The CSO Sustainability Index Dimensions of Sustainability and Trends

CSOSI assesses the enabling environment for and the overall sustainability of civil society organizations.
Seven Dimensions
Legal Environment Organizational Capacity Service Provision Financial Viability Infrastructure Advocacy Public Image

Three Tiers
SUSTAINABILITY SUSTAINABILITY SUSTAINABILITY

IMPEDED 5.1-7

EVOLVING 3.1-5

ENHANCED 1-3

CSOSI Seven Dimensions

Legal Environment range of environmental issues from registration of CSOs to their ability to operate free of harassment, to tax exemption and local legal capacity Organizational Capacity internal structure of organizations constituency-building, management, staff development and hardware Financial Viability diversity of funding sources, earned income, financial management systems, local fundraising

Advocacy interaction with government, lobbying and advocacy with coalitions, reform for CSO legislation

CSOSI Seven Dimensions (cont)

Service provision broad range of services, cost-recovery and government recognition of their role Infrastructure covers intermediary support organizations, capacitybuilding resource, inter-sectoral partnerships Public Image the image of CSOs by the public, government and media, covers code of ethics

CSOSI Regional Coverage

Eastern Europe and Eurasia (1997-present) Africa (2009-present) Middle East/North Africa (2011-present) Afghanistan and Pakistan (2011-present)

*Average scores for 2011 do not include the four countries added that year in order to maintain comparability over time

Overall Trends and Changes 2009-2011

Legal Environment difficult environment continues to challenge CSO sectors in a number of countries Service Provision is the strongest of all dimensions - Noted CSO support to government service provision and sometimes in lieu of any government provision

Overall Trends and Changes 2009-2011 (cont)

Advocacy
- Steady overall improvement over three years. Kenya postconstitution opportunities to participate in policy-making process; Uganda, working on MOU to institutionalize government/CSO relations and participation in policy-making

Worsening of Financial Viability

Global financial crisis has resulted in overall reduction of funding, particularly from international donors

Overall Trends and Changes 2009-2011

Infrastructure one of the weaker dimensions; few ISOs, resource centers, or local grant-makers
Closing of CSO capacity-building projects and services in Gabon, DRC and Senegal

Africa CSO Sustainability Index

http://www.usaid.gov/africacivilsociety Jeremy Meadows, AFR Activity Manager: jmeadows@usaid.gov Conflict, Peacebuilding & Governance Division Office of Sustainable Development Bureau for Africa Eric Picard, COR: epicard@usaid.gov Civil Society and Media Team Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights & Governance Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, & Humanitarian Assistance