Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Greece and Cyprus, selected for the ‘Building a Robust and Democratic Civic Space’ (BUILD) program, co-funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights, and Values (CERV) program, and by the Bodossaki Foundation and the NGO Support Centre Cyprus, faced the challenge of adopting new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), make their work more effective.
These organizations, although focused on addressing societal challenges, had limited familiarity with AI for service delivery and improving efficiency. The challenge was to train these organizations to harness AI for their goals while aligning with their mission of promoting EU fundamental rights and values.
To address these challenges, TheFutureCats Innovation Consultancy designed and delivered the “NGOs AI Training” program in collaboration with Social Dynamo. This 24-hour training, conducted over three sessions, was aligned precisely with the priorities of CSOs participating in the BUILD program. The training provided hands-on learning, focusing on practical AI applications that could optimize their processes, elevate their services, and broaden their community reach.
To ensure relevance, TheFutureCats conducted an AI readiness assessment for the participating organizations. This assessment helped uncover the distinct operational gaps and opportunities of each CSO, allowing for a targeted training approach. The training covered how to embed AI technologies into their routine operations, from across their entire spectrum of activities, from administration to public engagement. By focusing on real business use cases, the program ensured that CSOs could immediately apply what they learned to their missions.
This initiative equipped CSOs with the capacity to utilize AI tools that boosted their operational effectiveness, enabling them to address societal challenges more effectively. The training not only provided practical AI knowledge but also sparked a spirit of exploration and new solutions, ensuring that these organizations can adapt and succeed in the evolving digital landscape.