Bucharest, October 28, 2025 – Over 130 representatives from civil society organizations, diplomatic community, and public institutions gathered in Bucharest for the official launch of the Civic Engagement Programme, part of the Swiss–Romanian Cooperation Programme, and the second Swiss Contribution.

The Programme aims to strengthen the civic space in Romania, by supporting the active participation of citizens in public life, promoting transparency and democracy, as well as supporting civil society organisations in their efforts to generate systemic changes in the country.

The launch event brought together key actors who share common values and commitment to responsibility and civic participation. In his opening remarks, His Excellency Massimo Baggi, Ambassador of Switzerland to Romania, emphasized the importance of supporting civil society:

“The Civic Engagement Programme has been specifically designed to support the civil society sector in Romania and is among the few public funding available for this critical element of a healthy democracy.”

Giacomo Solari, Head of the Swiss Contribution Office (SCO) and Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Switzerland in Romania, highlighted the essential role of an active civil society:

“We strongly support the Romanian civil society sector in addressing topics such as social inclusion of vulnerable groups, harm reduction, protection of local biodiversity, freedom of expression, as well as combating any form of violence.”

National Coordination Unit within the Ministry of Finance represented by Raluca Diaconeasa Gîrniță, Head of Service in the General Directorate for European Affairs and International Cooperation, highlighted the synergy between the Civic Engagement Programme and the other initiatives funded under the Second Swiss Contribution, emphasizing their role in reducing socio-economic disparities and promoting sustainable development: “The Civic Engagement Programme serves as a pillar designed to foster lasting change and to transform the diversity of activities into a coherent effort centered on the citizen and the needs of the community.”

The event also reunited representatives of the organisations proposed for funding under the 1^st window, who spoke about their directions of action, and the systemic changes they aim to achieve through their initiatives.

The Civic Engagement Programme is not only about funding, “but also about people who believe they can make a difference in their communities. This Programme seeks to turn civic energy into concrete actions capable of generating lasting change in society,” added Ionuț Sibian, Executive Director of the  Civil Society Development Foundation.

With a total allocation of 14 million Swiss francs (CHF), the Civic Engagement Programme supports—through two calls for proposals—key areas for building an equitable and democratic society. The funding will provide resources for the projects addressing issues such as combating discrimination, protecting biodiversity and environmental rights, promoting media transparency, civic engagement, advocacy, and supporting vulnerable groups.

“The 1^st window, launched in April 2025, focused on systemic changes with a national impact, while the 2^nd window supports projects centered on civic participation, dialogue, and local and national engagement”, explained Csilla Dániel, Deputy Director of the Romanian Environmental Partnership Foundation.

The Swiss consortium partner, Dieter Zürcher from KEK-CDC, emphasized the importance of knowledge exchange and cross-border cooperation.

“The Civic Engagement Programme provides a strong learning framework that allows knowledge to flow between both countries. During the first Swiss Contribution, more than 900 Romanian experts and 300 Swiss experts shared their experience.”

Through the joint effort of partners from Romania and Switzerland, the Civic Engagement Programme becomes a platform for collaboration and a long-term investment in participatory democracy in Romania.

The Programme is implemented by a consortium selected by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), consisting of the Civil Society Development Foundation (CSDF), Romanian Environmental Partnership Foundation (REPF), and KEK-CDC.

Media Contacts:

• Irina Bejan, Programme Director, Civil Society Development Foundation | irina.bejan@fdsc.ro | +40 757 579 183
• Natalia Șeremet, Communication Coordinator, Civil Society Development Foundation | natalia.seremet@fdsc.ro | +40 755 832 698