Civil society organizations often have good ideas and clear goals, but they lack the support to turn those ideas into projects and secure funding for their implementation. For NET Balkan, mentoring support from the Resource Center was an important step in securing funding. By working with a mentor on project proposal development and project management, the team improved their capacities and developed a project that received funding. Below, Elma Osmanović shares their experience and talks about how the mentoring process contributed to strengthening the organization.
Can you briefly introduce NET Balkan and the activities you are involved in?
NET Balkan is an organization dedicated to strengthening regional cooperation and developing initiatives in the fields of environmental protection, biodiversity, sustainable development, and social innovation. Through our activities, we work to connect organizations, institutions, and experts to develop projects that contribute to the protection of natural resources, the improvement of local communities, and the development of sustainable solutions for the future.
We place special focus on project ideas, international cooperation, and participation in programs that support climate action, biodiversity conservation, and civil society development in the region.
What were your priorities and challenges in your work before joining the Resource Center Mentoring Program?
Before joining the Mentoring Program, one of our priorities was to strengthen the organization’s capacity to develop quality project proposals and more efficient project management.
Although we had clear ideas and topics on which we wanted to work, the challenge was to improve the structure of project proposals, align them with donor requirements, and ensure that project ideas were sufficiently developed and sustainable for funding.
As part of the Mentoring Program, you worked on the topic of project proposal development and project management. What was the mentoring process like?
The mentoring process was very structured and practically oriented. Through working with a mentor, we had the opportunity to analyze our project ideas in detail, elaborate on goals, activities, and expected results, but also improve the way we plan project implementation and management.
A special value of the program was the opportunity to receive specific suggestions and feedback through individual consultations. This helped us improve the quality of project proposals.
What was most useful or significant for you in the mentoring process for developing the project idea?
The most useful part of the mentoring process was the opportunity to view project ideas from the perspective of donors and evaluators. The mentor helped us to specify the project goals, clearly define results and activities, and shape project ideas in a way that increases their chances of funding.
One of the results was receiving a project from the Environmental Resource Center. How much did mentoring help you achieve that result?
We can say that the mentoring process significantly contributed to the quality of the application and helped us turn our idea into a concrete project that received support.
What specific skills or knowledge did you gain through this mentoring process?
Through the mentoring process, we have improved our knowledge in the areas of:
- development of project proposals,
- planning of project activities and results,
- defining indicators and expected project impacts,
- project cycle management and
- strategic planning of project ideas.
How will this experience help you in your future work and preparation for new projects?
The experience from the mentoring program will help us develop future project ideas more systematically and strategically. The methods and approaches learned helped us to clearly define project goals, better plan activities, and increase the quality of project proposals that we apply to various donor programs.
To whom would you recommend the Resource Center Mentoring Program, and why?
We would gladly recommend the mentoring program to civil society organizations that want to improve their capacities for project development and implementation. The program is particularly useful for organizations that have ideas and need additional support in structuring and preparing them for funding.
The mentoring support and practical approach make this program extremely valuable for the development of organizations and their projects.
If you could describe the Mentoring Program in three words, what would they be?
Support, knowledge, and development.
The experience of the NET Balkan organization shows the importance of mentoring support in developing ideas and strengthening the capacities of civil society organizations. Through structured work, knowledge exchange, and practical advice, organizations can improve the quality of their projects and plan their next steps more confidently. It is precisely such support that helps ideas take clear form, and organizations further strengthen their action and influence in the community.