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USAID’s Democracy Network Program (DemNet) was established pursuant to President Clinton’s 1994 initiative to encourage the development of civil society and support greater citizen participation in public policy-making, throughout Central and Eastern Europe. The strategic goal was to assist countries in transition from a one-party/Soviet political system as they faced the challenges of building new democratic institutions and strengthening the emerging Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) sector.
DemNet had both in-country and regional components, which were assigned to a variety of Public Voluntary Organizations. In Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, DemNet was implemented by local branches of the U.S. Baltic Foundation (USBF). Regional initiatives were carried out by the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) and Freedom House/National Forum Foundation (FH/NFF). This two-tiered approach was designed to combine local, regional, and international expertise to obtain the maximum benefit for indigenous civic culture. Thus, the regional programs had their own identities, yet they complemented in-country activities and furthered the development goals of the USAID Missions.
In Lithuania, USBF provided sub-grants, technical assistance, and training directly to NGOs. On the regional level, ICNL improved the legal framework and enabling environment for NGOs, while FH/NFF facilitated regional networking, placed US experts at key Lithuanian institutions, and set up U.S. based training and internships for key Lithuanian counterparts. All three components provided information, skills, and contacts, in an effort to empower the NGO sector. Together, they created a synergy, and reinforced the numerous positive achievements.
DemNet has substantially increased the capacity of Lithuanian NGOs to serve their constituents and influence public policy through constructive dialogue with authorities. It helped build a strong foundation for sector-wide and regional initiatives involving networking and provided NGOs with the knowledge and skills to become more sustainable. DemNet also facilitated efforts by NGOs to educate and engage all levels of Lithuanian society, including the government, the media, and the general public. Additional results include improvements in the legal framework and enabling environment for NGOs, and greater volunteerism.
Yet in spite of these impressive results, USAID has concluded that the still fragile civic sector in all three Baltic States will need continuing support even after its Mission closeout in September of 2000. In addition to extending funding to USBF and FH/NFF for one and three years respectively, USAID created a ground-breaking special initiative to assist Baltic NGOs into the next century; the Baltic-American Partnership Fund (BAPF). This 501(c)(3) public charity is a ten-year $15 million endowment jointly funded by USAID, the Open Society Institute, and the National Open Society Foundations in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. It is a major part of the U.S. Government’s legacy for democracy in the Baltic States.
USAID engaged USBF to implement the in-country component of the Democracy Network Project in Lithuania, which focused directly on building the strength of NGOs. This furthered USAID’s goal of enhansing citizen participation in political and economic decision-making processes. USBF used sub-grants and training to increase the capacity of NGOs in crucial areas (e.g., management, strategic planning, fund-raising, and relations with authorities), and provided expert assistance in developing the public policy advocacy skills of NGOs. DemNet focused on four areas: democratic practices, the social safety net, economic development, and environmental protection. USBF provided sub-grants, training, and technical support to forty-one NGOs, selected from cities and towns around Lithuania. There were four rounds of sub-grants, totaling $450,000 (almost half of the total DemNetmoney spent in Lithuania). During the first three rounds, USBF organized twelve major training seminars, attended by more than four hundred Lithuanian NGOs. These seminars enabled NGOs to increase their skills in the subjects mentioned above, as well as member services, media relations, team building, and networking.
Following a 1997 evaluation, USAID concluded that the first three rounds achieved breadth instead of depth. USAID and USBF decided to refocus the program on establishing a core group of ten sustainable NGOs with excellent skills in public policy analysis, advocacy, and the provision of services. This new strategic phase of the Program was called DemNet II. The ten NGOs were chosen by a broad-based committee, using carefully formulated criteria, through an open competition. Each NGO identified a significant public policy goal, such as changing a law or regulation affecting their activity, or instituting a new governmental procedure. USBF provided highly specialized training, technical assistance, and a fourth and final round of sub-grants. The goal was to strengthen these NGOs in the areas specified above and enable them to meet their objectives.
Six of the ten DemNet II NGOs succeeded in meeting their objectives in 1998, and the rest are doing so in 1999. Examples of dramatic public policy impact include the Lithuanian Prisoner’s Aid Association, which played a leading role in revocation of a harsh law on preventive detention, and helped persuade the Seimas to amend the Criminal Code to eliminate the death penalty. Junior Achievement Lithuania convinced the Ministry of Education to raise the standards for economics education, and institute new training programs for secondary school teachers. And the Kaunas Women’s Employment Information Center worked to amend legislation prohibiting discriminatory business practices, and as part of an NGO coalition helped convince the Kaunas Municipal Government to add a line item to its budget for support to local NGOs.
Advocacy by Lithuanian NGOs reached a watershed in 1999, when the Parliament of Lithuania, with assistance from USAID and its training provider World Learning, organized the first open parliamentary committee hearing. The subject was draft revisions to the Law on Charity and Sponsorship for NGOs. Six NGOs, among them several closely involved with DemNet, testified before nearly one hundred people, including Members of Parliament, civil society representatives, major donors, and the media. In part as a result of this event, the Seimas operating statutes have been amended, to make open committee hearings on draft laws a standard practice.
Also as a result of USBF’s DemNet work, it is far more common and accepted for NGOs to participate in the actual drafting and amendment of laws covering a wide range of societal concerns. One area of particular focus has been improving the legislation governing NGO activities. In part due to DemNet, there has been greater dialogue between officials and civil society concerning this subject. For example, several DemNet NGOs participated directly in drafting the revised Law on Charity and Sponsorship for NGOs (mentioned above). Also, DemNet NGOs continually spread the benefits of their training concerningadvocacy for legal reform (and other subjects) to the rest of the NGO sector.
An additional result of DemNet is that Lithuanian NGOs have more meaningful interactions with governmental authorities. Collective advocacy by DemNet NGOs helped lead the Prime Minister to appoint an Advisor on NGO issues, and create an Advisory Commission of NGO representatives, the latter with direct assistance from USBF. The Advisory Commission communicates with the Prime Minister on issues of importance to the NGO sector, such as legal reform and the distribution of public funds to the NGO sector. Lithuania was one of the first countries in the region to take these very positive steps.
In addition to successes in public advocacy, through the efforts of USAID and USBF, the DemNet Program has led to a dramatic increase in media coverage of and publicity for NGOs. One of the greatest challenges facing NGOs is the lack of public recognition. This was confirmed by the first public opinion survey concerning NGOs, which was sponsored by USAID and carried out by the Social Information Center and the NGO-Information and Support Center. The survey clearly showed that USBF correctly targeted the areas mentioned above, particularly fund-raising, advocacy/activism, and work with the media to generate positive publicity and motivate citizens.
Freedom House/National Forum Foundation (FH/NFF) manages the Regional NGO Networking Program, from its European headquarters in Budapest. The main goal of this Program is cross-border cooperation and communication among Central and Eastern European NGOs. The Regional Networking Program began in 1995, and was renewed for an additional three years in 1998. During the initial three-year phase, FH/NFF supported projects in four areas: democratization, economic transformation, environmental protection, and strengthening the social safety net. In order to focus more on the institutional development and sustainability of NGOs, the second three-year phase prioritizes building NGO capacity for advocacy and influencing public policy in four areas: foreign policy, economic transformation, minority and human rights, and democratic development. These regional goals strongly complement and in many respects coincide with local initiatives, and have been closely coordinated with USBF in Lithuania.
The Regional Networking Program has several components. A Regional Exchange Program has enabled Lithuanian NGO leaders to visit and build contacts with partner NGOs in the region, and engage in more joint projects, while developing skills in areas like fund-raising, management, and media relations. The U.S. Visiting Fellows Program has permitted five Lithuanian NGO leaders to visit the United States for six-week practical internships at counterpart American organizations. Also, the American Volunteers in International Development Program (AVID) brought five U.S. volunteer experts to Lithuania for periods of three to twelve months. AVID volunteers worked with USBF to provide a number of local NGOs with expert consultations in areas such as human resource management, advocacy, strategic planning, program development, volunteerism, and media relations. These initiatives have increased the qualifications and skills of key professionals who are now making crucial contributions to civil society development in Lithuania.
An additional area of focus for the Regional Networking Program has been independent policy institutes, or "think tanks". These are special institutions that focus primarily on research, informing leaders and the public, and influencing policy development and legislation. In order to build skills for managing outreach projects, enhance capacity and sustainability, and develop important cross-border alliances, FH/NFF issued two Program Grants to Lithuanian think tanks, namely the NGO Information and Support Center (NISC), and the Lithuanian Free Market Institute (LFMI). NISC received $28,000 for the "NISC-BORIS Twinning Project", which generated close cooperation between NISC and BORIS, a prominent Polish NGO resource center. Through mentoring and consultations, BORIS has helped NISC to improve contacts between NGOs and local governments, and develop the Vilnius Volunteer Center. LFMI received $26,000 towards a project to help build a private pension system in Lithuania. Working with the Jaan Tonisson Institute in Estonia and the Janis Cakste Foundation in Latvia, LFMI has performed research and analysis, and developed and disseminated concrete policy recommendations, many of which have been approved by governmental authorities.
The Regional Networking Program has utilized the diverse modalities identified above to effect reforms at both the regional and local levels. In this manner, it has achieved both direct successes, and synergy with the other components of the DemNet Program.
Priorities for the DemNet Program included not only support for specific NGOs, but also improvement of the enabling environment, specifically the legal framework, for the entire sector. The legal framework for NGOs is one of the most important determinants of civil society development, because it sets the parameters for registration, taxation, philanthropy, income generation, and administration of NGO activities. Accordingly, governments and legislatures in developing democracies can benefit greatly from assistance and information in the area of non-profit law. This is the mission of ICNL. Under DemNet, from its regional office in Warsaw and then Budapest, ICNL provided technical assistance, information on best practices and legal developments in the region, and comments on draft laws.
In Lithuania, since 1995, ICNL has provided information and comments to key counterparts concerning all of the major laws affecting theNGO sector. ICNL has also organized and participated in a number of high-level events, both national and regional, which brought together all of the parties involved in the process, including government officials, NGO representatives, lawyers, and academics. These activities were complemented by direct legal assistance to NGOs, through an ICNL-sponsored clinic that operated at the NGO Information and Support Center.These free- of-charge legal consultations are a unique form of assistance to NGOs. They also serve to raise the profile of legal issues, and arm NGOs with the tools to effect further change, either by advocacy or by offering services themselves. For example, after legal consultations at the NGO Information and Support Center, the Social Innovation Fund in Kaunas designed its own Hot Line, which provides advice to women facing legal problems.
Through these initiatives, ICNL has managed to focus greater attention on the relationship between legal issues and civil society development, increase the amount of legal information available to a wide range of Lithuanian parties, enhance the level of understanding and amount of local expertise in this area, and improve the legal framework within which Lithuanian NGOs operate.
The Baltic American Partnership Fund (BAPF) is a major component of USAID’s legacy in the Baltic States, designed to promote civil society, and continue/build upon the important achievements of the DemNet Program. Working with the Soros-funded Open Society Institute, USAID has spearheaded the creation of the BAPF, a U.S. based 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The BAPF will ensure that the departure of USAID in September of 2000 does not bring an end to U.S. support for civil society in Lithuania. The BAPF begins with an endowment of $15 million, contributed equally by USAID and the Open Society Institute/National Open Society Foundations. Through this endowment it is expected that the BAPF will provide approximately $500,000 annually to Lithuania over the next ten years.
The BAPF is already providing training, technical assistance, and program grants to NGOs in all three Baltic Republics. The BAPF works with local NGOs to help them develop a transparent and supportive legal and regulatory environment for NGOs, a critical mass of operational and management competence, more diverse models of philanthropy, broadened membership and volunteerism, and more effective public policy advocacy skills. It is also dedicated to improving the public perception of NGOs. The BAPF is administered in the United States, but managed locally. The three National Open Society Foundations in the Baltic Republics are responsible for implementation. Local Program Directors have been hired, Local Experts Groups have been established, and the initial program of activities is in place. The BAPF made its first grants in Lithuania during the middle of 1999.
The DemNet Program has contributed significantly to civil society development in Lithuania. Through training and technical assistance arranged by USBF, many NGOs have developed greater skills concerning management, strategic planning, fund raising, member services, public relations, and the ability to influence public policy. Regional networking and skills sharing, facilitated by FH/NFF, have enabled Lithuanian NGOs to build constructive ties with their counterparts in neighboring countries, and achieve greater results from their work. Improvements in the legal environment for NGOs, guided by information and technical assistance from ICNL, but also due to increased interest and involvement on the part of NGOs themselves, have made it easier for Lithuanian civil society to function.
DemNet is directly responsible for a number of practical achievements, which are reflected in the current activities of Lithuanian NGOs. The level of professionalism and experience of NGO staff has risen significantly, and there has been an increase in the number of people expressing interest in NGOs, and even volunteering their time and energy. DemNet NGOs have learned to diversify their funding sources, and obtain both financial and practical support from Lithuanian authorities. As a result of DemNet, more NGOs are committed to sound financial management, and many have professional financial management systems and staff. Through improved networking skills, the benefits provided to the DemNet NGOs have spread across the sector. NGOs are learning from each other, sharing best practices, forming coalitions around specific issues, and finding numerous means for mutual support. Finally, one of the main legacies of DemNet II is the creation of a core group of NGOs with considerable prowess in the areas of research, policy analysis, public advocacy, and the provision of services, which constitute models for activism and catalysts for the entire sector.
DemNet has also improved the relationship between NGOs and both national and local government. Authorities increasingly view NGOs as service-providing partners, who should be consulted concerning common problems and legal reform. This is demonstrated by the Prime Minister’s Advisory Commission of NGO representatives, and the increasing involvement of NGOs in the legislative drafting process and testimony concerning pending laws.
However, there is still a great deal of work to be done. Lithuanian laws do not facilitate philanthropy, nor allow NGOs to develop resources through commercial activities, which adversely affect the prospects for sustainability. The public perception of NGOs, and public involvement in NGOs, still reflect the Soviet legacy, and must be enhanced. NGO skills, while improving, are not yet at a level which will ensure the sustainability of the sector. For these reasons, the Baltic American Partnership Fund has been established, and endowed with ten years of funding. The final message is clear. DemNet has been a success, and the positive results for Lithuanian civil society are apparent. Yet the process of transition towards a vibrant civil society must continue.
Since opening in 1994, the Women’s Employment and Information Center (WEIC) has an impressive 25% placement rate, and has found jobs for over 1,500 women. Yet WEIC, which is run by women for women, serves as more than a job-placement agency. It is also at the vanguard of business development and women’s rights in Lithuania. "WEIC is not only an employment center which serves women free of charge, but we are a business incubator providing women with the learning and resources necessary to start and nurture their own businesses," said Director Birute Vesaite. The WEIC holds seminars, has computer facilities available to businesswomen, and serves as a networking center for women in central Lithuania.
WEIC’s DemNet-funded project was to establish the first business incubator for women in Lithuania. This incubator enabled hundreds of women to start their own businesses. WEIC’s directory of women’s businesses, also funded by DemNet, is a crucial networking tool for government, NGOs, and the private sector. In June of 1997, WEIC organized the first Women’s Trade Fair in Lithuanian history, funded solely by DemNet. The Fair showed what Lithuanian women are capable of doing, and educated and inspired some 4000 visitors.
Other WEIC public policy successes include amending laws governing family issues, equal opportunity, and small and medium-sized businesses. WEIC also led a coalition of NGOs that convinced the Kaunas municipal government to include a line item for NGOs in its budget. It is currently engaged in expanding the credit available to women’s businesses and setting up a network of women’s employment centers in Lithuania.
Under Lithuania’s Law on Preventive Detention, prosecutors were able to hold people in jail for up to two months on the basis of a mere suspicion of past or even future wrong-doing. Calls for change were not heeded, even though statistics showed that only a small percentage of detainees were finally convicted.
This situation lasted for years, until June of 1997 when a legislative initiative spearheaded by the Prisoners’ Aid Association resulted in the revocation of the Preventive Detention Law. This major change in public policy was one of the Association’s advocacy goals under DemNet. The Association has also contributed to Lithuania’s recent abolition of the death penalty. DemNet funding and training have enabled the Association to bring Lithuania closer to international human rights standards, and have had a major impact on the country’s criminal justice system.
While many young Lithuanians have benefited from the current economic transformation, life has become more difficult for the elderly, particularly those on a fixed income. As the ranks of the elderly grow, and demand for services increases, the government is less able to provide for everyone. Thus, private initiative is increasingly important. The Elderly Woman’s Activities Center (EWAC) was the first organization of its kind in Lithuania, founded to help elderly women support each another. Since beginning work in 1994, the Kaunas based EWAC has built a network of activity centers in four other cities, namely Birzai, Zemaiciu Naumiestis, Vievis, and Panevezys.
In 1996, as a participant in USAID’s DemNet Program, EWAC worked to provide voluntary services to the elderly, and develop a series of seminars for elderly community leaders and citizens. Mobilization is crucial, according to EWAC Chairperson Nijole Arbaciauskiene: "We are a non-governmental organization of elderly women gathering to help each other solve our problems, put into practice our initiatives, and support other members of society."
For its DemNet public policy advocacy, EWAC worked to reform the Pension Law. It started with a series of seminars on social welfare, health policy, and the rights of pensioners. This was followed by a media campaign that generated 37 newspaper articles and several television broadcasts on issues affecting the elderly. EWAC activities helped put pension reform in the public spotlight. As a result, legal reform is now moving forward. With DemNet support, EWAC has succeeded in raising the quality of life of elderly women in Lithuania, and focusing attention on the issues that concern them most.
The Lithuanian Council of Youth Organizations (LCYO) brings together a number of NGOs that involve young people. Under the DemNet Program, LCYO began a comprehensive outreach and public advocacy campaign. A key part was the Youth Policy in Lithuania Project. LCYO began by soliciting input from a number of youth groups and young people around the country, to develop a set of official recommendations entitled "A Model State Youth Policy". LCYO also invited several Members of Parliament to help develop these recommendations. Two of the leaders, Algirdas Kucinas and Sigita Burbiene, agreed to present the recommendations to the Parliament.
The recommendations were considered by the Seimas in a plenary session on December 20, 1995. For an entire day, the floor was opened to frank and constructive debate. Courtesy of LCYO, representatives from a number of youth organizations got the podium. The Seimas listened. The LCYO initiative was passed in the spring of 1996, with an additional provision to create a Parliamentary Commission for Youth Affairs. This Commission is currently working on an analysis of crucial problems facing young Lithuanians, such as suicide and drug abuse.
The NGO Information and Support Center (NISC) has established itself as a fulcrum for the growing NGO sector in Lithuania. By collecting and distributing comprehensive information about the NGO sector, helping NGOs find funding, organizing forums and seminars on the national and local levels, publishing materials like the "Third Sector" Bulletin, and engaging in research and advocacy, NISC has made a major contribution to civil society development.
NISC received two DemNet grants. The first was for the Fourth National NGO Forum and the First NGO Fair, held in Vilnius in the autumn of 1997. The annual Forum is an event for networking and outreach, which brings together hundreds of NGO, government, and private sector representatives. The First NGO Fair included exhibitions by more than 100 NGOs. Thousands of visitors learned first-hand about how civil society is working to solve social problems. NISC’s second DemNet project involved strengthening the capacity of NGOs in five Lithuanian cities through training, workshops, and the establishment of NGO incubators and managers’ clubs.
As its public policy issue, NISC worked to eliminate the legal obstacles to volunteer labor, which limit the ability of Lithuanians to contribute their time and energy to NGOs, and deprive NGOs of a crucial source of support. NISC helped found and continues to support the Vilnius Volunteer Center (VVC), which is a source of information and training, and a networking hub, to match potential volunteers with organizations needing their help. With considerable guidance from NISC, the VVC is also working on a draft law to improve the legal status of volunteers, which will be the subject of public hearings before being submitted to Parliament.
"My husband has left, and because my daughter just turned three, my state child support payments have ended. What can I do? Please help me!"
This is what one caller told an employee of the Kaunas-based Social Innovation Fund (SIF) last year on its Hot Line. The SIF helped her find an attorney who was able to file a complaint with the police. Her husband was located and compelled to provide child support payments.
Having limited information about social services, many Lithuanian women find themselves in a similar position. The SIF Hotline for advice and information is one of the most important sources of information in Lithuania for many women facing difficult situations. It is a DemNet initiative, begun exclusively with USAID funding.
"Women can call and receive information and advice on any problems they encounter, or they may just need a sympathetic ear to listen to a troublesome situation," said Director Liuda Mecajeva. Hundreds of calls have been received. The most frequent topics are eligibility for public assistance, child support, divorce proceedings, pensions, and discrimination in the workplace. The calls are cataloged and analyzed, and the results are shared with public officials and other NGOs. A leading radio station in Kaunas was so impressed with the Hotline that it decided to donate one hour of radio time per week to publicize the service and encourage women to call in with questions and comments.
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