Securing Funds for NGO Activities from Local Budgets

Gradjanske Inicijative

The survey NGO Sector in Serbia, conducted by Civic Initiatives and Federation of Serbian NGOs (FENS) at the beginning of the year, clearly demonstrates the deteriorating financial situation of non-governmental organizations in Serbia.

The data is adamant that the main financiers of NGOs remain the international donor organizations (74%), which is double the size of funds secured from the local self-government, the second ranked source of funding (36%).

Having in mind the survey�s results and the trend of reducing assistance coming from donors, who gradually pull out of the region, the two organizations believe it is the highest time to start implementation of systemic measures to start the process of securing NGO funding from domestic sources.

To assist the process, Civic Initiatives and FENS propose, for starters, an establishment of cooperation with local self-governments, with a view of secured funding from municipal and city budgets.

The general idea is to increase the participation of municipal budgets in NGO financing from current 36% to minimally 75% of the total funding over the next two years. The process should start as soon as possible, having in mind the strict legally prescribed procedure for drafting and adopting municipal budgets.

There being clear legal opportunity for NGOs to receive finances from municipal budget, under the 481000 DONACIJE NVO account and budget line. The primary task for the NGOs would be to demand, if such an account doesn�t exist, its inclusion in the budget planning process, and for some funds to be allocated to this budget line.

The two organizations identified two periods of time especially opportune to organize public debates intended to advocate the idea of financing NGOs from municipal budgets: from this date to September 15, prior to submission of Draft-Budgets to Municipal Councils; and Sept 15 � October 5, the immediate period after the presentation of Budget in front of the Council.

Civil Initiatives and FENS recommend a series of steps that should assist the process, including constant contacts and lobbying with municipal authorities, the Mayor and Council Members; and submitting written requests to the Mayor and the Council.

The two organizations appeal to the local NGOs to start their own activities designed to increase local funding for NGOs and to inform them about their respective experiences, successes, failures, problems and challenges. The most interesting stories will be published in a special edition of �MREZA� newsletter, dedicated to this topic, and will be used to prepare a set of instructions for NGOs.