Briefing Note on the CSO—Government—Donor Forum

1. Background

The current decade marks a new paradigm in the development process in which citizens are not only beneficiaries of socio-economic development but also active actors in moving the development forward. The growing citizen participation in development is driven by internal pressures for good governance, the consolidation of the NGO sector as an important agent in delivering social services and strengthening public sector institutions, and by technological advances that facilitate knowledge sharing and networking.

For the countries of Eastern, Central and Southeast Europe, Turkey and the countries of the Former Soviet Union, hereafter called the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region, the new development paradigm poses both opportunities and challenges. Along with impressive economic growth, the region is witnessing a polarization in living standards. There is also a wide variation in the effectiveness of national and local democratic institutions and in the enabling environment for civic society expansion. The recent political changes in Georgia and Ukraine are testimony to the ongoing process of democratization and citizens’ empowerment taking hold in the region.

In May 2004, eight countries of Central and Eastern Europe joined the European Union. Their governments are committed to economic and political collaboration with their Eastern and Southern neighbors. It is critical that these governments in tandem with the international donor community support the creation of adequate civic space for collaboration and partnership among CSOs in the EU and their Eastern and Southern Neighbors in the ECA region.

2. CSO Sustainability

The sustainability of the CSO sector is not merely a matter of increased financial resources. In fact, at a time of stagnating development assistance flows, more than ever, there is a need to ensure that the resources pledged for the support of civil society are committed and used in an effective manner.

Therefore, any comprehensive review of the sustainability of CSOs in the ECA region must address a number of key factors that ultimately determine the long-term viability and effectiveness of CSOs in the region. These factors include the CSO legal framework and its enforcement as well as the capacity and commitment of central and local governments to engage civic partners and recognize the value of public advocacy and scrutiny. CSO sustainability also requires enhanced transparency and accountability of the CSO sector itself, building further on recent efforts to promote a “code of conducts” and “standards of excellence” among the CSOs. Similar pressures exist for the social accountability of the CSOs’ financiers: the public and private sectors and the donor community. Ultimately the increased social accountability of all these actors contributes to the improvement of the CSO–government–donor interface, thereby enhancing the sustainability of this partnership. Sustainability is also about networking, lobbying and pursuing similar goals in a coordinated fashion. The emergence of the Internet and global communications, the ease (speed!) with which knowledge can be accessed, information can be transferred and alliances be built is unprecedented and poses unique opportunities for the functioning of the CSO sector in the years to come.

Virtually all of the above mentioned dimensions of the development of the CSO sector in the region entail a more or less direct role for the donor community that increasingly focuses on the role of civil society in development. This role can range from initiatives aimed at creating civic space or fostering public consultations and information sharing to direct financial support and capacity building. The sheer number of agencies involved in these efforts today and their wealth of experience in operating in highly diverse conditions call for a stocktaking and strategic discussion on the way forward.

In regard to the narrowly-defined financial sustainability, the CSO sector itself, foundations, governments and the official donors have gained valuable experience that should be analyzed and assessed. The development of tax deduction legislature to benefit CSOs in Central Europe, the creation of endowments and sinking funds, public-private partnerships, the subcontracting of CSOs in delivering social services, etc. constitute a vast body of locally developed experiences that are often little known across a region as diverse as ECA.

3. CSO—Government—Donor Forum

In view of the above, a group of representatives of the region-based CSOs, together with a number of foundations and international organizations supporting the region’s civil society development, intend to convene a roundtable on the theme of Sustainability of the CSO Sector in the Post-Accession ECA Region.

Purpose. The event will serve three overarching objectives:

  • to build understanding and exchange experiences among CSO leaders, governments, foundations and intergovernmental agencies in regard to the functioning, role and sustainability of the CSO sector in the ECA region,
  • to promote partnerships among the above mentioned development actors and enhance regional cooperation between the new EU member states and other countries of the ECA Region, and
  • to strengthen networking and promote debate on specific themes within the CSO community in the countries that have recently joined the European Union and those aspiring to join the Union in the future.

In addition, it is expected that the event will advance two secondary goals:

  • foster knowledge sharing and exchange of information on innovative approaches to civic participation in development,
  • contribute to the development of specific follow-up initiatives that are likely to promote CSO sustainability at the regional and country level.

Participation. The roundtable meeting will bring together participants from the following four constituencies: (a) civil society representatives from ECA countries, official donors and development partner organizations, (c) international NGOs and foundations operating in the region, and (d) local civil society community. A number of “like-minded” government officials will be invited as presenters/speakers in panel discussions. While the meeting will be open to any CSOs from the region interested in the theme (pre-registration will be required for logistical purposes), travel subsidies will be restricted to five CSO representatives per country.

Expected results. (1) Improved knowledge and understanding among donors, governments and CSOs of new trends and approaches to development, based on larger engagement of civil society; (2) strengthened regional CSO alliances and networks; (3) enhanced focus of donor and government agencies on their role in promoting civic engagement; (4) joint initiatives explored by CSOs, donors and governments on issues such as: social accountability, public consultations, social and environmental safeguards, CSO participation in PRSP design and implementation, corporate social responsibility. Efforts are currently underway to identify financial resources for some of the likely follow-up activities outlined under point (4) above.

Program. The program will be developed by the Program Committee – comprising the representatives of the participating CSOs, the Government of Slovakia, foundations and international organizations. The Committee will be served by the ECA CSO Secretariat in Tbilisi. The program will include both plenary and break-out sessions. The exact topics for the break-out sessions will be finalized by the end of April 2005.

Training/capacity building. In addition, on the last day of the event, a round of parallel training workshops conducted by other CSO leaders will be held. The suggested topics include: CSO legal framework, fundraising, community mobilization and monitoring of MDBs.

Venue. Bratislava, Slovakia.

Organization. The meeting is convened jointly by the Commission of the European Community, the ECA NGO Working Group, the Government of Slovakia and the World Bank. The preparations for the event will be overseen by the Organizing Committee consisting of the representatives of the CSOs, foundations and international organizations. The technical and logistical preparations for the event will be entrusted to a local not-for-profit organization, the Pontis Foundation.

Selection of CSO participants. The preparations for this event will be preceded by a decentralized process of identifying and selecting civil society representatives. Information about the event and the selection criteria will be available on the ECA NGO Working Group’s website. The pro-active information dissemination process and the selection of participants will be done by a local organizing committee consisting of the CSO Focal Point and 4-5 representatives of locally active international organizations (e.g. WB civil society liaison officer, UNDP, OSI, the Euroasia Foundation, USAID). Decisions regarding the allocation of travel funds for the five CSO representatives will rest with the local organizing committee.

Facilitators. The break-out sessions will have external facilitators chosen among NGOs involved in capacity building activities.

Knowledge sharing. The meeting will be combined with a so-called Knowledge Forum – an exhibit by participating organizations (both official and non-governmental) presenting their work and approaches to civil society development in the region.

Language. The meeting will have simultaneous English – Russian interpretation.

For more information, please contact:

  • Lidija Pavic (ODRAZ, Croatia, Chair of the Program Committee);

(3851) 444655203;

  • Lenka Surotchak (Pontis Foundation, Slovakia, Chair of the Organizing Committee); + 421 2529962215;
  • Keti Dgebuadze (Information Centre on Social Reforms, Georgia; Ex. Secretary of ECA NGO Working Group);

(995 93) 301632;

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