Researches and Analysis
Analysis of NGO Environment in Serbia - Transition Challenges
Preservation of democratic values and institutions in any society greatly depends on existence of sustainable and strong NGOs in that society.
Non-governmental sector in Serbia and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are facing numerous structural and operational difficulties, because they have to function in an environment which is lacking democratic values and practice.
According to the FENS survey, 74% of NGOs in Serbia are financially supported by donors from abroad (63% of these organizations didn’t have secure financial means for the year 2005). Only 24% of donors give institutional grants. Although 61% of the surveyed NGOs claim they have had some cooperation with business sector, in 73% of the cases it was small sporadic support; only 6% are being given a strategically oriented and continual support from the business sector.
The situation with NGO activism in Serbia is no better then the one regarding financial dependence on foreign donors. According to researches, activism in non-governmental organizations does not exist apart from political orientation and party activism.
In numerous areas, legislative system designed for the profit-oriented economic sector covers civil society as well. Unfortunately, those in charge of changing the regulations, i.e. political parties in Serbia, as present or future holders of legal and executive powers, failed to establish their stance on the civil society. Even when there is an attitude, it is reduced to (criticizing) reactions to nongovernmental organizations activities.
Besides that, NGOs get marginal publicity in the media. Altogether, the context in media coverage of NGO activity is rather negative then affirmative, especially if the organization in question deals with human rights, war crimes and the ICTY trials.
As to the citizens of Serbia, (to whom our NGO sector’s activities are directed, roughly speaking), a positive attitude on NGOs can be found in only one forth of total population. This is compatible with the results of a survey conducted by “Danas” daily in 2001, when only one forth of Serbian population had some knowledge or idea about the civil society, while the rest had none whatsoever. One third of those interviewed with at least 12 years of school education claim to know what non governmental organizations are, while two thirds know very little or nothing at all about them.
Analyses conducted in this project summary represent our small contribution to finding the answer to the question.
Summary of Analyses [ pdf ]