Monitoring the Enabling Enviroment for CSDEV

BCSDN strategic approach to monitor the environment in which civil society is functioning is to consolidate the existing research and knowledge in a consistent and applicative matrix defining the basic of a so called Civil society Acquis and benchmarks/indicators of success, which should be used as shadow monitoring for CSOs, EU and as a self-assessment tool for Governments.

For this purpose BCSDN with members and experts, including the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL), have developed the Monitoring Matrix on Enabling Environment for Civil Society Development (CSDev) – a tool for measuring the health of the legal, regulatory, and financial environment in which civil society organizations in the Western Balkans and Turkey operate.

Using the Matrix, BCSDN members, on an annual basis, are monitoring the enabling environment for CSDev, and more specifically these three areas: Basic Legal Guarantees of Freedoms; Framework for CSOs’ Financial Viability and Sustainability; Government – CSO Relationship. This monitoring exercise is used for (country-specific) advocacy activities aiming to provide consistent and continuous pressure to national Governments in the development and implementation of appropriate legislation in the area of CSDev. All national reports are compiled in a regional one aimed at international stakeholders and advocacy.

Recognizing the value of and parallels with the Monitoring Matrix, DG Enlargement/NEAR has been using BCSDN’s reports as a means of verifications for the Guidelines for EU Support to Civil Society in Enlargement Countries - an important strategic document of the European Commission to which development BCSDN has also contributed.

In 2019, the Monitoring Matrix is supported by Regional Civil Society Hub, funded by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF) and Sida. 

[This activity is in accordance with Priority 1(Monitoring EU & National Policies on Civil Society through a Common/Regional Framework on Enabling Environment for CSDev), Priority 2 (Improved Funding Policies and Procedures for Civil Society at EU and National Level) and Priority 3 (Establishing Structured Dialogue Between Civil Society in the Balkans, National and EU Institutions) from BCSDN’s Mid-term Strategy 2012-2014.]

What to expext

• Development of basic concept for self-assessment of Governments
• Development of regional study on economic value of CS
• Interactive web platform and visualization of the monitoring results in the countries