REPER21 (European Network for the Promotion of a Responsible Economy, 21st century) is an organization with a vast experience in promoting and operationalizing Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development, which represents its mission and field of action.
Since its creation in 2006, the association has carried out a wide range of projects promoting the principles specific to Sustainable Development and Social Responsibility, as well as the frame of reference that underpin these two concepts.
The projects of the association had as main target groups the young people, the nongovernmental organizations and the educational institutions, but they also involved other actors that are related to their activities: public authorities, companies, unions, employers’ associations.
Since the beginning of its activity, REPER21 has carried out numerous educational projects financed mainly by the community programs managed by the National Agency for Community Programs in the Field of Education and Vocational Training (ANPCDEFP). In this context, the association used and developed non-formal education methods and activities targeting themes of interest for sustainable development and social responsibility: sustainable production and consumption, environmental education, climate change, environmental justice, social inclusion, responsible tourism, sustainable community-based agriculture, etc.
For its activity during the 2007-2013 programming, REPER21 received in March 2014 „the Award of Excellence for the Pioneer Category of Social Responsibility in European Projects”, from ANPCDEFP.
Climate activism and education are key strategic objectives since the establishment of REPER21. Currently, REPER21 members systematically intervene in various national debates, projects and initiatives on climate change and animate the Romanian Facebook group „Climatic circle” (Cercul climatic) with over 1,500 members.
Between 2016 and 2018, REPER21 coordinated the Erasmus + project „Skills for Climate Change Education (ESC) in vulnerable communities” (www.competenceslimatiques.eu)
Since 2014, REPER21 has been involved in the program „Prof21”, a program funded by the European Social Program, implemented together with FDSC, Teach for Romania and World Vision, through which it promotes education for sustainable development within the formal education system. Over 1,300 Romanian teachers – gathered on an online platform www.prof21.ro – have been trained in Prof21 to develop life skills for their students in the context of sustainable development. Within Prof21, REPER21 has launched the label „Sustainable schools” which is granted to the actors who intend to contribute to the 2030 Agenda through four pillars: pedagogy, school life, curricula and relationships with partners. Within Prof21, REPER21 is responsible among others to moderate the community of 1,300 teachers.
Complementary Prof21, between 2018 and 2019 REPER21 coordinated another ESF initiative, „ONG21”, financed by POCA, implemented in partnership with FDSC, through which it elaborated, with the contribution of over 80 Romanian NGOs, a policy proposal for education for sustainable development, which was sent to the Ministry of National Education and is currently under analysis.
Between 2010 and 2013, REPER21 had implemented as a beneficiary, with ANCPDEFP as a partner, a structural project (funded by the European Social Fund) called „Skills and tools for social and environmental responsibility in civil society organizations” („Societal”, www.societal.ro). This project enabled the association to develop, systematize and widely disseminate – in more than 550 NGOs – a method of „responsible project management”, developed from the main international standards (ISO 26000, Global Reporting Initiative), but simplified and adapted to needs and structure of non-profit projects. This method will be used systematically for the management of this project. The project has been extended at EU level through an Erasmus+ initiative implemented by REPER21 since 2016, www.societal.eu.