The goal of LUPA is to raise awareness of NGO issues and activities, to increase co-operation among various groups and to strengthen dialogue between NGOs and the government, local communities and international organisations. Organised by the Centre for Information Service, Co-operation and Development of NGOs (CNVOS), the festival's schedule includes workshops, round-table discussions and forums, as well as a cultural programme made up of concerts, films and performances.

The first festival took place in October 2002 in Ljubljana, Maribor and Nova Gorica. In 2003 the festival was also held in Koper, Kranj, Maribor, Nova Gorica, Murska Sobota, Šempeter pri Novi Gorici and Novo mesto. The festival seeks to help non-governmental organisations to present themselves and to raise public awareness about the role of non-governmental organisations in the democratisation process within contemporary society. The themes and dilemmas tackled by this festival include the inadequate visibility of NGOs, their fields of work and what they contribute to the Slovene environment, as well as problems associated with the inadequate definition of NGOs provided by existing legislation. Other aims of the festival include formulating a strategic framework for the systematic development of NGOs in Slovenia, promotion of partnership and co-operation between NGOs, capacity building of CNVOS partnerships with other pillars of civil society, stimulation of NGO development in different regions, promotion of NGOs working outside Ljubljana and intensifying co-operation with the media.