The 1998 NGO Sustainability Index
For Central and Eastern Europe
and Eurasia
This is the 2nd edition of the NGO
Sustainability Index, created and developed by USAID's Bureau for Europe
and Eurasia with the NGO community. Since 1997 this Index has annually gauged
the strength and overall viability of the NGO sector in the transition countries
of Central and Eastern and Europe and the New Independent States.
The Index was first developed to
meet the field's need for qualitative indicators in the area of NGO development.
Several ENI Missions now use the Index as an indicator in their Results Review
and Resource Request (R4) as it allows them to capture qualitative data in
a quantitative format. Gathering data for the Index throughout the region
provides the Bureau with a way to compare country-specific and regional progress
and trends -- and to highlight constraints to this basic element in the development
of civil society.
USAID staff and implementers share
the responsibility of collecting background information on the sector and
convening a focus group of resident experts. The insights, which are internalized
through the process of discussing the health of the sector with the NGO observers
and activists, can help USAID staff and implementers make everyday project
management decisions and design longer term project development strategies.
The Index thus has served as a diagnostic for uncovering areas of unmet needs.
We hope it will have wider applicability for other donors and partners, as
they plan their own NGO assistance efforts.
The Index is a living document:
it was created with close collaboration with NGOs, methodologically improved
with NGOs and scored with NGOs. Indeed 23 countries are now included, 6 more
than in 1997, our first year. With a refined methodology and broader participation,
this year's Index provides insight into trends emerging in the region, and
opens the door to a closer look at the role of development assistance in
the future.
To view PDF files, download
the accessible version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.
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