Description (brief history)
The Croatian Rural Development Network (HMRR) is a civil society organization (NGO) committed to enhancing rural development of Croatia.
After more than two years of informal work, the Network has been founded in early 2006 by seven civil society organizations linked in the wish to jointly contribute to improving conditions for integrated development and good quality of life in rural areas.
Activities of the HMRR are based on good European practice and LEADER approach. At the moment the network includes 16 member organizations – 10 CSOs + 6 LAGs.
Activities
The Croatian Rural Development Network - HMRR, through networking, partnership and collaboration, undertakes activities to lay the foundations necessary for the coherent and good quality livelihood in the rural areas in Croatia. The Network acts on the national level representing rural partnerships for sustainable development and other local development stakeholders in front of the national public bodies and international organizations.
2008 - 2010 HMRR - partner in the project „Sustainable Future for Rural Areas in Croatia“ developed in cooperation with Milieukontakt International from Amsterdam and Croatian partners ODRAZ, SMART, CCI and PINS d.o.o. The project resulted, among others, with the first LAG in Croatia.
2008 - 2010 - partner to the Czech CSO Centre for Community Organizing from Prerov in the project „Sustainable development of the regions through participatory processes”, an EU-funded project aiming to enhancing sustainable development in a chosen micro-region of Croatia based on exchange of expertise and good practice between Croatian and Czech experts.
Since the beginning of 2010 HMRR is a project partner to the ODRAZ, SMART and Milieukontakt International in the project "Together for sustainable development in Croatiaaiming to strengthen the voice of civil sector in shaping, monitoring and evaluating sustainable development policies on local, national and international level through networking, cross-sectoral partnership and capacity building.
Since the beginning of 2010 HMRR is a partner nine associations from EU member states in the project "Capacities of Inhabitants over 50s as a Rural Development Tool", co-financed by the European Commission within the Learning Partnerships action of the Grundtvig sub-programme. 50+ project aims at activating the social capital of rural communities by utilizing and enhancing the capacity of the senior people, whose important skills and competences are often under-used.
Since the beginning of 2010 HMRR is a member of PREPARE.
HMRR has published a brochure on sustainable rural development explaining EU LEADER approach with several study cases from Croatia.
HMRR is publishing quarterly e-bulletin HMRR Info reporting about activities of the members, results achieved in the field of sustainable regional and rural development, possibilities of new projects, forthcoming events etc. On its web-page HMRR is reporting about project implementation, activities of the members, new local development partnerships and relevant events in Croatia and abroad.
Organisation Rules
The Assembly is the highest decision making body of the HMRR where each member-organization has one representative. The network is represented by President and coordinator. At the moment the coordinator Ms. Marina Koprivnjak is the only employee.
The work of HMRR is public. The membership is voluntary and all members must be registered as association (in Croatia all LAGs are registered as associations). Managing Board decides on new members. HMRR has a Statute that can be provided at request.
Aims & Objectives
HMRR OBJECTIVES for the period of 3-5 years:
•Promoting innovative approaches, new knowledge, and best practices from Croatia and abroad
•Monitoring and analysis of rural development policies and proposing measures for their improvement
•Enhancing coordination and facilitating in linking stakeholders relevant for the rural development of Croatia.