Social and economic development initiatives are the backbone of government and third sector efforts to improve quality of life and access to opportunities for citizens and professional organizations.

CMT Prooptiki works with the public and third sector to build capacities, and to develop capabilities for job creation, business growth and promotion of social entrepreneurship. To generate the greatest impact, CMT Prooptiki partners with government authorities, development agencies, academic, cultural and non-profit organisations to identify sources of funding, design strategies and provide technical assistance for the acceleration of sustainable community and economic development

1. Local government and civil society organisation consultancy
Local participation, social inclusion and active citizenship are challenges for local societies in order to limit the effects of the reduction in public spending. On the other hand, many national and EU financial policies and tools such as the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund, aim to reduce disparities in terms of income, wealth and opportunities in EU Member States and Regions.

CMT Pooptiki works with local government and civil society organizations in order to enhance their capacities and support them in the use of available funds from European Union, national sources or foundations as well as to organise and implement social and economic development actions.

The experience of CMT includes:
  1. Technical support consulting services to public administration organizations, such as Regional and Local Authorities, relating to the implementation of programs and actions funded by the European Union’s structural funds as well as any other source of funding.
  2. Local Development Plans including description of the current situation, comparative analysis of key strategic development options and further analysis of specific actions
  3. Consulting and management services for the establishment and development of civil society organizations.

Key examples of our work include:
  • Example 1: Drafting of Local development plans for Meteora, Oinouses island, Apokoronas Region at Crete island.
  • Example 2: Technical assistance for the development of a business system for planning and decision making for managing the fire in forests.
  • Example 3: Technical assistance for the completion of the Regional Operational Programme of the North Aegean within the framework of 2000-2006
  • Example 4: Management support for the establishment and operation of the NGO “50+Ellas”, the “Development Center of Oinousses-Aegean” and the “Eleytherios Venizelos National Research Center”.
2. Third Sector
The Social Economy or Third Sector is the economic area between the private and the public sector of the economy, where financial and social activities take place. It has an important role in the society as it mainly focuses on social needs by considering the social welfare; and it supports the idea of working with others for common good and social end; and the value of solidarity.
CMT Prooptiki highly considers the idea of the social economy, which contributes to local development, creation of new working places, and improvement of the quality of life, and it benefits the disadvantaged population groups. The experience of CMT includes:
  • Promotion of the idea of third sector, based on its contribution to the expansion of the labour market and to the supply of social needs, which are not provided by the other sectors.
  • Support and encouraging of the potential social entrepreneurs.
  • Advisory of social enterprises in terms of management and marketing issues.
  • Reinforcement of the network between the entrepreneurs and the local authorities, as we feel that it is very important for the society to know that the third sector’ essential aim is to expand the demand in the labour market and consider the social welfare.

      Key examples of our work in the third sector include:
      • Example 1: Tilemachos Development of an integrated system for the support of social entrepreneurship in island regions of Greece Tilemachos, Equal Programme. Provide short description
      • Example 2: DIONI II Female entrepreneurship and transregional support system in social economy, Equal Programme.
3. Life Long Learning
An advanced knowledge society is the key to higher growth and employment rates, according to EU Lisbon strategy. Education and training are essential priorities for the European Union.
Thus the Lisbon European Council of 23 and 24 March 2000 set a strategic goal for the European Union to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion. Our approach to Life Long Learning for social and economic development, is in line with the EU strategy.
Moreover our approach is based in 3 pillars:
  • Vocational training for more and better jobs, acting also as a mean for employment opportunities and inclusion in the labor market.
  • Adult learning for social participation and active citizenship, leading to a greater social cohesion.
  • Health education for the adoption of healthy lifestyles, as healthy population is an important pre-condition for a sustainable future.
CMT Prooptiki has experience in education and training and has participated in many eu funded life long learning programmes, providing services such as:
  • Needs analysis and state of the art description (3C, IPM, civot, equote, head, pefete)
  • Educational material development (for 3C etc)
  • Organization and piloting of Life Long Learning courses (3C, IPM)
  • Evaluation training actions (for ESDY metro 2.5 etc)