First European Conference on Citizen Initiatives for Global Solidarity Brussels, 30-31.01.2014

First European Conference on Citizen Initiatives for Global SolidarityBrussels, 30-31.01.2014What's happening in Poland?Is Small Beautiful Again? Citizen Initiatives for Global Solidarity in Poland.

dr Galia ChimiakInstitute of Philosophy and SociologyPolish Academy of Sciences

Background info: Polands role changes in development cooperationCharacteristics of the Polish NGO sectorPolish NGDOs and Polish aidCitizen intiatives in Poland:strengths and limitationschallenges and opportunitiesResources available for NGDOs and CIsCIGS case studies Conclusions: opportunities for CIGS support in Poland

Structure of the presentationpre-1989: Poland was a COMECON (Council for Mutual Economic Assistance) donor; 1989-2003: official aid recipient; post-2004: rising donor; 2013: OECD DAC member

1989-2004: Polish NGOs benefitted from foreign aid, including foreign private foundations, OA and pre-accession funds: financial support and know-howPost-2004: Some NGOs reformulated their field of activities, for example from civic education to global education; from OA-recipients to partners in development cooperation The involvement of Poland in devt coop. and its impact on NGOsSome statistics: As of 2012, there were some 60000 active NGOs (Associations and Foundations) in PolandSimple associations should be established by at least three members. They have no legal personalities and are not obligated to register in the Registry of Associations. Simple association cannot accept donations, inheritances or use the public support. Less than 4% of all associations have less than 15 members, i.e. could be simple associations

NGOs in PL as of 2012http://civicpedia.ngo.pl/45% of NGOs have no paid personnel. These are mostly young and/or local organisations. 20% of NGOs have budgets below PLN 1000Interestingly, it was NGOs active abroad that have noted most significant increase in paid employmentOn average, the annual income of Polish NGOs amounts to PLN 18000 (>EUR 4000). It is difficult to establish the budget of CIGS. This type of information is neither publicly available nor disclosed upon request.NGOs income inequality: 5% of NGOs make use of more than 2/3 of the financial resources available for NGOs2012 income share by sources: 37% [(self)gov], 12% EU funds, 10% commercial activities, 14% donations and membership fees, 3% other foreign funds, and others

Explaining the predominance of volunteer-based NGOs in PolandAs of 2012, there were 18470 NGOs (*9%) that declared their field of activity as: international activity, local communities, civic activity. Less than 1% of NGOs declared their main field of activity is international one4863 declared they promote and support volunteerismincrease of importance of foreign funds since 200427% of NGOs had contacts with foreign institutions, yet only 4% of NGOs do this on a regular basis, while 8% declared membrship in supranational umbrella organisations

NGOs active abroad in figuresDevelopers => active in the Global South, mostly African, countriesDemocratizers => implementing projects in the Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine)

http://www.zagranica.org.pl/publikacje/sektor-pozarzadowy-we-wspolpracy-rozwojowej/raport-z-badan-demokracja-i-rozwoj-wPolish NGDOs TYPOLOGYEst. in 2001 as CI; formalised its activity in 2004Currently 61 members, mostly middle-range ones (paid staff: less than 10; annual budget: PLN 500.000)Not all members of Grupa Zagranica are active. Therefore, the NGDOs umbrella organization is not aiming at increasing its membership IF new members, be them NGDOs or CIGS, would not be active.

CIGS mostly active in the Working Group on Global EducationGrupa Zagranica: the NGDOs umbrella organisationCIGS: strengthsAccording to NGDOs:

According to CIGS:CIGS local embeddedness/grassroots nature => greater credibility re deved EnthusiasticInnovative (some of them)Respond to local needsIntroduce new ideas to the mainstream NGDOs (fair trade; responsible tourism; responsible volunteerism; degrowth)

Self-governmentVolunteer nature of involvementIndependence Freedom to function in accordance with rules established within the initiativeNot being an NGOCIGS: limitationsAccording to NGDOsAccording to CIGSLack of resources and lack of legal personality limits their capacity to take active part in initiatives relevant for all NGDOsThe lack of staff continuity negatively impacts their organizational resilienceCIGS are not interested to take part in processes benefitting the whole sector of NGDOsInstitutional weakness: CIGS are not competitive

noneLack of resources to participate in consultations and working groupsLack of visibilityMFA is used to inform NGDOs about consultations at a short notice: NGDOs and CIGS outside Warsaw cant always attendGrupa Zagranica sometimes reimburses travel and accommodation expenses of CIGSChallenges CIGS face (according to NGDOs)NGDOs and CIGS can apply for funding not specifically aimed at development/global solidarity; example: under monitoringCIGS are able to access funding and participate in NGDO sectoral activities indirectly, i.e. via registered, local NGOs (example: the CIGS at Klamra Foundation in ywiec)

or=>Opportunities for CIGS

The project is currently implemented by Cultures of the World Foundation (Fundacja Kultury wiata) Partner CIGS: Grupa postwzrost: degrowth group http://postwzrost.wordpress.com/Kooperatywa Spoywcza Dobrze Community food co-op : http://www.dobrze.waw.pl/Grupa Rolnictwo Wspierane przez Spoeczno wiere Panki Producer-led Community Supported Agriculture http://www.rws.waw.pl/GROWL Learning more GROWing Less projectMFA funds NGDOs projects from PLN 20000 to PLN 4.000.000MFA => FED regranting project (global education)National Fund for Civic Initiatives (FIO)Batory Foundation => for example under monitoring (Citizens for democracy programme)The Catholic Church supports Church-based organisations => which are patronising towards their partners from the Global South and do charity rather than cooperation based on partnershipThe local government: yes, if NGDOs can present their projects as relevant to the priority local governments wants to support, i.e. anti-discrimination

National resources available for NGDOs and CIsPolish ODA: 0.09% GNI in 201225% of Polish ODA are distributed bilaterally17% of bilateral Polish aid (37.000.000 PLN, about 9mln EUR) have been subcontracted to Polish NGDOsGood governance and education remain the main focus of Polish aidPLN 2.400.000 (EUR 600000) were earmarked for global education projects in 2012

Polish NGOs as subcontractors of Polish Aid (according to the 2012 Polish aid report)Global education 2013. Re-granting for NGOs programme supported smaller NGOs involved in development cooperationFED provides training for beginners in deved via their programme RITA financed by the Polish-American Freedom FoundationIn 2013 maximum grant amounts for individual projects: up to PLN 12,000 (EUR 3000) or PLN 20,000-25,000 (EUR 5000-6000). 16 grants and 8 small grants were given in 2012 to support small NGOs

The Education for Democracy Foundation (FED)FIO is a national fund to support Polish NGOs

The 2014-2020 edition of FIO is aimed specifically at small, young, local NGOs, including citizen inititatives

Programme Fund for Civic Initiatives (FIO) 2014-2020administered by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policyhttp://www.pozytek.gov.pl/P,FIO,2014-2020,1189.htmlFIO annual disbursement

Priority % of allocations Allocations in PLN

1. Small Initiatives 17 10 200 0002. Active Society 50 30 000 0003. Active Citizens 20 12 000 0004. Strong NGOs 9 5 400 0005. Technical Assistance 4 2 400 000

TOTAL 100 60 000 000

PLN : EUR => 4:1Programme Fund for Civic Initiatives (FIO) 2014-2020http://www.pozytek.gov.pl/P,FIO,2014-2020,1189.html

Degrowth groupDcroissance po polskuCase studies of CIGS: postwzrost

http://postwzrost.wordpress.com/kim-jestesmy/

Warsaw Community Food Co-ophttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=232944246887520&set=a.128923693956243.1073741825.122929004555712&type=1&theater

Przychodnia Skot (community center squat)https://www.facebook.com/przychodniasquat

Main findings of the report which studied 19 out of the 42 NGDOs involved in sending out volunteers abroad:About 400 Poles per year take part in volunteering abroad schemes. Major destinations: Africa and the former USSR countriesWhereas bigger and medium NGOs continue their cooperation with no more than one-third of the volunteers they sent abroad, the small, volunteers-based NGOs can boast continuous cooperation with their volunteers after their returnSmall, volunteer-based NGOs (which send out less than ten volunteers) and bigger church-based NGOs (which send out about 20-50 volunteers) do not limit themselves to training their volunteers before sending them abroad, but also engage them in their activities before their mission abroad

Report on Volunteers Returnees Involvement in Global Education in Poland (http://www.polskapomoc.gov.pl/files/Aktualnosci2013/raport%20-wolontariusze%20-%20tresc.PDF accessed 26.12.2013).Added value of returning volunteers: greater credibility in global education Returning volunteers recharge the sending organisation => Support readaptation of returning volunteersVolunteering abroad can best serve global education if the volunteering experience is a stage in the professional career of the volunteer

Implications for CIGS and donors: Need of a policy and specific programme targeted to CIGS to overcome their (perceived as) self-limiting strategyOr, leave CIGS beAcc. to NGDOs, CIGS need at least one (paid) person among their members; this could ensure their visibility and give them a chance to survive and growResources to guarantee CIGS long-term functioningExisting support schemes should foresee support fot the sustainability of CIGS activitiesConclusions: opportunities for supporting CIGS/small Polish NDGOs

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATENTION

gchimiak@ifispan.waw.pl