Belgrade, Serbia, 23-25 March 2011

1. TACSO Regional Conference: CSO Sustainability in the IPA Countries Belgrade, Serbia, 23-25 March 2011 Albania

2. Financial Sustainability Main National Action Points • Legal framework improvement related to economic activity of the CSOs (efforts on harmonizing legal framework, VAT, social enterprises, tariffs differentiation in support of vulnerable groups by CSOs, etc) • Assistance on accessing EU funds remains priority for Albanian CSOs (service provider assistance, TACSO support continuously as well as whenever call are announced)

3. Financial Sustainability Main National Action Points • Revitalizing re-granting mechanism to support small/recently established NGOs (fill in the gap of tradition funds diminishing) • Facilitation of partnership for small/rural CSOs (new partnership established to exchange experiences and channel funds to local communities, enhancing cross border cooperation)

4. Financial Sustainability Main National Action Points • Diversification of funding sources to increasing the sustainability (improve access to information on possible funding, nurture partnerships, promote alternative funding)

5. Organizational / Institutional Sustainability Main National Action Points • Know How assistance on Governance, Management, Administrative and Financial Systems aiming at improving the CSO performance (provided by TACSO and different service provider at national and local level) • Assistance on developing Strategic Plans targeting small/rural CSOs

6. Organizational / Institutional Sustainability Main National Action Points • ToT courses and education OD issues (effective usage of TACSO manuals) • Public image and accountably improvement through encouraging more transparency on funding, expenditures and impact. (better media involvement, support to media CSOs, education and training in using PR and media tools) • Encouraging Partnership and Networking

7. Quality of CSO Services • Main National Action Points • Introduce standards of service providers’ quality at national level (social-, health-, decision processes-, etc) • Piloting Quality Assurance systems for consolidated CSOs, at first stage.

8. TACSO Regional Conference: CSO Sustainability in the IPA Countries Belgrade, Serbia, 23-25 March 2011 Bosnia and Herzegovina

9. Organizational / Institutional Sustainability • Education of CSOs and government institution on concept of social enterprising • Fact findings on social enterprising – existing legislation and identifying gaps in legislation • Trainings for CSOs (presentation of successful examples, know how), dispersing information by brochures, reports etc. • Consultation on national strategy on CSOs sustainability

10. Networking • Networking as a way towards sustainability: • Joint efforts and enhanced cooperation between of IOs and local NGOs in order to: a) prevent overlapping of activities b) unify voice • establishing learning networks: sharing of information, update on activates, best practices, lessons learned (e.g. networking conference)- NGO Council as a communication channel or other existing structure (Peace Building Network, Sporazum Plus, Justice Network, Networks that CIDI project is working with) • issue based needs: indentifying needs, recommendations for donors policies, input for consultations process on EU planning

11. Identifying existing resources and needs • Data basis (human resources-management, activities categorised)

12. TACSO Regional Conference: CSO Sustainability in the IPA Countries Belgrade, Serbia, 23-25 March 2011 CROATIA

13. Quality of CSO Services • Quality Assurance Systems • key to ensure organisational and financial sustanaibility

14. Organizational / Institutional/Financial Sustainability Influencing policy level -advocating support for organisational development through grants from public funds (state and EU) -raising awareness on CSOs among public administrators, especially on local level -balanced regional development within the country Systematic education for CSOs – CSO Open University (public policy analysis, policy research, CSO management, EU funds etc.)

15. Organizational / Institutional/Financial Sustainability Specific recommendations for TACSO Organisational development funds (e.g. strategic planning, evaluations ) Travel funds for networking on EU level and within IPA region Continous support for establishing regional cooperation and partnerships

16. TACSO Regional Conference: CSO Sustainability in the IPA Countries Belgrade, Serbia, 23-25 March 2011 Kosova

17. Organizational / Institutional Sustainability • Review, amendment and harmonization of the legislative framework relevant for the functioning and wellbeing of the CSOs; • Top priority establishment of the governmental entity that would support (financially and in terms of capacity building CSOs; • Awareness raising - mandate of CSOs towards the citizens; and advocacy and lobbying targeting stakeholders such as: executive, legislative and donors.

18. Quality of CSO Services • As a precondition, enhancing the expertise for the specific quality services; • Profiling of organizations; and • Creation of the thematic networks in order to share lessons learned and perhaps identify potential for partnership/ staff and management training/ and better coordinate efforts.

19. Financial Sustainability • Diversification of the founds: • Commencing from the public financing; • Private sector; • Private contribution (membership fees); • Banks etc. • Awareness raising for the philanthropy, voluntarism and in-kind contribution; and • Exploring the opportunities for income generation CSOs (social enterprises).

20. TACSO Regional Conference: CSO Sustainability in the IPA Countries Belgrade, Serbia, 23-25 March 2011 MACEDONIA

21. Organizational / Institutional Sustainability • Monitoring of the implementation of the new law on CSO (focused on public benefit status and the economic activities) • CSO capacity building on financial management • Providing assistance (mentorship) in creating of strategic plan/ strategic approach/ strategic thinking • Sectorial networking • Education on human resource management (including legal aspects) and support for creation of systems on HR management • Monitoring of the strategy for implementation of the Law on Volunteering

22. Quality of CSO Services • Presentation of quality assurance systems to CSOs on national level (conference) • Promotion of the benefits that this systems offer to the wider public

23. Financial Sustainability • Changes in the law on donations and sponsorships • Advocating for introduction of effective and transparent system for distribution of public funds • Support for creation of fundraising plans • Influencing donors to give institutional grants so that CSOs try new innovative approaches to fundraise

24. TACSO Regional Conference: CSO Sustainability in the IPA Countries Belgrade, Serbia, 23-25 March 2011 Montenegro

25. Organizational / Institutional Sustainability • Adopting new Law on CSOs • Continuous capacity building of the HR (strategic planning, HR management,...) • Exchange of staff at national, regional and EU level • Establishment of partnerships with the Government and local self-governments • Adopting an adequate act (procedures) for transparent inclusion of CSOs in working groups • Establishing sectorial data bases of CSOs within relevant state institutions • Adopting an act for inslusion of CSOs in the process of shaping and implementation of public policies • Improving cooperation between the CSOs (sectorial networks, platforms) • Changing Law on volunteering work • Raising awareness on volunteering work • Updated data base of CSOs by relevant Ministry • Strengthening accountability of CSOs (Promoting Ethical Code of CSOs, transparency, etc.)

26. Quality of CSO Services • Presentation of quality standards • Inclusion of relevant state bodies in public debate process on quality of CSO services • Promoting examples of good practice of CSOs-service providers, including exchange of regional experiences • Introducing quality system in CSOs-service providers

27. Financial Sustainability • Trainings on fundraising and PCM EU for CSOs • Promoting CSR • Changing Law on profit tax for legal persons • Changing Law on income tax for natural persons • State co-financing projects of public interest funded by EU • Decreasing minimal ammout of grants in call for proposals • Increasing number of requested partnerships within EU call for proposals • Improving capacities of the Commisions on the theme of PCM (with special emphasis on M&E) • Changing Regulation on allocating funds from national lottery and games on chances (funds should be allocated only to CSOs)

28. TACSO Regional Conference: CSO Sustainability in the IPA Countries Belgrade, Serbia, 23-25 March 2011 SERBIA

29. Organizational / Institutional Sustainability • Support and development of National strategy for cooperation with civil society, and mobilizing civil society to participate in the process • Education and promotion of strategic thinking and a long-term planning approach in CSOs (TA)

30. Organizational / Institutional Sustainability • Continue with capacity building programmes through training in the area of CSO Human Resources, including Governance, Management, and the understanding of EU policies • Strengthen local, national, sector, multi-sector, European and intergalactic partnerships 

31. Quality of CSO Services • In the area of social services delivered by CSOs, capacity building for strict adherence to professional standards, licencing regulated by Law, institutionalization of services • In the area of training services, defining standards of quality • Promote standardization of quality in all areas of services provided by CSOs • Support and capacity building programmes for professional associations • Utilize the opportunity given by the new Law regarding the economic activity of CSOs as a source for sustainability

32. Financial Sustainability • Continuation of support for advocacy efforts for tax reform (related to CSOs – e.g. Corporate tax etc.) • Bylaw for transparent funding from public sources – lobbying for the adoption and implementation • Budget line 481 – support advocacy initiative to separate Civil Society from othes receiving these funds • Educate the public for social enterprises • Support national advocacy initiatives regarding regranting, multi-year funding, and institutional funding from the EU • Promotion of existing good practices and advocacy for obtaining matching contribution for EU projects from local and national funds • Explore possibilities for social reuse of confiscated proceeds of crime by NGOs, to ensure that local communities have direct benefits from the Law on confiscation. (Support to PROTECTA initiative)

33. TACSO Regional Conference: CSO Sustainability in the IPA Countries Belgrade, Serbia, 23-25 March 2011 TURKEY

34. Organizational / Institutional Sustainability • Volunteer capacity building programme • One-to-one support to CSOs for strategic planning and financial management • Promote trade unionism among CSO professionals • Advocating for legal amendments to improve the working environment of CSOs

36. Quality of CSO Services • Capacity building for mainstreaming key issues such as gender, disability and environoment • Promoting transparency and accountablity in extending services • Encouraging partnerships on cross-cutting issues

38. Financial Sustainability • Advocating for legal amendments to provide tax exemption for CSOs • Improving donor-donor and donor-CSO dialogue for effective funding and simplification of application / reporting processes