ISC what we do

Civil Society Advocacy Initiative (CSAI) Program OverviewInstitute for

Sustainable Communities (ISC)

Funded by the United States Agency for International Development

what’s possible

Civil Society Advocacy InitiativeISC Serbia

• The goal of CSAI is for civil society to play a constructive advocacy role in building a democratic, prosperous Serbia moving toward Euro-Atlantic integration.

• This goal is intended to emphasize civil society organizations’ (CSOs) value as vehicles for influencing policy decisions and monitoring of subsequent implementation, promoting transparent and accountable institutions and processes, and stimulating effective citizen engagement and participation in advocacy efforts.

Why are we doing this project?

Civil Society Advocacy InitiativeISC Serbia

CSAI

GRANTS

Advocacy in Practice, Innovation Fund, Special Initiatives…

IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS

Civic Initiatives, BCIF

SMART Kolektiv, ECNL

TRAININGPROGRAM

FINANCE & ADMINOUTREACH &

VISIBILITY

MONITORING & EVALUATION

CSGA Program

Key Program Activities

Civil Society Advocacy InitiativeISC Serbia

• RESULT 1: CSAI grantees advocate effectively about political, economic, and social issues that consolidate Serbia’s democratic transition

• RESULT 2: Citizens, businesses, and government view CSOs as reliable partners in building a more democratic and prosperous Serbia

• RESULT 3: An enabling environment exists for CSOs to advocate effectively for reform issues

Key results

Civil Society Advocacy Initiative

CSAI Activities & Key Accomplishments

ISC Serbia

Civil Society Advocacy InitiativeISC Serbia

Oplaneti Se!/ Get with the Planet! campaign – 2009 & 2010

Civil Society Advocacy InitiativeISC Serbia

Support to 119 grassroots initiatives that engaged citizens to advocate for revitalizing local school yards and playgrounds, cleaning up rivers and illegal dumps, employment for people with disabilities, recycling, and greater visibility and human rights for all communities

Civil Society Advocacy InitiativeISC Serbia

Trained 1,155 CSO representatives and activists in advocacy related topics

Civil Society Advocacy InitiativeISC Serbia

Establishment of the VIRTUS Corporate Philanthropy Excellence Award recognizing outstanding companies in the area of corporate social responsibility while forging sustainable partnerships between CSOs & the private sector

Civil Society Advocacy InitiativeISC Serbia

Launch of the Business Leaders Forum (BLF)

Civil Society Advocacy Initiative

“A Penny is not Petty” Campaign

ISC Serbia

ISC Grants activities

Civil Society Advocacy InitiativeISC Serbia

Share

Civil Society Advocacy InitiativeISC Serbia

Outreach & Visibility

Civil Society Advocacy Initiative

CSAI’s PR Campaign to Improve the Visibility of the CSO Sector

ISC Serbia

Civil Society Advocacy InitiativeISC Serbia

ISC Serbia Web statistics

Civil Society Advocacy InitiativeISC Serbia

Support the establishment of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and 70+ Youth offices around the country, as well as adoption of a National Youth Strategy

Civil Society Advocacy InitiativeISC Serbia

Provision of legal and policy reforms (national and local) on election legislation, promotion of government transparency and accountability, environment, youth, vulnerable populations and other issues

People initiatives

Civil Society Advocacy InitiativeISC Serbia

Support of a nation-wide Get Out the Vote campaign which galvanized the largest ever voter turnout during 2007 national elections

Civil Society Advocacy InitiativeISC Serbia

Key Advocacy Achievements

73 Advocacy Successes to date on both the local and national level

____________________________________________________________

Key Advocacy Achievements on National Level

• In October 2008 National Parliament of Serbia adopted the Law on Personal Data Protection, a direct result of CSAI’s FOI Coalition’s advocacy activities

• The Law on Associations was adopted on July 8, 2009, marking a significant achievement and the start of a a new chapter in the overall development of the NGO sector in Serbia.

Civil Society Advocacy InitiativeISC Serbia

• CSAI Grantee Group 484 undertook a long-term advocacy campaign to change and improve the Bill on Social Housing during the adoption process. This resulted in substantial improvements to the Bill on Social Housing which is now more favorable for vulnerable groups and which was adopted on August 31, 2009.

• National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Law on Data Confidentiality and the Law on Free Access to Information of Public Importance on December 11, 2009, the result of advocacy by People’s Parliament and YUCOM.

• On December 11, the Serbian National Assembly adopted the Law on Unified Voters’ List that provides a computerized and centralized system that accounts for all Serbian voters. The law was drafted jointly by the Ministry for Public Administration and Local Self-Government, with support from CSAI Grantee the Center for Free Elections and Democracy.

Key Advocacy Achievements on National Level

Civil Society Advocacy InitiativeISC Serbia

• On April 15, 2011, the Serbian government agreed to establish an Office for Cooperation with Civil Society, a key accomplishment spearheaded by CSAI implementing partners CI and ECNL. The office will strengthen and improve the policy framework for CSO activity and facilitate greater legitimacy for and expansion of an enabling environment for the work of civil society organizations in Serbia.

• The Parliament adopted a new Law on Endowments and Foundations on November 23, 2010, which makes it easier and more transparent to establish and operate an endowment or a foundation. The effort was spearheaded by CSAI Implementing partners BCIF and ECNL.

Key Advocacy Achievements on National Level

Civil Society Advocacy InitiativeISC Serbia

• Local Action Plans for Improvement of Roma Education were adopted in three Vojvodina municipalities: Opovo and Bac in February, and Secanj in April 2009. The initiative was led by CSAI Grantee Novi Sad Humanitarian Center.

• On December 10, 2010, the city of Kragujevac adopted a Strategy for the Development of Civil Society, as a result of advocacy by CSAI Grantee CSO MillenniuM. The strategy represents the first strategic document of its kind in Serbia, and provides a platform for the future development of civil society in the City of Kragujevac.

Key Advocacy Achievements on Local Level

Civil Society Advocacy InitiativeISC Serbia

Total Grants Awarded, in USDTotal Grants Awarded, in USD

TYPE OF GRANTNUMBER OF

GRANTS

IP 4

AP 60

SI 69

IF 14

EI 10

EJI 5

SG 12

BCIF GRAGs 57

BCIF ACAPs 37

BCIF PCAPs 7

BCIF Green list 25

TOTAL GRANTS 300

Civil Society Advocacy InitiativeISC Serbia

ISC/CSAI Grants; Share of Grant ProgramsISC/CSAI Grants; Share of Grant Programs

1%20%

24%

5%3%2%4%

19%

12%

2%8%

Implementing Partners Advocacy in PracticeSpecial Initiatives Innovation Fund GrantsEuropean Integration Grants Enviromental Joint InitiativeSuccess Grants BCIF GRAGsBCIF ACAPs BCIF PCAPsBCIF Green list

Civil Society Advocacy InitiativeISC Serbia

Geographic Distribution of GrantsGeographic Distribution of Grants

47

13123

67

29

Other: 3

Civil Society Advocacy InitiativeISC Serbia

CSAI Trainings

Civil Society Advocacy InitiativeISC Serbia

Training Program Trends Training Program Trends

619 21 28

37

116 121

261293

364

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Year I Year II Year III Year IV Year V

Total trainings # of participants

what’s possible

Institute for Sustainable Communities

Civil Society for Government Accountability -

CSGA Program

Funded by Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

ISC Serbia

CSGA

A Brief Overview

what’s possible

CSGA Programfunded by Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

• 7 partner organizations:

AWC, Amity, RIC, CIL, OK NIS, CI, G484• Local NGO partners: more than 40 CSOs• Geographic coverage:

35 local municipalities throughout the Republic of Serbia• Project purpose:

Increased Government and local municipalities’ accountability in meeting the needs of vulnerable groups through monitoring implementation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy

CSGA Programfunded by Norwegian Ministry of Foreign

Affairs

• Coalition and local partner capacity building: more than 20 trainings provided (budget monitoring, cost benefit analysis, public policy analysis, Joint Inclusion Memorandum and other EU instruments)

• 4 publications produced and promoted: public policy analysis & budget assessments for vulnerable groups

• Formal cooperation with the Government of Serbia:– 1 member delegated to the Government Council for Social Inclusion– Amendments for the Bill on Lottery prepared, submitted and adopted– BMC participated in the development of the Law on Social Protection– Inputs for the First Report on Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction in

Serbia 2008–2010 developed and included into the final version– Inputs for the EU 2010 Progress Report for the Republic of Serbia developed

and included into the final version

Key Accomplishments

CSGA Programfunded by Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Coalition capacity building

CSGA Programfunded by Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

CSGA PROMO: This suitcase contains 762,971,000 Dinars. It is the budget for Serbia for 2010. CSGA PROMO MATERIAL: 1,897 Dinars = minimum cost to take care of a child per month

Civil Society Advocacy InitiativeISC Serbia

Key Methods used

• Surveys, Assessments

• Seat at the Table Index

• Advocacy Index

• Hands on Mentoring/Learning

• Coaching/Capacity Building (e.g., civic participation & training vouchers)

Thank Youwhat’s possible