the northern part of Cyprus. MC-Med aims to
contribute to sustainable organisational development and professional management systems
based on international standards as well as to contribute to enhancing the role of civil society in
policy-making mechanisms and the reconciliation process. MC-Med works collaboratively with
numerous local and international partners including the NGO Support Centre (NGO SC) in the
southern part of Cyprus.
1
European Commission (2007) ‘Reconciliation, Confidence Building Measures and Support to Civil Society:
Cypriot Civil Society in Action’: 1. Available at ec.europa.eu/europeaid/tender/data/d52/AOF79952.doc
(retrieved 14 September 2011).
2
See www.intrac.org/pages/en/ccssp2008.html for more details.
This work is funded by the European Union. The contents of this document are the
responsibility of INTRAC, UK and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the EU.

4 http://ec.europa.eu/cyprus || www.intrac.org
MC-Med operates several programmes; the main ones are Civil Society and Reconciliation,
Professional Development and Work-based Learning, Organisational and Economic and
Development, and Communication and Languages. The centre provides training, such as capacity
building and diversity training, and conducts research both to inform its own strategy and on behalf
of other organisations, including identifying the needs and concerns of the community. Its
programmes contribute to addressing management and development issues for CSOs as well as
the private and public sector. The centre is located in central Nicosia and its premises include
rooms for holding meetings, and workshops as well as for training purposes, which MC-Med
members are able to use.
MC-Med, with support from the EU Commission, has established the Independent Media Centre
(IMC) that serves as an alternative media centre for civil society, enabling CSOs, media
representatives, and independent media experts to contribute to and access an On-Line News
Agency Portal that delivers news from a civil society perspective. MC-Med’s Civil Society and
Reconciliation programme organises public discussions to inform the community about what a
future solution for Cyprus based on federalism would entail, the economic benefits of reconciliation,
and the community’s role in contributing to the reconciliation process. The programme prioritises
the concerns of the community and emphasises the importance of preparing the two communities
for a potential solution. MC-Med has also initiated the Cyprus NGO Network which contributes to
the capacity building of the CSO sector as it aims to increase the cooperation and sharing of
experience and expertise between CSOs and to increase the effectiveness of civil society through
collective action. Under the UNDP-funded ENGAGE Project, MC-Med together with the NGO SC
distributes grants to encourage and support their cooperation and increase engagement between
the two main communities. MC-Med, as part of the ENGAGE Project, also provides technical
assistance to CSOs in the northern part of Cyprus to help them to promote their work in both
communities and to increase the level of trust in CSOs.
The ENGAGE project is supported by the United Nations Development Program – Action for
Cooperation and Trust (UNDP-ACT), which is funded by the United States International
Development Agency (USAID). NGO SC and MC-Med implement ENGAGE together. The
overall aim is to strengthen civil society and provide means and opportunities for individuals and
groups participate actively in the process of peace and reconciliation. The project has three
aspects:
• capacity building through trainings, technical assistance, networking, and a small grants
scheme for joint projects;
• raising public awareness of the role of civil society in the peace process, using information
sessions, media campaigns, and public; and
• updating the CIVICUS report.
Furthermore, the project seeks to increase the number of policy positions led by CSOs, and
increase their influence on policy. ENGAGE also aims to develop good practice in communication
with the media by producing a best practice policy for future projects. Initially funded solely through
the UNDP, and having secured substantial European funding over the years, MC-Med now
receives about half its funding from other independent sources.
Rationale for this case study
This case study was selected because it focuses on the main NGO support organisation in the
Turkish Cypriot community and it has also been involved in peacebuilding in a number of ways,
including through working in partnership with Greek Cypriot and international organisations,
supporting and representing Turkish Cypriot groups, and the delivery of capacity building,
networking and trust and reconciliation programmes. As such it enables us to present an overview

and analysis of the ways in which the work of a major civil society support organisation has been
able to inform the key research issues, through adopting a number of different strategies to
peacebuilding and strengthening the role of civil society in the process. It also provides an
opportunity to consider how support is currently being delivered, the challenges that this presents
and how they are addressed, as well as suggesting how support to the NGO peacebuilding sector
might be enhanced in future.
In addition to providing a brief description of MC-Med, this case study, outlines the ways in which it
contributes to building capacity – improving and increasing social assets and activity in the Turkish
Cypriot community as well as assessing its contribution to building bridges with the Greek Cypriot
community. We believe these two processes are closely linked as the former provides the
confidence and skills, as well as laying the foundations or pre-conditions, for the latter to happen.
We also examine the ways in which these, and other processes, enable MC-Med to develop and
enhance relationships with other sectors and influential agencies and partners – processes that are
key for the future development and sustainability of this type of work. Finally, we discuss the
challenges confronting the organisation in this work, how it has been able to meet them, and the
learning emanating from this process – including what needs to happen to enable it, or others in
similar situations, to continue to develop such initiatives in the future.
Methods
The methods used for this case study included desk research; group discussion with ENGAGE
Turkish Cypriot project staff and the Civil Society and Reconciliation Programme Manager; semi-
structured interviews with relevant staff and stakeholders;3
and participant observation at meetings,
trainings, and events.
The social capital approach
Drawing on the learning emanating from the previous civil society strengthening programme, a
number of preliminary key informant interviews, and a literature review, it was decided to adopt a
social capital framework to analyse the case studies. The studies were approached using a
number of social capital indicators, which fall under three different types of social capital:
1. Bonding social capital refers to developing community infrastructure in relation to the ways
in which the organisation enhances social assets and community activity.
2. Bridging social capital refers to the extent to which the organisation promotes engagement
and builds bridges between the two main communities.
3. Linking social capital refers to the contribution of the organisation in developing linkages
between itself with those sectors, agencies and organisations with influence, power, and
resources – including international bodies and donors.
The social capital framework emphasises not only the bridging aspect of social capital but also
aspects of bonding social capital – and how this contributes to more effective and stronger civil
society – as well linking social capital and the extent to which civil society on Cyprus can make the
appropriate connections with key agencies and sectors. These linkages not only contribute to the
3
Semi-structured interviews/consultations were pursued with: the MC-Med Executive Director; three
representatives of partner organisations (including NGO SC); five representatives of member
organisations; the Turkish Cypriot ENGAGE Project Coordinator; the Greek Cypriot ENGAGE Project
Coordinator; the ENGAGE Project Manager; the Independent Media Centre Project Assistant; the Project
Officer for Work-based Learning and Professional Development Programme; Communications Officer; five
representatives of MC-Med beneficiary organisations; five representatives of ENGAGE small grants
beneficiary organisations; two Turkish Cypriot policy academics; a Turkish Cypriot sociologist and peace
activist; a political scientist and peace activist, University of Cyprus; two sociologists, University of Nicosia
(including Past President of the Cyprus Sociological Association); former leader of Turkish Cypriot
community; UNDP-ACT representative; political analyst, EU Representation in Cyprus.

longer term sustainability of CSOs, but are also necessary to enable civil society to make a
meaningful contribution to peacebuilding through influencing and developing the appropriate
processes and structures to support it. Bonding social capital is crucial because it provides a
framework for analysing the extent to which civil society contributes to the development of an
appropriate infrastructure (including social assets) that enables civil society to develop and,
through this, enhance the potential for more effective bridge building to take place. It was decided
that a case study approach would be most appropriate for capturing these processes.
Findings 1: increasing social capital for peacebuilding
This section presents our findings on the work of the MC-Med, exploring its impact on bonding,
bridging, and linking social capital within civil society in Cyprus.
Bonding
Bonding social capital in the sense that we use it here refers to the ways in which civil society has
contributed to the development of social assets or the capacity for taking effective action in each of
the two main communities in Cyprus. This includes enhancing peoples’ capacity (confidence and
skills – including knowledge and information) to enable them to participate effectively in civil
society. It also involves developing the support infrastructure (resources such as places,
equipment, access to information, support staff and organisations, as well as relationships of trust
and networks – or connectedness) to maximise the effectiveness of their participation. This section
considers what MC-Med has done to help people participate effectively in civil society, including
developing their capacity and enhancing the support infrastructure to enable them to participate in
Capacity building
MC-Med has been involved in capacity building work since its inception and helped implement an
island-wide civil society strengthening programme over 18 months 2006–08 in partnership with
INTRAC and the NGO SC, with support from the UNDP-ACT. This programme provided over 80
training courses, 2,000 hours of technical assistance, long term organisational development plans
for NGOs, an NGO Fair, and 15 small- and medium-sized events. The programme included the
training of local trainers and consultants, as well as local capacity building and the publication of 12
training toolkits.
Through its involvement in this and other initiatives, MC-Med has made a contribution to building
the skills and confidence of those involved in CSO activities in Cyprus. One of the first steps to
improving community assets and increasing community activity is building the confidence and skills
of the community in question. Confidence is crucial as those who have little or no former
experience of community involvement, particularly marginalised sections of the community, are
unlikely to possess the confidence needed to play an active role in debates, discussions, meetings,
and organisations.
Some of the ways in which MC-Med activities have contributed to the development of confidence
are illustrated by the experiences of two members of a rural women's organisation who had
attended seminars and meetings held in the centre:
When I first started to attend seminars organised by MC-Med, I would sit quietly
at the back and listen to people. When it was my turn to talk I saw that people
appreciated what I said and I started to feel comfortable and I saw that even
though I don’t have experience in these kind of meetings I have a lot to
contribute into a debate with CSO representatives.
I did not know even simple things such as when to talk in a meeting, if it was OK
to say if I didn’t agree with what the other person was saying… I went to MC-
Med seminars, I was shy at first but I met people from other CSOs and I got

used to attending such events. It gave me confidence to organise similar things
in my village and also attend bigger seminars and meet new people which I
would have never done before.
Increasing skills or capacity in the community is another key step in improving and increasing
community assets and activity. We have outlined some of the ways that MC-Med does this through
its various activities and programmes. Its training events encourage participants to participate
further, in future events:
I went to one training in MC-Med and I saw that I can learn so many interesting
and useful things for my organisation. Then I decided to attend all the training I
could.
Another CSO representative (from the ENGAGE project) referred to how they were able to:
…adopt a flexible approach to my work… you have to have an open mind and
be flexible so you can respond to changes. This helps us when grant
beneficiaries come and ask for extra support because they are not familiar with
project management requirements, for example reporting.
Connectedness and trust
Increasing connectedness within the community, including trust in organisations are also critical
components of building bonding social capital as a prerequisite of strengthening civil society.
The Cyprus NGO Network, led by MC-Med, was established in 2006 with the participation of nine
NGOs, and a further four organisations joined in 2009. The aims of the network are to:
• provide services that encourage cooperation among non-profit organisations that work for
public interest;
• increase the effectiveness of s in the Turkish Cypriot community through cooperation;
• increase and strengthen the dialogue between the s in the Turkish Cypriot community;
• strengthen the democratic participation process within NGOs; and
• take part in the decision making processes and activities of European Union institutions.
To date the network’s activities have included supporting public awareness and lobbying
campaigns; preparing a draft association law in order to update the existing regulations of NGOs to
EU standards; and expressing expectations (through a manifesto) to political parties. Its
representatives also attend seminars and training events and the network supports the efforts of
the political leaders in finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.
According to interviews we conducted with Turkish Cypriot community development and other
NGOs, as well as political representatives and policy experts, the law regulating CSOs’ work in the
northern part of Cpyrus is out-dated, based on colonial law, and does not provide for the needs of
CSOs in contemporary society. The law does not provide any legal basis for CSOs to cooperate
with each other, nor any platforms for debate. Despite this the network was formed to enable
organisations to participate effectively in civil society, work towards shared goals, and avail of
opportunities for common action. Participation in the network also includes a capacity building
dimension in the form of training events and seminars available to members. The experience
gained through participation in the network provides key outcomes, because “through participation
in a network our friendship grows and we build trust”.
The Cyprus NGO Network has contributed to the level of connectedness within the community,
including promoting trust between its members and within the community.
In addition, organisations that received small grants from ENGAGE indicated that the technical

assistance provided by MC-Med had been very useful and that this had contributed to the
credibility of ENGAGE, enabling it to be perceived as “something that is part of the community
which aims to contribute to the formation of a healthy democracy”. By focusing on common
concerns and emphasising the need for cooperation between civil society actors, MC-Med, through
the network and ENGAGE, works to promote confidence in civil society activities and
organisations. This promotes and image of being different from other sectors (particularly formal
and often discredited political party activity) in a positive, independent, and altruistic way:
People see the work CSOs are doing and that what they do is different from
political parties…that we do not aim for power. I believe this greatly contributes
to building trust toward CSOs work in each community.
ENGAGE project staff invest a considerable amount of time and effort in promoting the project to
different audiences in order to gain the confidence and trust of the public in CSO activity:
In order to overcome the low level of trust towards CSOs the ENGAGE project
puts in a great effort to explain to different audiences about their work and the
work of CSOs in general. This is done through mainstream media, such as
opinion and editorial articles in widely read newspapers, appearances on the
news or CSO produced television programmes, and also through alternative or
new media, such as blogging and independent news website by MC-Med.
ENGAGE Project staff member.
The same staff member stressed the importance of having effective relationships with the media
and heeding their advice for successful promotion of activities and projects, such as using
newspaper advertisements for event announcements because it is more effective than advertising
on television.
Another crucial process for gaining the public’s trust in CSOs is ensuring a good match between
activities, and the identified needs of the community. This requires systematic consultation and
research, which MC-Med has provided through its research, and consultancy and professional
support programmes. One key output produced by MC-Med has been the CIVICUS4
civil society
research project, which MC-Med used to identify and assess the current and previous situation of
CSOs, including their needs and concerns and the community’s attitudes towards them. The
CIVICUS findings are invaluable as there is very little systematic research or data on CSOs in
Cyprus.
MC-Med uses the data collected through CIVICUS to inform its activities and one example of this
has been the MC-Med’s volunteering project responding to an identified need to increase
awareness about the role of volunteering in Cypriot society, and the networks developed by, and
supported through, the ENGAGE project. Other examples include MC-Med’s diversity training and
capacity building programmes for NGOs, which were identified and informed through research
programmes, including CIVICUS.
Increasing engagement: quantity and quality
We are concerned with both the quantity of participation – people becoming involved – and the
quality or intensity of the participation. Through developing community capacity and increasing
confidence, MC-Med enhances leadership skills in the community. It also contributes to this
4
CIVICUS (2005) ‘Civil Society Index Report for Cyprus’ MC-Med in collaboration with Intercollege, Nicosia.
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is an international alliance dedicated to strengthening
citizen action and civil society around the world. Its International Civil Society Index Project aims to
researches and studies civil society in 60 different countries in order to assess civil society and identify how
to strengthen it. Its 2005 report on Cyprus was updated in 2010 with preliminary findings presented at
corresponding events in the northern and southern parts of Cyprus. The full final report is still pending at
time of writing.

through its other activities, in particular through its professional development support and the more
active involvement of the NGO sector through the Cyprus NGO Network. Regarding this, one of
the network’s members explained how they “adopted a dynamic leadership strategy based on their
experiences in the … network”.
MC-Med staff members themselves, when delivering support, stress the need for organisations
and projects to encourage their members to show initiative and have the confidence to play an
active role in the decision making process, increasing the number of people engaging actively. This
includes ensuring “all team members [are] well informed of the progress in the project to avoid
being left out” and recognising that “one of the strengths of a project is the professionals who work
in the project”.
MC-Med also enhances the quality or intensity of activity: one Turkish Cypriot ENGAGE project
grant beneficiary described how they learned to increase interest and participation in activities by
redesigning workshops based on feedback from participants, for example in cases when the times
and venues were not suitable for all the participants: “the way an event is promoted and presented
to the public plays an important role in determining the number of participants and how an event is
seen in the community.” They also learned the importance of communication strategies and how
these should be implemented:
Different communication strategies allow you to raise awareness about what you
are doing, inform people and reach out to as many as people possible. [We
learned from MC-Med that] each event has to be considered differently, that
people’s decisions to attend one event do not indicate that they will be aware of
other events. Practical guidance such as including maps and spreading the word
ahead of the time is very important.
Other small grant beneficiary NGOs referred to how they were learning to increase awareness (the
main aim of the small grant project) by focusing on issues that should be of concern to people and
how they might, as one explained, “develop tools and strategies to overcome difficulties and
improve living conditions”.
Through the ENGAGE project, MC-Med strives to reach as many people as possible, going
“beyond the usual suspects who have already been attending” events. In this way reaches people
who are new to community or voluntary activity. This includes organising events in places that will
attract large numbers of people, including informal community venues, enabling people from
different sections of the community to attend. An ENGAGE project staff member has indicated that
it is also “important to be aware of the current issues society is concerned with and include that into
your agenda”. This may include issues such as the effects of austerity measures on the population
as well as an acknowledgement that:
… there is not a common approach that can be applied to every region when
you organise events. Each region has its own specific characteristics and you
have to consider these before you come up with an event proposal.
Other events are organised in a way that will attract the interest of the general public. One small
grant beneficiary referred to how “our project not only decided to attract the [usual] people who
would be interested but to attract passers-by, for example, the art exhibition at the border
crossings”.
Some groups that benefitted substantially from MC-Med support, enabling them to become much
more active in community activity, are the Friends of Karpaz Association and Akova Women’s
Association (see Case Study 3). The former was established after 2000, by people who had
attended a series of seminars and workshops in the centre, and is now actively involved in a
considerable range of developmental and environmental projects in the Karpaz peninsula; they are

also a member of the Cyprus NGO Network and CYINDEP. The latter became much more active
in developmental work in the Mesaoria area after participating in MC-Med events.
Encouraging participation by previously uninvolved people, particularly those at the margins of
society, improves both quantity and quality of participation; it makes civil society more inclusive.
One of the main aims of ENGAGE is to:
… encourage new actors to participate in the process of reconciliation, and
therefore employ new approaches to encourage citizens who have not
previously been involved in dialogue to become engaged and debate at the
inter-communal level.
Recipients of small grants under ENGAGE have included projects working in the field of human
rights for minority groups, health-related, women’s support groups, and youth and children’s
project. ENGAGE has successfully incorporated projects from outside Nicosia, including rural
communities. Cyprus NGO Network membership also includes groups from outside Nicosia, such
as the Friends of the Karpaz Association (rural development), HASDER Folk Arts Foundation (see
Case Study 7), KAYAD Community Centre Association of Women to Support Living, and the
Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation. Another of the case studies (Akova Women’s
Association) has also indicated how they, a rural women’s organisation, were able to benefit from
the support of MC-Med.
Sharing of information and resources
As discussed, the centre provides shared resources, including space, for NGOs and others in a
central location in north Nicosia. Its facilities are available to member groups and others for holding
seminars, discussions, and training activities. MC-Med also contributes to the sharing of
information and resources through the Cyprus NGO Network as well as through its publications
and website. Its publications have included the aforementioned CIVICUS report and also a major
report on the impact of peacebuilding work on the Cyprus conflict.5
MC-Med’s website includes a link to the IMC website, and both include information on training
programmes, conferences, and other events on the Cyprus problem, and bicommunal activities
and programmes. The MC-Med website also provides information on training courses and events,
including capacity building and links to training materials and publications on civil society.
In addition, MC-Med has initiated the IMC with the support of the EU Commission. IMC has
established an online news agency portal that delivers news from a civil society perspective. This
portal is accessible to all Turkish Cypriot media as well as civil society, and includes contributions
from CSOs, media representatives, and independent media experts.
Bridging
Through developing the aspects of bonding social capital described in the previous section, MC-
Med strengthens the factors that ensure more effective participation in civil society. This process,
through leading to more confident, informed, and supported communities can lead to a greater
willingness of participants to explore issues of separation and interdependence with the other
community. Through acknowledging the shared nature of their problems and the benefits of
reconciliation, it fosters trust and a willingness to engage – through dialogue, joint activities, or
social events – with the others. This engagement in turn leads to the further development of trust.
All of these processes help to build bridges between the two communities and this is what we
mean by bridging social capital in this context.
MC-Med has been closely engaged with the Greek Cypriot community since its inception,
particularly through its close partnership with the NGO Support Centre (see Case Study 2) and
5
Hadjipavlou, M. and B. Kanol (2008) ‘Cumulative Impact Case Study: The Impacts of Peacebuilding Work
on the Cyprus Conflict’, report, Nicosia: Management Centre of the Mediterranean.

their joint operation of ENGAGE and the initiation of the NGO Development Platform (CYINDEP;
discussed further in this section and in the Linking section).
ENGAGE, developed jointly with NGO SC, aims to strengthen civil society’s role in the
reconciliation process by:
• increasing the number of policy positions led by CSOs and civil society networks;
• increasing the number of partnerships, networks, and informal collaborations supporting the
reconciliation process;
• increasing the number of joint thematic initiatives demonstrating a common approach to
island-wide issues; and
• setting out a best practice policy for CSO communications with the media.
ENGAGE was designed to build on the success of the earlier (2006–08) UNDP-ACT Cypriot Civil
Society Strengthening Programme. It is bicommunally implemented through open training and
discussion events, consultation, technical assistance, and financial support. Its small grants
programme supports CSOs that work bicommunally to provide activities and projects that
“contribute to the spirit of reconciliation and promotion of peace on the island”. The project has
achieved international recognition, called by UNESCO “one of the best projects in the world in the
field of ‘Rapprochement of Cultures’”.
Increases in both the quantity or volume of engagement and the quality of such engagement are
important. MC-Med helps improve the quality of the infrastructure that allows for civil society
engagement, including that between the two communities. A representative of one of the (Turkish
Cypriot) grant beneficiary organisations felt ENGAGE was successfully “informing Greek and
Turkish Cypriot NGOs about the NGOs which they can work with on the other side [which] in many
cases led to further cooperation”. They stressed that this cooperation continued “even if the
funding was not granted to the proposed project”. Another gave examples of Greek Cypriots who
had never crossed the Green Line before but had crossed to participate in their events in the
northern part of Cyprus.
MC-Med’s early initiatives in relation to reconciliation were through supporting civil society on a
monocommunal basis. The Director described the main purpose as being “to strengthen civil
society so that CSOs could participate in reconciliation work bicommunally”. He described how, at
first (in the early 2000s) they “did not have a strong partner… and the political situation was not
very permitting so mono-communal work made more sense”. However, this mono-communal work
made a significant contribution to reconciliation since “many CSOs, after taking training by the
Management Centre, participated in bicommunal work afterwards [once they gained skills and
confidence]”. One such organisation was AWA (see Case Study 3). Before the availability of this
training, according to the Director, “the only strong CSOs [in the northern part of the island] were
the labour unions”. Building the infrastructure for engagement in civil society is a necessary
foundation of bridging the divide.
The structure of ENGAGE is the result of a later attempt to further develop the structures that
facilitate bicommunal engagement. ENGAGE involved the establishment of a unique partnership
between MC-Med and the NGO SC. The committee draws members from both parts of the island,
with decisions needing to be commonly agreed. This represented the first agreed approach to all
aspects of a project, involving organisations from both sides of the Green Line.
MC-Med was also involved in forming CYINDEP, which began with a Memorandum of
Understanding between the Greek Cypriot Development Platform and the Turkish Cypriot Cyprus
NGO Network. CYINDEP brings together NGOs working on international development,
development education, and development cooperation to improve the effectiveness of their work
and advocacy.

MC-Med was also one of the lead funding organisations in the Cyprus Community Media Centre
(CCMC, see Case Study 5), which has evolved a similar structure to CYINDEP. CCMC draws on
seven founding members from each community, with separate management boards but under a
single body. Both CYINDEP’s and CCMC’s structures are unique and provide a valuable insight
into how structures, in the absence of a wider political agreement, can be developed in a way that
transcends division.
Understanding interdependence and separation, promoting willingness to engage
It is vital that both communities come to recognise their commonalities and develop a sense of
interdependence as a key step in building bridges between them. CSOs can this awareness of
interdependence which, in turn, helps both communities to meet the challenges presented by
issues of separation.
This recognition of interdependence and civil society’s role in it drives MC-Med’s efforts to engage
with the Greek Cypriot community and to build capacity in Turkish Cypriot CSOs. CYINDEP and
ENGAGE are two of the most recent initiatives that demonstrate this. ENGAGE supports civil
society’s part in fostering understanding by increasing the number of joint thematic initiatives. A
recent conference co-organised by ENGAGE and the Cyprus 2015 project included presentations
and discussions about many common themes relevant to sustainable development, such as
energy, water, construction, and mobility. Such initiatives reinforce the communities’ awareness of
their interdependence, and demonstrate the need to address issues of separation. They also build
communities’ capacity to address these issues, and by demonstrating that these issues affect both
sides, they increase people’s willingness to engage with bicommunal work.
MC-Med has been successful in increasing the willingness of organisations, groups, and
individuals to engage with the Greek Cypriot community, through the structures it has helped to
create, the bicommunal campaigns it has been involved in, and the programmes it has operated.
Beneficiary organisations from ENGAGE project’s small grants programme have intimated that
their projects enabled participants from the two communities to build personal relations and that
this contributes to, as one of them described it, “greatly overcoming prejudice towards ‘the other’”.
Another community development grant beneficiary organisation related that
…through interaction with community members of the other side people become
more aware of the sensitive issues for members of the other community. This is
more beneficial in the reconciliation process than what leaders have offered to
people so far.
Another representative of a small grant beneficiary NGO indicated that they
… gained valuable experience in discussions [with Greek Cypriot partners] and
finding a common ground and therefore cooperation was strengthened through
increasing dialogue and trust.
Funding, like the ENGAGE small grants programme, also promotes a sense of interdependence: it
has helped organisations realise that they can work well together, and although some have held
only one event and lost contact, others have been able to maintain contact and reap the benefits,
including accessing future funding opportunities together. A representative of a bicommunal health
based interest group noted the importance of leading by example, referring to the partnership of
MC-Med and NGO SC and how such examples increase the willingness of people and groups to
engage with the other community:
The Management Centre and the NGO-Support Centre are … role models for a lot of
civil society and the more they do together the more automatically other organisations
will do together.
Linking

Linking Cypriot CSOs to other key actors within and beyond their communities further strengthens
Cypriot civil society, bringing increased opportunities for learning, sharing, and funding. These
linkages also enable civil society to have a greater impact on policy and decision-making
processes, at home and in international bodies.
Formal contacts
MC-Med has a strong track record of making appropriate connections with key agencies and
sectors.
CYINDEP was established to enable developmental NGOs to improve the effectiveness of their
work and advocacy, particularly in relation to international influence and issues. CYINDEP is
composed of two platforms/networks, one representing 13 Turkish Cypriot CSOs and one
representing nine Greek Cypriot CSOs (including NGO SC). CYINDEP officially became a member
of CONCORD in November 2009. CONCORD is the European NGO Confederation for Relief and
Development. It has 18 international networks and 24 national associations from the European
member states and represents more than 1,600 European NGOs with regards to the European
institutions. This has enhanced the influence of CYINDEP, including the Cyprus NGO Network, by
enabling them to play a more active advocacy role in the decision- making processes and activities
of EU institutions, and it has strengthened democratic processes through including NGOs.
Through CYINDEP, NGOs in Cyprus have acquired a stronger voice in the EU which has
presented opportunities for lobbying for change on a raft of issues including those concerned with
participatory democracy, human rights, and promoting social inclusion. CYINDEP has also been
invited to contribute to events, and their coordination, during Cyprus’ EU presidency term in 2012.
The ‘Networking with the European Union’ project of the Cyprus NGO Network, which is funded by
the EU, has been implemented since December 2009 under the leadership of MC-Med. The
international attention gained by CYINDEP is perceived as “an important step for bicommunal
cooperation between NGOS [as it gives] international recognition [and] in this case increases the
influence of the advocacy group”. This has provided a good learning opportunity for other CSOs,
as well; one of the Cyprus NGO Network’s representatives said that “the network experience has
shown that having a strong institutional framework increases NGOs influence on the decision
making mechanisms and therefore makes the NGOs politically more powerful”.
The network, through participating in an EU project implemented by MC-Med, has also established
partnerships with Cooperation Ireland (which operates in both parts of Ireland) and Sloga (in
Slovenia), developing networks in other EU countries. MC-Med has developed partnerships with
other international organisations including the Centre for Economic Development in Azerbaijan,
TRIALOG (for training through CONCORD), and INTRAC. MC-Med has also has maintained a
strong long-term relationship with UNDP, particularly through the UNDP-ACT programme which
has sponsored previous programmes, including the capacity building programme referred to and
the current ENGAGE project.
Increasing resource value
MC-Med’s programmes include providing support to organisations in preparing project proposals in
order to apply for funds, including the development of business plans for EU grants and local
source funding applications. This has resulted in substantial additional resources being leveraged
to the Turkish Cypriot community for strengthening civil society over the years. This includes the
centre’s contribution to the ENGAGE project, including funding that has been leveraged to both
communities for bicommunal work via the small grants programme.
According to the Cyprus NGO Network members, participation in the network has let them share
their knowledge and experiences with, and gain support from, other network members. This has
included being able to access information on and get support for addressing issues that were not
originally on their agenda. The Turkish Cypriot Diabetic Association, for example, was able to

support other CSOs in taking action to increase the awareness of current environmental issues
that affect different aspects of the quality of life of the population. A rural development NGO
network member explained that
…this cooperation can also mean that NGOs in different cities can participate in
our events, we [NGOs outside Nicosia] can get support from urban NGOs and
increase our participants.
These are just examples where network membership was increasing participation in civil society
activities designed to raise awareness of health, environmental, and rural development issues.
This has implications for influencing public opinion. As another network member organisation
representative noted,
…in big scale events the large number of participants will attract the attention of
mainstream media. This is also the case when important people are present at
the event. The ENGAGE tree planting event, for example, when Talat and
Christofias [the political leaders of the two communities at the time] were
included. The mainstream media could not ignore this.
Other network members (KAYAD, HASDER, Turkish Cypriot Diabetic Association, Patient Rights
Association) all referred to how the network was effective in lobbying to prevent the proposed
changes in CSO legislation; “its voice was louder with the help of the CSOs in the network”. One of
these added that they would not have been able to achieve this if they acted on their own because
(as a mainly cultural club) it is “not associated with making political statements”.
ENGAGE promotes a culture of civic participation and encourages new actors to become involved
in civic engagement and reconciliation activities. ENGAGE Turkish Cypriot project staff understand
that CSOs often work in or on behalf of small communities and that network events allow localised
and marginalised concerns to be raised in a way that has a greater impact than if they were voiced
in more localised or isolated contexts.
This includes being able to share assets or transfer skills, such as media visibility or strong
advocacy skills. According to Turkish Cypriot ENGAGE project beneficiaries, the project enabled
them to gain more publicity for their work in the mainstream media as well as introducing them to
alternative media channels. Therefore, bicommunal events were also perceived as an important
opportunity to raise awareness about a particular issue in the community, and through this
contribute to monocommunal efforts to strengthen civil society approaches to these issues.
Influencing policy
The Cyprus NGO Network successfully campaigned against changes in the existing out-dated
CSO legislation which would have made it even more difficult for CSOs to operate collectively and
independently. To do this, they gained support from the international community, partly through
connections with CONCORD and the EU, and succeeded in stalling the approval of new
undemocratic legislation proposed by the government. Network members have also drafted
alternative CSO-friendly legislation based on international standards.
Through the network and ENGAGE, MC-Med helped organise a number of major events, such as
two public events held in June 2011. The official representatives of the two Cypriot leaders, Kudret
Özersay and George Iacovou, attended ‘Towards a Federal Settlement of Cyprus: Hopes and
Fears’, which explored hopes and fears in relation to the possibility of a federal solution to the
Cyprus problem. Representatives of the Environment Technical Committee, who are involved in
the current negotiations on the future of the island, were invited to ‘Towards Sustainable
Development in Cyprus: Challenges and Opportunities’, which brought together experts who spoke
on sustainable development and peacebuilding. Both events provided opportunities to present
research findings on these issues and explore further the role of civil society in both peacebuilding

and sustainable development.
Significantly, ENGAGE’s first event two years earlier, in 2009, also brought together civil society
groups, representatives of the political leaders of both communities, and influential individuals from
Turkey and Greece to discuss how Cypriot civil society can play a more active role in the peace
process and support the political leaders in the on-going negotiations. The ENGAGE bicommunal
working group used the occasion to issue a declaration,6
signed by more than 50 CSOs, stating
that “an early solution was vital to avoid permanent division and that each of the two leaders
should have more contact with the other community”. It stressed the need for a civil society team to
have a negotiating and advisory role in the negotiations at the leaders’ level. It added that cross
language teaching in schools and peace education at all levels should be used as tools for
facilitating reconciliation. The two co-Directors of ENGAGE – who are the Executive Directors of
the MC-MED and NGO SC – emphasised that Cyprus was “a hostage of its own political problem
and that civil society should not be a spectator to the talks at the track 1 level, but should rather be
an active player if we are to have a sustainable peace accord”.7
During the same launch event for ENGAGE, the representatives of the two political leaders at the
time acknowledged the constructive role of CSOs in the peace process, underlining “the optimism
with which they saw the efforts already undertaken by representatives of civil society”. They added
that “participation in NGO work created its own positive energy and enabled the authorities to
inspire and be inspired”.8
Two years after the launch of ENGAGE, as the project drew to a close,
the same civil society representatives, used the occasion to express their continuing support for
the peace negotiations. However, they also used the occasion to voice their disappointment that
civil society’s role in the process was not more significant.9
Findings 2: challenges
Organisational challenges
MC-Med has been attempting to address some of the challenges facing NGOs in relation to
networking and team building. According to interviews we conducted with Turkish Cypriot NGOs
and representatives of NGO support organisations, NGOs have trouble keeping networks
functioning. This is mainly due to a lack of resources to dedicate to the network, such as time and
staff, and to a lack of experience. To overcome this problem, ENGAGE prioritises areas identified
by the project staff that need support most because it is not common practise for NGOs in its
network to keep each other aware of their work. A member of ENGAGE project staff has argued
that currently networks function well on an ad-hoc basis and this is a success because:
… we are aware of the difficulties maintaining a structure that does not work all
the time. However, [such a] structure which enables NGOs to establish relations
between each other means that this group of people [is still able to] come
together and act when it is necessary.
In addressing this and other challenges, ENGAGE staff and members referred to the emphasis on
teamwork and team spirit:
Each person is specialised in one area and they work in this area as part of a
team. In the ENGAGE project we make best use of the skills and experiences of
6
‘54 Organisations Express Their Support to the Two Leaders with a Common Declaration’ ENGAGE
Project Press Release, 7 July 2009.
7
Has sufficient progress been achieved in the peace talks in the two years that passed since the inception of
the ENGAGE – Do your part for Peace Project?, ENGAGE Press Release, 7 July 2011. Available at
http://engage4peace.org/Latest%20News/EngageAnniversary_Eng.pdf (retrieved 5 September 2011).
8
Ibid.
9
Ibid.

the team members and this is the key to success. Working in ENGAGE you
learn to work in a team.
In my previous work place you needed to work on your own as an individual and
you gained individual praise but in CSOs you have to work as a team if you want
to be successful, and then you share the praise … You learn to trust each
other’s ability.
Teamwork also means being inclusive, and trying to meet local and individual needs. For example,
to include those who had to travel long distances to events, one grant recipient said “we wait for
our participants who have to travel a long way to come to our events and all the participants agree
that we start our cultural heritage excursion trips half-an-hour late”.
However, this case study has identified further challenges that remain problematic. These include
the use of specific terminology and monitoring and evaluation. Something as apparently simple as
terminology can be a further difficult, for instance, the way authorities are named in press
statements. ENGAGE project staff and network members felt that
… one of the main challenges is the terminology, words chosen for the projects.
Some words when used in the bicommunal context are considered as sensitive
and politically charged.
A member of MC-Med staff explained:
The problem of adopting the correct terminology is most evident in the case of
written materials for a wider audience. Technical terminology has to be removed
from such texts but in most cases this is not enough.
One of the challenges in using the correct terminology is that removing sensitive words and
replacing them with neutral words creates a text that has no appeal to a general reader. An
example of this might be referring to a municipality as a local authority. This creates an artificial
language which is not understood by the general audience and distances the reader from the text.
Monitoring and evaluation capacity is also a concern. One small grant beneficiary organisation
representative noted that “it is difficult to evaluate the impact of the activities, for example in the
case of events that promote dialogue between young people, it is hard to identify to what extent
changes are made in participants’ everyday life and how they shared what they learned with their
peers”. Capturing outcomes is a challenge facing most peacebuilding activities (see also Case
Study 2) and is perhaps beyond the means of the ENGAGE project as it draws to a close.
However, it might be a challenge that similar projects in future should try to meet.
Communication and outreach challenges
Communicating with and reaching out to the community and actors beyond the community
presents a unique set of challenges. Perceptions of the organisation matter, too: one ENGAGE
staff member felt that the belief that outside funding has not been spent efficiently undermines trust
in the organisation. To address this, ENGAGE puts “great emphasis on making the work they do
under the project visible through mainstream media channels' story coverage of the small grant
projects’.
First, finding participants has been difficult. A network member attributed this to “the barriers in our
heads which are rooted in the lack of a culture of doing something together’. Finding participants
was an issue raised by all of the interviewees in the case study. One network member
representative described how: “In order to overcome this we set new targets, new profiles of
participants and new strategies to attract these people to events’. They added that all of this should

be considered in order to encourage people who are not familiar with bicommunal events to
participate. Otherwise, they added, “events only gather the people who always get together and it
does not spread the word about peace’.
Successful strategies adopted by ENGAGE include inviting speakers to events who are well known
and widely acknowledged or famous in the Turkish Cypriot community. It also makes the most of
the knowledge and experience of local experts, as was done with the ‘Towards a Federal
Settlement of Cyprus’ conference of June 2011.
Second, advertising can be tricky. A project must give a common message and one community
cannot be treated differently even if its concerns are more pronounced than the other. Finding
common ground in such circumstances can prove challenging.
Third, lobbying effectively is difficult because training is very limited and because policy decisions
take place behind closed doors. However, one of the advantages for CSOs working in small
communities is that it is easier to gain access to people in the course of their work. For example, a
local youth leader in the case of a youth festival can be easily contacted and although they may not
be directly engaged in policy formulation, they are nevertheless involved in the implementation of
the policy through the process of designing and planning an activity, event, or study. NGO network
members can still make use of these connections for lobbying purposes.
Political/contextual challenges
NGOs working to promote trust and reconciliation in Cyprus have been faced with a difficult
political and policy environment, and this has been particularly marked in theTurkish Cypriot
community, creating suspicion and antagonism from public figures (including politicians) and
sections of the population (including from both the left and right). Others simply perceive such work
as a waste of time including those (and others) who want nothing to do with Greek Cypriots. While
the period just after 2002–03, with the opening of the crossing points and the election of a
supportive administration in the north, provided cause for optimism, events in recent years,
including the election of a less helpful administration, have largely dissipated any progress made.
Additionally, the political context creates physical challenges. Young participants are not permitted
to cross the Green Line on their own and one of their parents must be present at the check point.
One ENGAGE grant recipient explained:
Having a great idea is not enough. The complications of hosting events, for
example with children from the two sides, have to be thought through ahead of
time.
Further challenges
The following is a list of suggestions, arising from our consultations, that may contribute to further
trust building and reconciliation.
1. More cooperation with Greek Cypriot organisations: Good intentions, determination
and positive thinking have been suggested by participants and beneficiaries as important
components to maintain synergy in bicommunal cooperation. However, one network
member has also suggested that more cooperation should be established with Greek
Cypriot NGOs to “help us find partners for implementing bicommunal projects”.
2. Communicating the benefits: Changes should be made to the way that projects are
evaluated and promoted so that the benefits to the community are clearly communicated
and understood.
3. Building capacity: MC-Med should explore ways of further developing its efforts on

building capacity and engaging with NGOs in rural areas to increase their chances of
successfully applying for a grant. Similarly, newly established organisations that lack
experience/capacity, may have innovative approaches that would benefit bicommunal work
but need more proactive support and guidance in relation to funding applications.
Longitudinal activities: Participant organisations have suggested that more longitudinal
activities, which allow for more opportunities for interaction between participants over time
would yield more sustainable outcomes in terms of building trust and reconciliation.
4. Influencing policy development: All of those we consulted agreed that a better political
environment is needed for people to come together without being or feeling threatened. In
the absence of an overall settlement of the Cyprus Problem, however, CSOs need to
continue to intensify efforts to influence public policy to develop a more favourable
approach to the support of the work of NGOs. This may range from campaigning for
legislation change for NGOs, or the introduction of active citizenship in the school
curriculum, to promoting the benefits of NGOs to, and for, the public sector.
Conclusion
This case study has considered the work of the Management Centre of the Mediterranean (MC-
Med) in strengthening civil society and contributing to trust and reconciliation between the two main
communities in Cyprus.
It has demonstrated MC-Med’s considerable contributions to strengthening civil society, particularly
through developing community or social assets and activity. This has included its involvement in
building the capacity and confidence of CSOs and those involved in them through the provision of
training courses and events and, as a result of this, increasing and improving participation in civil
society and community based activities. It has included difficult to reach groups in this process
such as marginalised, disadvantaged sections of the community and those not previously
interested in or excluded from civil society activities. MC-Med has also played a lead role in
developing and improving the structures that enable civil society to operate more effectively
through promoting leadership, the development of networks, and the sharing of information and
other resources. It has also helped to develop a more focussed civil society through focusing the
efforts of CSOs on shared aims and goals and collective action.
MC-Med has been a forerunner in developing activities and relationships with the other main
community in Cyprus, including collaboration with the NGO SC on the Strengthening Civil Society
programme and ENGAGE project. Through these initiatives it made a significant contribution to
increasing the level of engagement between the two communities as well as improving the
structures for engagement, including the establishment of an island-wide network of CSOs. These
activities have all led to a greater appreciation of the shared interests and interdependence of the
two communities, and the development of relationships of trust and mutual understanding. They
have also improved the competence and willingness of people from both communities to address
issues of separation and consider the needs of their communities within a wider context,
developing further opportunities for engagement, coexistence, and joint approaches to mutual
problems. It has also contributed to promoting a more favourable climate for discussions about the
Cyprus problem and how it might be resolved, and has increased channels and opportunities for
the wider public to contribute to these discussions.
A crucial part of this process was developing appropriate links with those who have influence and
power, and those who take decisions on public policy and resource allocation. To this end, MC-
Med has successfully generated interest from development and funding agencies outside the
community, to enable civil society to develop and strengthen its work. It has also played a lead role
in representing Cypriot civil society on a wider international stage, including developing critical
contacts with EU institutions. Furthermore, it has facilitated the participation of others from its own
community in playing a more active role in these and other public fora, including the promotion of
more inclusive ways of including CSOs in debates about public policy.

MC-Med has made a significant contribution to the development of a more informed and active
community, in the broader sense and in promoting reconciliation between the two main
communities in Cyprus. NGO SC has achieved much for Cypriot civil society, and within an
unfavourable and challenging wider policy context characterised by constraints and suspicion.

The case studies
Each of the case studies selected represents a different aspect of civil society
approaches to trust and peacebuilding work on Cyprus. Each focuses on different
themes and operates in different contexts, presenting a small but representative sample
of the different types of civil society work in this field.
• Case Study 1 – The Management Centre of the Mediterranean. This is the
main support organisation for the Turkish Cypriot community and has been
involved in a number of bicommunal activities and programmes, including with
NGO SC.
• Case Study 2 – NGO Support Centre. This is the main NGO support
organisation in the Greek Cypriot community and has been involved in
peacebuilding in a number of ways, including through working in partnership with
Turkish Cypriot and international organisations, supporting and representing
Greek Cypriot groups, and the delivery of capacity building, networking and trust
and reconciliation programmes.
• Case Study 3 – Akova Women’s Association. This is a rural women’s
association in the Turkish Cypriot community that has been involved in some
limited bicommunal activities, but is also involved in promoting a monocommunal
strategy for building trust and reconciliation.
• Case Study 4 – Association for Historical Dialogue and Research. This
organisation seeks to address the divisions between the two main communities
through focusing on aspects of history, addressing the divisive ways in which it is
presented, and promoting the enhancement of history teaching and historical
research.
• Case Study 5 – Cyprus Community Media Centre. This organisation focuses
on the promotion of an independent media on Cyprus, including enhancing the
presentation of civil society initiatives and promoting a more balanced approach
to civil society, news items, and political developments on both sides of the
Green Line.
• Case Study 6 – The KONTEA Cultural Heritage Circle Project. This project
involves the former Greek Cypriot inhabitants of the Kontea village to the north of
the Green Line, working in conjunction with the current mainly Turkish Cypriot
inhabitants, to restore and develop public buildings and space in the village for
mutual benefit and to promote trust and reconciliation.
• Case Study 7 – Working with Young People. This case study considers the
contribution of two organisations – Soma Akriton and HASDER Folk Arts
Foundation – that are working with young people in the Greek Cypriot and
Turkish Cypriot communities respectively (as well as through some joint projects
with each other) to promote trust, confidence, mutual respect and peacebuilding.
This project is funded by the
European Union and
implemented by INTRAC.

INTRAC-Case-Study-1-MC-Med

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