Foorum 2015 Lise Corwin: How to encourage and support locally owned initiatives

How to encourage and support locally owned ini3a3ves?

Lise Corwin, Association of NGOs in Norway

ASSOCIATION OF NGOs IN NORWAY • Cross-sectoral national umbrella • Member of ENNA and CIVICUS • 300 organizations representing more than 50 000 local chapters • Funded by the state and the voluntary sector itself • Founded in 2005 • Independent from party politics and religion

NORWEGIAN VOLUNTEERS

• • • • •

=115 000 employees 10 mill memberships, 5 mill citizen 64 % participate 36 % minority population participate 100 000 local chapters

OUR MISSION • LOBBY • CAPASITYBUILDING • VISIBILILTY AND ACKNOWLEDGEMNT OF THE SECTOR

DEVELOPMENT OF CIVIL SOCIETY ca. 1850 First NGOs Religion, sobriety organizations, labor organizations, humanitarian organizations fighting poverty, enlighten-ment/ education, �outdoor life�, sports

ca. 1900

ca. 1950

Health, social sector as well as humanitarian work.

Women`s liberation movement.

Sports, culture/nature, environment and leisure organizations.

Humanitarian and social work is progressively taken over by the state, the voluntary sector continues to be pioneers.

Grasroot-movements.

Comparison: Norway and the average EU-country Norway

(Kilde: St. meld. nr 39 (2006-2007) Frivillighet for alle)

EU-average

WHERE ARE THE VOLUNTEERS ACTIVE? Type of organization Culture/recreation Education/research Health Social Services Environment Development and Housing Law, advocacy and politics Religion Philantrophy Business and Prof. ass. unions, Others

Norway 51% 2% 3% 6% 1%

Sweden 51% 2% 0 8% 2%

Denmark 49% 5% 3% 8% 1%

United Kingdom 21% 3% 9% 13% 3%

5%

4%

6%

13%

7% 11% 0%

12% -

5% 6% -

2% 33% 1%

10% 0

16% 2%

6% 7%

2%

Source: Salamon, Sokolowski and associates ”Global Civil Society: Dimensions of the Non-profit sector, Vol. 2 2004 og Johns Hopkins University ”Global Civil Society At-a- Glance”

Collabora3ons • NGOs / local GOV • • • •

Partnerships Big organisa6ons Units Need for structure

• Between NGOs

• Commercial / NGO

Need for local NGO policies

• Civil society has huge potential –if we can grow on our own premises • Local cross-sectoral policies can facilitate half a million more volunteers!!!

• Every municipality has a good commercial policy, but only 13 % have a good NGO policy

Greater civic space!

Challenges: • Competition on members and funders • Volunteers demand more facilitation to contribute • Increased bureaucracy • Need of employees who can facilitate • Harder to recruit members and volunteers than before

NGOs are sought a=er!

Maintain the synergies!

• Facilitate growth • Do not outsource!

–through strengthening us, the GOV will achieve own goals.

KS AND TANGOsN RECOMMEND

Større for

R O M FRIVILLIG

HETEN

The 10 NGO political commandments 1. Gather knowledge on local NGOs • Who, what, how?

• What are their resources and challenges?

• Would they like to collaborate more with NGOs, local governments and businesses?

The 10 NGO political commandments 2. Conduct a cross-sectoral NGO policy • Invite the entire scope of NGOs • NGOs in all policies –not only health and culture

The 10 NGO political commandments 3. Recognise NGOs intrinsic value • Volunteers are free and willing • Do not let them expire!

The 10 NGO political commandments 4. Simplifying facilitates volunteerism • Time spent on bureaucracy can be spent on more volunteerism • Simplify funding applications / reports • Simplify time spent with local government

The 10 NGO political commandments 5. Facilitate for NGOs own growth • Help the organisation achieve their goals • The local government will then achieve more of their goals

The 10 NGO political commandments 6. Create dialog with NGOs • Create regular venues • Ask NGOs for advice • Educate all GOV employees • Remember that we work daytime

The 10 NGO political commandments 7. Recognise NGOs synergies • The organisations create synergies beyond their main aim • Social venues • Democracy education • Social capital • Local development, etc.

The 10 NGO political commandments 8. Provide free funding • Let NGOs grow on their own premises • Free the time we need to spend on bureaucracy

The 10 NGO political commandments 9. Do not compete with the NGOs • Check if NGOs are already doing / want to do the aim • Do not take volunteers from NGOs

The 10 NGO political commandments 10. Create predictability for NGOs • Meeting points • Funding • One door to the local government • Places to be

Need for local NGO policies

• Civil society has huge potential –if we can grow on our own premises • Local cross-sectoral policies can facilitate half a million more volunteers!!!

• Every municipality has a good commercial policy, but only 13 % have a good NGO policy

THANK YOU!

www.frivillighetnorge.no

Foto: Haakon Broder Lund, Camilla Orten, Gisle Bjørneby, Sissel Larsen, Olav A. Saltbones, Arve Tvedt, Bente Asphaug, Espen Willersrud, Ingvar Johnsen