Case study
On Strengthening Financial Sustainability and Organizational Resilience of Ecotourism Organizations Involved in Developing Ecodestinations in Romania
The study
Over a three-year period, the program provided customized support to these seven participating organizations across two main areas: organizational development and entrepreneurship. The implementation solutions were tailored to the specific needs of each participating organization and were aimed at improving organizational capacity and incubating mission-aligned, income-generating initiatives. The implementation process incorporated flexible metrics measurement and custom technical assistance adapted to the unique requirements of each organization.
Key outcomes of the program include increased organizational resilience across all supported organizations, creating and testing ideas for suitable income-generating activities, developing a fundraising function, improving governance processes and strengthening leadership capabilities.
The Green Growth program is part of a broader initiative to support the ecotourism movement in Romania. This began in the early 2000s, led by the Romanian Ecotourism Association (REA) and the ‘Discover Eco-Romania’ campaign, further developed through the Ecotourism Destinations Program of the Romanian-American Foundation (RAF).
As the concept of “eco-tourism destination” became more established, the role and contribution of the various organizations working in the area of building regional brands and support resources within their respective local communities became more prominent and ultimately essential to developing eco-destinations.
This study offers a set of clear recommendations on how to strengthen organizational sustainability that will be relevant not only to the organizations participating in the RAF program, but to all other entities interested in advancing ecotourism in Romania. It includes best practices for developing custom-built, location-specific and effective implementation in this field. It also complements the Romanian-American Foundation’s strategic support program—developed in partnership with the Romanian Environmental Partnership Foundation (REPF) and the Romanian Ecotourism Association (REA)—, aimed at supporting eco-destinations across Romania.
