Coca-Cola HBC Romania and the Federation of Community Foundations in Romania launch the Sustainability Board – a national program that proposes a unique collaboration model, integrating for the first time relevant actors from the public-private sector in a joint effort for a more sustainable future in communities in Romania.

With an initial investment of 200,000 euros from Coca-Cola HBC Romania, for the first 2 years of activity, the program has the ambition to double its resources through strategic collaborations with other partners, thus contributing to expanding the impact. The first private partner to join the initiative is PENNY Romania.

With a long-term vision, the program starts with a 6-year activity plan (2024-2030) and will debut in Prahova County, following which it will expand its activity nationwide. Together with the Prahova Community Foundation, the Sustainability Board launches the first interventions and funding opportunities in response to local needs: a call for grants for green micro-communities and the inauguration of the first Community HUB of the city of Ploiești.

With a collaborative model inspired by the principle of SDG 17 – Partnerships for Goals, the program’s mission is to bring together private, social, institutional and citizen partners to develop scalable solutions that contribute to the well-being of communities. The program is based on two main directions of intervention:

• Environment: Reducing carbon emissions, supporting and promoting efficient waste management, protecting or restoring biodiversity, ensuring access to clean water.

• People and Community: Initiatives to support youth and women for quality education, decent work and economic growth, sustainable cities and communities.

Types of projects supported by the Sustainability Board:

The program maps, develops and implements, through the Federation of Community Foundations of Romania together with partners, three types of projects:

• development of projects based on locally identified needs;

• financing of existing initiatives that aim to protect the environment and increase the quality of life;

• grant calls developed in partnership with local actors, which open up new opportunities for active involvement and connection in the community.

“At Coca-Cola HBC, sustainability is more than an objective – it is a mission that defines us, being integrated into our business strategy. As leaders in the industry, we wanted to apply the same vision of innovating in communities to build a better world together for future generations. For over 9 years, we have been doing this through our sustainability platform #DupăNoi. Throughout this time, we have learned that to generate real impact, communities must be approached as an interconnected system, where collective action, supported by solid partnerships, brings tangible and sustainable results. The Sustainability Board is the expression of this vision – a model that brings together private, social, institutional partners and people in the community to create solutions with sustainable impact. We invite all those who share our values ​​to join us, because only together can we transform sustainability into a concrete reality that meets the needs of communities.” says Alice Nichita, Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Director, Coca-Cola HBC Romania.

Ploiești – The community that launches the first initiatives of the program

The first initiatives and funding opportunities for the community in Ploiești are based on research aimed at identifying community priorities and providing solutions adapted to specific challenges.

The main conclusions of the research* highlight that Ploiești residents are increasingly aware of the importance of sustainability and the impact that their choices have on the quality of life in the community. Air pollution (71%), the reduction of green spaces (70%) and inadequate waste management (69%) are the main concerns, but sustainability is viewed in a broader sense, including the need to have a better organized and more citizen-friendly city. 70% of Ploiești residents would participate in initiatives to protect green spaces, and 35% are motivated by responsibility towards future generations. At the same time, 51% want educational workshops to learn how they can adopt a more sustainable lifestyle, and 46% consider community spaces for connection and collaboration necessary. Although there is interest in getting involved, 70% of residents cite lack of time as the main obstacle, and 21% say they do not know where and how to get involved.

*Study conducted by the University of Oil and Gas of Ploiești, in December 2024, on a sample of 1,233 people aged 15-67, residents of the Municipality of Ploiești.

The first two community projects, through the Prahova Community Foundation, are designed to meet the needs of the community and provide solutions adapted to specific challenges:

1. SUSTAINABLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD – THE FIRST GRANT FOR GREEN MICRO-COMMUNITIES

• In order to encourage local solutions to environmental problems and stimulate civic engagement, this call for projects is addressed to micro-communities in Ploiești. The initiative supports citizen groups and local NGOs to develop sustainable projects at the level of neighborhoods in the city.

• Total budget: 20,000 euros, allocated in the form of 4 to 6 micro-grants for community projects aimed at protecting the environment and improving the quality of life in neighborhoods.

• Who can apply: Initiative groups formed by citizens, local non-profit organizations, educational units through parents’ associations.

• Registration period: January 22 – March 30, 2025.

Projects can be submitted by completing the form available on https://www.fundatiacomunitaraprahova.ro/boardul-de-sustenabilitate/

This call for projects supports the direct involvement of communities in solving local challenges, by financing initiatives that have a positive impact on the environment and the quality of life in Ploiești.

2. CIVITECA – THE FIRST COMMUNITY HUB IN PLOIESTI:

• A space for local collaboration and innovation. CIVITECA marks a premiere by launching an open space, dedicated to local initiatives and collaboration between citizens, private partners and institutional partners, within the Sustainability Board, with Coca-Cola HBC as the main financier.

• Located in the city center, on the upper floor of the historic building – the Clock Tower of the Central Halls (Strada Emile Zola 8, Ploiești), CIVITECA will become a meeting point for ideas and resources and will host various activities, including community cafes, monthly educational workshops dedicated to young people, members of non-profit organizations, initiative groups and teachers, to increase involvement in the Prahova community by facilitating dialogue and the exchange of ideas, and contribute to connecting and strengthening relationships between local actors.

“These projects are an example of the power of collaboration for a sustainable future. Real and lasting impact is born from joint efforts, and through initiatives such as the CIVITECA hub and the Sustainable in the Neighborhood call, the Prahova community can play an active role in the transformation of the city. We are happy to join resources and energies to generate scalable models and changes that will benefit the entire community. It is a moment of mobilization for Ploiești and an example of the strength of partnerships aligned towards a common vision: a better city for its inhabitants,” said Laura Popeea, Executive Director of the Federation of Community Foundations in Romania.

Who can join – open call for partners

PENNY Romania, the first strategic partner of the program, reconfirms its commitment to the sustainable development of the Ploiești community. Furthermore, local companies that are already carrying out projects for the benefit of the community or wish to actively contribute to this cause are invited to join the initiative, amplifying the impact for a sustainable future.