Situation in Cyprus
The effectiveness of social policy in Cyprus relies on the coordinated efforts of the public, the voluntary and the private sector. The Pan Cyprian Volunteerism Coordinative Council has a leading role in the activation and effective integration to the total social effort of the voluntary sector and NGOs, as the institutionalised coordinator of voluntary organisations, a point of focusing public dialogue about social problems and of mobilising voluntary organisations. The levels of public participation and voluntary engagement in organized forms in Cyprus are generally high. The state and general social climate allows the development and expansion of the voluntary sector and the organized structure of the Cyprus Voluntary Sector allows the representation of non-governmental/voluntary organisations which operate both at national and local levels in the decision making processes on civil society/voluntary sector issues. The effectiveness of the voluntary sector’s role and infrastructure is highly acknowledged by the state and is present in various official documentation (i.e the NAP for social inclusion). Regarding civil dialogue, Cyprus can demonstrate a tradition of civil dialogue engagement and successful cooperation (since 1968) between the government and grass-root voluntary organizations in social policy formulation, implementation and monitoring. Cooperation and solidarity amongst voluntary organisations lead to joined efforts to promote the principles of equality, social cohesion, solidarity and justice. These efforts are more effectively achieved especially when voluntary organisations belong to membership networks. The funding of the voluntary sector comes primarily from the state (through the Grants-in-Aid Scheme) as well as other sources (i.e. EU funding).
Sources: Pancyprian Volunteerism Coordinative Council, Cyprus NAP Inlclusion 2004-2006 and Joint Memorandum on Social Inclusion - CYPRUS 2003
The Pancyprian Volunteerism Coordinative Council Law 2006
This organisation focuses on the identification of social problems and needs, active contribution in civil dialogue and social policy formulation/implementation processes, development of measures to achieve a structured civil dialogue framework between the government and the voluntary sector The PVCC reinforced its cooperation with the main European Union Institutions, aiming to attain updated information on issues such as the European social policy, community funding, and the activities of European NGOs, and to rapidly disseminate this information to its member organizations.
Founded in: 1973
Based in: Nicosia
Stavros Olympios 9 Andrea Avraamides Str. 3rd Floor, Apt. 301, 2024 Strovolos P.O.Box 24649, 1302 Nicosia, Cyprus
Tel:
Fax: +357 22 514 788
info@volunteerism-cc.org.cy
www.volunteerism-cc.org.cy