Participants will engage in dynamic, hands-on sessions designed to develop practical skills in forming and sustaining effective coalitions—both nationally and across borders. The workshop will cover
essential topics including identifying common issues, setting shared goals, conflict resolution, joint advocacy, and digital collaboration tools.
As part of the larger project, Strengthening Security and Geopolitical Resilience in South
Caucasus and EaP Countries, this interactive workshop will empower NGOs and Think-Tanks
from Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia and Armenia to build coalitions with impact. Participants will
engage in dynamic, hands-on sessions designed to develop practical skills in forming and
sustaining effective coalitions—both nationally and across borders. The workshop will cover
essential topics including identifying common issues, setting shared goals, conflict resolution,
joint advocacy, and digital collaboration tools. Attendees will also explore strategies for
leveraging pre-accession funds and engaging key stakeholders, including government sectors,
to maximize impact. Join us to build strong, resilient networks that amplify civil society’s voice,
drive democratic reforms and contribute meaningfully to the EU integration process in the
region.
09:30 Welcome coffee and Registration. ELF opening :Goran Neralic, Head of Operations, ELF
10:00 Opening Remarks. Welcome and introduction by ELF and FNF representatives.
Overview of the workshop objectives and expected outcomes.
Objectives: Strengthening coalitions for democratic reforms and EU integration.
Milosz Hodun, Member of the Board, European Liberal Forum (ELF).
Raimar Wagner, Project director for Romania and Republic of Moldova, Friedrich Naumann
Foundation for Freedom (FNF).
10:20 Identifying Key National Issues for Coalition Building
Each country presents one pressing issue faced by their civil society organizations.
Facilitated discussion to find CSOs from other countries working on similar issues.
Moderator: Dan Nicu, Laboratory of Initiatives for Development (LID Moldova).
11:00 Building Effective National Coalitions
Criteria for selecting coalition partners: shared values, capacity and commitment.
Technical assistance (TA) needs assessment: What support do coalitions require?
Defining clear goals and missions for national coalitions.
Interactive group work: Drafting national coalition charters.
Facilitator: Mario Nicolini, Former Senior Expert at NATO StratCom COE, Slovakia.
12:30 Coffee break
13:00 Developing Common Messaging and Advocacy Strategies
Crafting unified messages that resonate with local communities and policymakers.
Best practices in storytelling and communication for liberal and pro-democracy CSOs.
Hands-on exercise: Creating messaging frameworks tailored to national contexts.
Facilitator: Raimar Wagner, Project director for Romania and Republic of Moldova, Friedrich
Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF).
14.00 Lunch Break and Networking Session.
Opportunity for participants to connect and share experiences.
15.00 International Coalition Building
Connecting national coalitions into transnational alliances.
Aligning coalition goals with EU integration and democratic reform agendas.
Case studies of successful international coalitions in the region.
Facilitator: Milosz Hodun, Member of the Board, European Liberal Forum (ELF).
16.30 Common Mission and Next Steps
Consolidating a shared mission statement for the regional coalition network.
Producing Joint Programs and Actions.
Tools for Digital Collaboration and Communication.
Planning future activities and the role of participants in the upcoming Tbilisi workshop
and Brussels conference.
Facilitator: Dan Nicu, Laboratory of Initiatives for Development (LID Moldova).
17:00 Closing Remarks
Final thoughts from ELF and FNF representatives.
Acknowledgment of participants and commitment to ongoing collaboration.
Milosz Hodun, Member of the Board, European Liberal Forum (ELF).
Raimar Wagner, Project director for Romania and Republic of Moldova, Friedrich Naumann
Foundation for Freedom (FNF).