Presentation

NACAB for Citizens

The access of all citizens to information regarding the civil rights and responsibilities is a prerequisite for the equality of opportunities in a democratic society. Through the Citizens Advice Bureaux, NACAB ensures equal access of citizens to information and advice services so that they are able to acknowledge their rights and duties. In NACAB’s view, citizens should not be deprived of information about their rights and responsibilities.

The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (NACAB) is a nongovernmental, non profit organization, founded to support and to direct the activities of the Citizens Advice Bureaux (CABs). NACAB is made up of 37 NGOs that founded CABs and CAB branches in more than 60 localities in Romania, both in urban and rural environments.

NACAB coordinates the activities of the CABs, promotes the network of the CABs at the national level, and represents the network of the CABs in relation with public authorities and aims at elaborating documents with potential of impact in what concerns public policy making and social services sector, based on information furnished by the CABs.

In 2002, there have been established in Romania the first 12 Citizens Advice Bureaux, Bureaux that were to provide, independently and on free-of-charge basis, information and advice services for citizens and to support them in solving their problems and in exercising their rights and responsibilities. These initiatives appeared as a consequence of the mere fact that citizens do face a new set of challenges and dilemmas in the years set forth, and that they lack the information needed to untangle them.

NACAB was founded in 2002, under the Phare Programme – Strengthening Civil Society. The Association benefited from the support of the Romanian Government (the Department of Liaison with the Political and NGO Environment) and of the British Government (the Department of International Development).

NACAB – a Federation of NGOs

The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux is made up of 37 NGOs that founded CABs: PAEM Alba Foundation (establishing CAB Alba Iulia), PAEM Arad Association (establishing CAB Arad), Caritas Greek-Catholic Association Maramures (establishing CAB Baia Mare), A.S. 2001 Alba Iulia Association (establishing CAB Berghin), Cultural Ecological "Botosani 2001" Association (establishing CAB Botosani), Lumina Foundation (establishing CAB Braila), Association for Community Partnership Brasov (establishing CAB Brasov), Foundation for Education and Socio-Economic Development (establishing CAB Bucharest), The Romanian Group for the Defense of Human Rights (establishing CAB Bucharest, sector 6), PRO CIVIC Regional Centre of Initiatives for Citizens (establishing CAB Buzau), AGORA Association (establishing CAB Calarasi), Association for Consumer’s Protection Campia Turzii (establishing CAB Campia Turzii), The Foundation of Sibiu Community (establishing CAB Copsa Mica), Ecologic and Tourism Association Nasapiste (establishing CAB Cugir), Association for Community Partnership Focsani (establishing CAB Focsani), Pro Cive Association (establishing CAB Gheorgheni), The League for Society Integration and Development (establishing CAB Gurahont), PROCONS Iasi Association (establishing CAB Iasi), "Banat-Ripensis" Micro Regional Association for Community Development (establishing CAB Jimbolia), The European Development Association (establishing CAB Lipova), The Foundation for Initiative in Socio-Economic Development (establishing CAB Negresti Oas), The Association for Community Development Nehoiu (establishing CAB Nehoiu), Civitas Foundation for Civil Society (establishing CAB Odorheiu Secuiesc), RUHAMA Foundation (establishing CAB Oradea), The Inter-professional Employers’ Group of Neamt (establishing CAB Piatra Neamt), Junimea Association – National College Ion C. Bratianu (establishing CAB Pitesti), The Prahova Scientists Foundation (establishing CAB Ploiesti), The Social, Cultural, Ecological Romanesque Contjur Association (establishing CAB Roman), The League for the Defense of Human Rights Satu Mare (establishing CAB Satu Mare), Pro Nobis Association (establishing CAB Sfantu Gheorghe), PRO VITA Association for Family Support (establishing CAB Sibiu), The Association for Sustainable Development Integration (establishing CAB Simeria), "Targoviste spre Europa" Association (establishing CAB Targoviste), SPERANTA Local Development Foundation (establishing CAB Targu Neamt), The Association for Education and Community Development (establishing CAB Tiganesti), The Lodgers’ Associations Federation in Timisoara (establishing CAB Timisoara), Vulcan 2007 Association (establishing CAB Vulcan).

NACAB’s Mission is to consolidate the Romanian society by oferring services of information/advice and by promoting the interests of all citizens in the decision making process.