29. September 2008

- Three Studies Underway About NGO Funding in Estonia
- NFCS Distributed Its First Grants
- Estonia Ranked First in the USAID Index
- Estonia Improved in CPI
- News in Brief


Three Studies Underway About NGO Funding in Estonia

Three ongoing studies will help to gain information about public funding to NGOs in Estonia and make proposals for improvements.

Center for Policy Studies PRAXIS together with Tallinn Univeristy are currently analyzing Estonian Ministries’ practices on NGO funding. In 2007 ministries were funding NGOs with nearly 500 million Estonian kroons (approx. 32 million Euros). However, the pratices between ministries differ a lot, thus making it complicated to have information about the results. The study seeks to propose policy recommendations for harmonizing these practices so that the interests of both ministries and NGOs would be served best.

Second study deals with NGO funding through Gambling Tax Council. Also this channel has received criticism because the lack of transparency. Being one of the major funders of Estonian NGOs (more than 3000 NGOs have received project grants between January 1st 2007 and June 30 2008, with nearly 300 million Estonian kroons or approx. 19 million Euros) the project selection mechanisms are not always clear to the NGOs and to the public. This study is conducted by consultancy company BDA Consulting.

PRAXIS is also analyzing the feasibility of „percentage law“ in Estonia. Latter two researches are funded by National Foundation for Civil Society, first one is funded by Ministry of Interior.


NFCS Distributed Its First Grants

National Foundation for Civil Society has signed first contracts to support NGO activities in local level.

Early in August NFCS decided to support 13 projects out of 29 applicants with 2,6 million Estonian kroons (approx. 165 000 Euros) that aim to strengthen cooperation between NGOs as well as between different sectors at local level. You can read short summaries of the projects from NFCS's website: www.kysk.ee/?s=97

A call for innovative ideas received 21 proposals and a call for strengthening NGOs active on national level 34 proposals. Decisions about these will be made very soon.


Estonia Ranked First in the USAID Index

USAID 2007 NGO Sustainability Index for Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia, released in July, ranks Estonian NGO sector to be the most sustainable in the region.

Estonia scored 2,1 in the Index where 1,0 in considered to be the best possible score and 7,0 worst. Index focuses on seven dimensions of NGO sustainability. Estonia NGOs scored best in terms of organizational capacity, financial viability, advocacy, infrastructure and public image, were second in legal environment and third in service provision capacity.

„Estonian NGO sector continued its steady growth in numbers, capacity and sustainability in 2007,“ said Urmo Kübar, Executive Director of NENO. One of the landmarks in 2007 was the Manifesto of NGOs prior to the parliamentary election in March. Manifesto brought together NGOs active in all fields of life, presenting successfully their common expectations towards the forthcoming government and parliament.

While EU members in the region have all continued positive progress in the field of NGO sustainability, there was little change in the significant divide that exists between these and other countries in the region. Most of the countries of Eurasia continue to fall within the lower half of the Mid-Transition phase, while Belarus, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan remain stuck in Early Transition as a result of deep government suspicion and hostility. Read more: www.usaid.gov/locations/europe_eurasia/dem_gov/ngoindex/2007


Estonia Improved in CPI

Estonia improved slightly in CPI and was ranked 27. among 180 countries, appears in the international study introduced recently by Transparency International Estonia.

Information given by Transparency International says that Corruption Perception Index in Estonia is 6,6. In 2007 index was 6,5 and Estonia was ranked 28. Country scoring 10 points is corruption-free and the one scoring 0 is totally corrupt. Sweden, Denmark and New Zealand scored the best at 9,3.

„One of the many reasons is apparently the new anti-corruption strategy until year 2012, because compliers of the index value systematic governmental attention paid to the fight against corruption,” said Tarmu Tammerk, TI-Estonia Chairman of the Board.

Anti-corruption strategy for 2008-2012 was adopted in parliament in spring. „TI-Estonia’s opinion is that given strategy is appropriate and helps governing powers to remember that  corruption must be fought with constantly and not only prior elections,” said Tammerk.

Corruption in Estonia is most likely to occur in local governments, public procurements and in the crossing of politics and business, finds TI-Estonia. „Insufficient oversight in party financing is an example how politicians are not interested in clearing the shady areas,” said Tammerk, quoting to the lack of interest of parliament to change the supervision of party financing. Corruption is again likely to emerge in business considering tensions in economy.   


News in Brief:

• NENO’s annual summer school, held in September 12-13 brought together 150 NGO leaders to discuss and learn best practices and new approaches on leadership of NGOs.
• Estonian NGOs are preparing for European Parliament elections next June. Inspired by the success of Manifesto of Estonian NGOs prior to the parliamentary elections in 2007, NGOs plan to come out with similar kind of document before the forthcoming elections as well.
• Acclaimed Iranian author Marjane Satrapi was the keynote speaker at forum Cultures Speak in Estonia, organized by Open Estonia Foundation. In line with Satrapi’s visit, Estonian Television aired her Oscar-nominated animation Persepolis, its world premiere in television. Also, Satrapi’s book was translated and published in Estonian.