Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
CONCEPT NOTE (draft 4 February 2011)
TACSO REGIONAL CONFERENCE
CSO SUSTAINABILITY IN THE IPA COUNTRIES
Belgrade 23-25 March 2011
Group work topic: CSO Sustainability in the IPA countries
Regional Conference
Idea of activity: the overall objective is to address relevant issues which impact and determine the
sustainability of CSOs and share experiences among the IPA countries. Working sessions of the conference
will be directed towards the exchange of perspectives and identifying recommendations for the country
specific actions to be undertaken to support the sustainability of CSOs in the Western Balkans and Turkey.
Motivation and objectives:
This document gives a broad outline of the important issues which impact the sustainability of CSOs. The
topics identified in this concept note are drawn from the TACSO regional needs assessment, TACSO work to
date and from the consultations with civil society. This conference presents an opportunity to further
promote the TACSO Regional Needs Assessment.
Objective: the overall objective is to address relevant issues which impact and determine the sustainability
of CSOs and share experiences among the IPA countries. Working sessions of the conference will be directed
towards the exchange of perspectives and identifying recommendations for the country specific actions to
be undertaken to support the sustainability of CSOs in the Western Balkans and Turkey. The goal of this
conference is to review the common issues and concerns affecting the overall functioning and sustainability
of the CSOs in the IPA countries. Conclusions and recommendations drawn will provide the basis for the
follow-up actions to be undertaken in the individual countries and if applicable regionally. The specific
objectives of the regional conference are set as follows:

CSO understanding different aspects of sustainability (wider than financial sustainability) – featured
best practice examples will provide insight into the different aspects of sustainability

Best practice examples will be featured to provide insight into the experiences of CSO sustainability
in the IPA countries and in the new EU member states

CSOs are aware of the different ways to grow partnership with the government and create
partnerships with the private sector

National CSO Sustainability Action Points will be developed as a basis for a country specific follow-up
and activities to further discussions and contributions to the sustainability of CSOs.
The main elements of the conference program:
TACSO Regional Office • Potoklinica 16 • 71 000 Sarajevo • t: +387 33 532 757 • f: +387 33 532 757 • e-mail: info@tacso.org
SIPU International AB Sweden • Civil Society Promotion Centre Bosnia and Herzegovina • Human Resource Development Foundation Turkey
Foundation in Support of Local Democracy Poland • Partners Foundation for Local Development Romania
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.



General elements of the CSO sustainability (organization development, diversified funding base, public
image, contextual/environmental influences)
Overview of the institutional framework – government structures with the legal mandate to support the
CSOs
Legal environment of CSOs in IPA countries – public benefit status for CSOs and its advantages – laws
and secondary regulations
o Overview of the fiscal encouragement remedies for CSOs in IPA countries (stemming from the
legal status, fiscal system, tax alleviation)
Other important elements of the conference program:
 Based on the participants in the TACSO regional trainings, most organisations considered their
sustainability dependant on the three main conditions, namely: EU fuding, government funding, and
involvement in the income generating activities. However, the „survival palet“ should be broadened
to include voluntear work, new ways of sponsoring, new ways of organisation (social enterprises and
other).
 Contributions from the CSOs who demonstrate diverse approaches to sustainability and can
therefore provide ideas for the participating CSOs and can be basis for the National CSO
Sustainability Action Points
 The strategies and methodologies of engaging the public in CSO participation.
 The strategies and methodologies of involving voluntaries in sustainable CSO development.
 The structural and the financial development of the member-based organizations from zero to
professional organizations.
 Results of the conference working groups and discussions will be compiled into the “Sustainability
Handbook” and the National CSO Sustainability Actions Points
 Exchange during the conference can provide basis for the network of regional organizations
following the ideas of membership based and alternatively financed CSOs.
Participants

Featured speakers (CSOs) – one from each of the TACSO countries – embodying the best practice
examples and approaches to the CSO sustainability
 Government representative – Central and local government as applicable – one from each TACSO
country
 CSO participants – Two from each TACSO county
 Journalist / media representative – one from each TACSO country
 Special Guests of the regional relevance:
o Key note speakers
o Private Sector representatives (ERSTE Foundation, Turkish Economy Bank, Telenor Serbia,
and others)
Background reading for the conference – TACSO papers:
 “Civil Society Organizations’ Capacities in the Western Balkans and Turkey” – Bill Sterland and Galina
Rizova
 “The Civil Society Environment in the Western Balkans and Turkey Report” – Bill Sterland and Galina
Rizova
 TACSO papers on the Social Entreprises
 TACSO Regional Manuals
TACSO Regional Office • Potoklinica 16 • 71 000 Sarajevo • t: +387 33 532 757 • f: +387 33 532 757 • e-mail: info@tacso.org
SIPU International AB Sweden • Civil Society Promotion Centre Bosnia and Herzegovina • Human Resource Development Foundation Turkey
Foundation in Support of Local Democracy Poland • Partners Foundation for Local Development Romania
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
TACSO REGIONAL CONFERENCE
CSO SUSTAINABILITY IN THE IPA COUNTRIES
Belgrade 23-25 March 2011
AGENDA
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
17:00- 19:00
Arrival / Registration of the Conference participants and other logistic issues
20:00-21:00
Welcome Reception
Thursday, 24 March 2011
09:00 – 09:30 Morning Coffee
09:30 -10:00
Welcome addresses / Opening remarks
TACSO, EU, Serbian
Government
Key note presentation
Regional challenges for the CSO Sustainability
10:30 – 11:00 Key note presentation
EU context of the CSO sustainability
11:00-11:30
Coffee Break
10:00-10:30
11:30-12:30
Feature of the best practice examples I
12:30-14:00
Lunch
14:00-15:00
Feature of the best practice examples II
15:00 – 15:15 Introduction and selection into the working groups
15:15
Working Group 1.
 Organizational / Institutional Sustainability – key questions? Analysis and
recommendations (use regional needs assessment for the definition of the
common problems)
Working Group 2.
 Quality of Services – key questions? Analysis and recommendations (use
regional needs assessment for the definition of the common problems)
Working Group 3.
 Financial Sustainability – key questions? Analysis and recommendations (use
regional needs assessment for the definition of the common problems)
TACSO Regional Office • Potoklinica 16 • 71 000 Sarajevo • t: +387 33 532 757 • f: +387 33 532 757 • e-mail: info@tacso.org
SIPU International AB Sweden • Civil Society Promotion Centre Bosnia and Herzegovina • Human Resource Development Foundation Turkey
Foundation in Support of Local Democracy Poland • Partners Foundation for Local Development Romania
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
16:00-16:30
Coffee Break
16:30-18:00
Continuation of the Working Groups
19:30
Joint Diner and Social Agenda
Friday, 25 March 2011
09:00-09:15
Reflection on the first conference day
09:15-10:00
Reporting from the working groups
Discuss the situations and define three main challenges and three main oportunitites
Coffee Break
10:00-10:30
10:30-12:00
12:00-13:00
National CSO Sustainability Action Points
(8 country working groups, facilitated by the respective TACSO Office / CSO
representative)
Presentation of the main National Action Points
Summary Conclusions and Closing of the Conference
13:00-14:30
Lunch
TACSO Regional Office • Potoklinica 16 • 71 000 Sarajevo • t: +387 33 532 757 • f: +387 33 532 757 • e-mail: info@tacso.org
SIPU International AB Sweden • Civil Society Promotion Centre Bosnia and Herzegovina • Human Resource Development Foundation Turkey
Foundation in Support of Local Democracy Poland • Partners Foundation for Local Development Romania