Development Bulb

National Network
Latvia
Address

Ozolciema 24/1-104
Riga LV1058,
Latvia

Telephone
+37126114496
E-Mail
maija@bulb.lv
E-Mail (2)
elina@bulb.lv
Organisation Type
Non-Governmental Organization
Year of Establishment
2008
Fields of Activity
  1. Arts
  2. Environment/Sustainable development
  3. International/Cultural relations
  4. Others
  5. Research
General Information
Development Bulb has established partnerships with Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences and Riga Technical University. Internationally, Development Bulb cooperates with Centre for Civil Integration and Inter-Ethnic Relations (CCIIR) in Georgia. Development Bulb is a member of Latvian Platform of development for cooperation. There are no employees in DB, all work is done voluntarily. So far ca 8 volunteers have contributed to various projects of DB. DB as an NGO working in development, annually applies for ODA funding of Latvia's government. There are no stable funding sources for DB yet. Development Bulb is a nongovernmental organization of Latvian experts in field of cooperation for development and education. Though the NGO itself has been established in 2008, our team has been working in field of cooperation for development since 2005 already. Activity of Development Bulb is both internal – dedicated to improvement of cooperation for development in Latvia, and external – aimed to identify examples of best practice in Latvia in order to forward them to less developed countries, uniting both state and non-state organizations, municipal institutions and representatives of private sector. Main goals of the Development Bulb are: 1) to facilitate innovative approach to development cooperation, realizing needs of partner states of Latvia in development cooperation and finding relevant Latvian experience in reply to these needs; 2) to improve establishment and growth of entities working in field of development cooperation in Latvia by means of research and methodology development projects and implementation of best practice examples of other states, for instance, assessment experience for development projects. Fields of activity of Development Bulb are: Education for development Research in fields of cooperation for development and education for development Development of methods of assessment for development projects Implementation of development projects Evaluation of development projects Organization of international conferences dedicated to subjects of cooperation for development Organization of arts and culture events aimed to facilitate comprehension of development processes in Latvia and worldwide among public
Mission and Objectives

Development Bulb is a nongovernmental organization of Latvian experts in field of development cooperation and education. The mission of Development Bulb is to foster development and better living conditions through improvements in education in less developed regions, uniting state and non-state actors, municipal institutions and representatives of the private sector.
The main objectives of the Development Bulb to be achieved in long-term are: 1) to facilitate innovative approach to development cooperation, realizing needs of partner states of Latvia in development cooperation and finding relevant Latvian experience in reply to these needs; 2) to improve establishment and growth of entities working in field of development cooperation in Latvia by means of research and methodology development projects and implementation of best practice examples of other states.

Main Projects / Activities

2009
Development Bulb visits Belarus for partner search visit, and organizes a roundtable for Latvian NGOs discussing opportunities and obstacles related to cooperation with Belarus.
2008
Possibilities of e-learning in Georgia: a way to upgrade education system with easily accessible resources
In 2008 DB received a grant of the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of Latvia for implementation of the e-learning project. In cooperation with Georgian non-state organization “Centre for Civil Integration and Inter-Ethnic Relations” (CCIIR) DB invited managing officials from universities of Batumi, Kutaisi and Gori, University of Medicine, Ilya Chavchavadze University and Ivan Yavakhishvili University of Tbilisi, also representatives from Ministry of Education of Georgia and non-state organization CCIIR. The group visited Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, Stockholm School of Economics in Riga and Riga Technical University, where they participated in training workshops about the development and maintenance of e-learning platforms. Representatives from Georgian universities discovered effective low-cost solutions to upgrading university IT infrastructures and using affordable tools for e-learning.
Other projects with Development Bulb team member involvement
2007
Shaping Development Co-operation in the World and in Europe: a Latvian Perspective
In 2007 DB team implemented a project together with Latvian NGO GLEN Latvija. The project was financed by the Latvian MFA, and it’s aim was to facilitate involvement in development co-operation studies at Latvian universities located outside capital Riga. The project aimed to raise awareness of development co-operation among university students and professors. The project stimulated university professors’ commitment to the field of development studies and student interest in development issues. During visits to universities students were also introduced to opportunities for development studies in universities abroad.
Facilitation of computer literacy in municipalities of Georgia
Members of DB also took part in GLEN Latvia project “Dimensions of sustainable development in regions of Kazbegi and Borzhomi” and a project of Riga Technical University Center for remote studies “Facilitation of computer literacy in municipalities of Georgia.”
The Promotion of Development Studies in Vidzeme University College
The aim of the project was to deepen the understanding of students about development cooperation in Latvia and the world. The objective of the project was to prepare the track of International Development Policy studies in prospective Master’s level program of International Relations. The project involved the design and pilot of two new study courses on “Development Theories and Practice” and the “ICTs in Development: The perspective of E-democracy,” as well as the design of 6 new course curricula, visits of 4 guest lecturers and one visiting professor in the field of sustainability of development projects. Students of Political Science and Tourism Organization program prepared three research papers University’s public library purchased textbooks in the field of development studies. Project materials in Latvian are availableon University’s website.
Facilitation of computer literacy in municipalities of Georgia
Members of DB also took part in GLEN Latvia project “Dimensions of sustainable development in regions of Kazbegi and Borzhomi” and a project of Riga Technical University Center for remote studies “Facilitation of computer literacy in municipalities of Georgia.”
Dimensions of sustainable development in regions of Kazbegi and Borzhomi

Contact (1) Full Name
Maija Kale
Contact (2) Full Name
Elina Veide