This study aims to provide more insight into the factors that determine the existence of East-East cooperation, including the behavior of environmental NGOs, and to evaluate the REC's policies in order to assist in the development of a new strategy for the REC's Grants Program. This is especially relevant in light of the fact that the Earmarked Grants Team's current focus is to promote East-East cooperation.
The empirical part of the research consisted of 25 half-open, in-depth interviews with environmental activists in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. Twenty of the interviewees represented a particular NGO involved in East-East cooperation, while the other five were opinion leaders from the environmental movement in these four countries. These four Central European countries, commonly referred to as the Visegrad countries, were selected for this research because they are considered comparable, both in terms of economics and the development of their respective environmental movements.
This study found that several factors influence East-East cooperation. These factors were then divided into five categories, each of which resulted in a specific hypothesis regarding the attitude and behavior of environmental NGOs involved in East-East cooperation. Topic-related factors suggested that a specific topic or similar situation is needed before East-East cooperation can be established. Political-historical factors indicated that environmental NGOs doubt the value of East-East cooperation, preferring to emphasize national or local activities. Socio-cultural factors suggested that East-East cooperation requires extra effort to overcome language problems, cultural differences and nationalist sentiments. Two organization-related factors suggested that NGOs must find a similar group in another country with a sufficient amount of institutional capacity in order to establish East-East cooperation. Finally, socio-economic factors indicated that many environmental NGOs in Central Europe will have problems mobilizing the resources necessary to carry out East-East cooperation.
The research results provide a profile of the typical NGO involved in East-East cooperation. These characteristics are divided into historical background, organizational structure, goals and activities, available resources and external relations. The research results also explain the motivations behind East-East cooperation, the benefits it provides, the problems that NGOs encounter, and what the future holds for these groups. Motivations and problems can be divided into four categories of influential factors: organization-related, topic-related, political-historical, and socio-cultural. The benefits of East-East cooperation were found on both the organizational and the personal level, and the future of East-East cooperation was regarded as positive, both for specific organizations and for the environmental movement in Central Europe in general. In the end, the NGOs that were interviewed also gave their opinion on the REC and the REC's Earmarked Grants Team, together with suggestions on how to promote East-East cooperation.
The conclusions are clear. East-East cooperation among environmental NGOs in Central Europe will be established based on a common topic, usually a transboundary one, and on good personal contacts, though only if at least one NGO has sufficient institutional capacity. Surprisingly, good personal contacts turned out to be a key factor for establishing East-East cooperation. Two other factors also play an important role: first, the consequences and opportunities dictated by the political environment, and second, Western influence, both of which define the milieu in which environmental NGOs must work, whether on the national or international level. The national and international character of environmental NGOs should be conducive to the development of an NGO community, and preferably toward both a regionwide vision and East-East cooperation, if applicable. In this research sample, no East-East cooperation existed without some form of East-West cooperation, and contacts with Western organizations and global networks proved to be very important for establishing East-East cooperation. The future of East-East cooperation depends to a large degree on Western support, for East-West cooperation is the precursor of further East-East cooperation.
The feasibility study has two key objectives: first, to describe options for fostering regional, horizontal, grassroots cooperation and public participation in environmental decisionmaking in the CIS through the establishment of new service organization; and second, to identify the possible constituents of such a service organization.
The needs analysis surveyed approximately 250 NGOs in three republics, and involved conducting approximately 60 in-depth interviews with NGO leaders and preparing substantial reports for each country. The main problems identified by NGOs include lack of financial and material resources, weak environmental networks, poor access to information and the poor management skills of NGO members. Also mentioned were insufficient legal and political frameworks and the lack of constructive cooperation among different sectors of society.
In the end, the study offered several recommendations for the establishment of a new regional environmental center. The new organization should:
Implementation should last five years. Services will begin to be offered after the first year, with full services available after the second year. Funding must be secured for this five year period, including contributions from the countries involved. To establish and operate the organization in Moldova, Ukraine and Russia, a total of USD 10,5000,000 is needed. Geographical expansion and program extension will increase the budget accordingly by at least USD 4,200,000. In addition, additional implementation costs should be considered.
This feasibility study was used as a basis for the design and development of the current research project, specifically, the design of the personal interview and mail questionnaires.
Results showed that the annual incomes of the NGOs that were interviewed ranged from USD 400 to USD 150,000. Government sources were identified as the main funders. Two-thirds of the NGOs have a board of directors and most of the NGOs have volunteers. Memberships ranged from a low of 15 to a high of 10,000. The interviewees claimed that NGOs urgently need training on grassroots fund raising and preparing grant applications, as well as on recruiting, managing and motivating staff, volunteers and members. Major obstacles to NGO success include an acute lack of funding, strategic planning, clear legislation, and support from the government and the general public. A lack of staff , volunteers, office space and equipment were also listed as major internal obstacles.
This manual was prepared by the EcoBaltic Foundation with technical assistance from the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe, the United States Peace Corps and the Baltic Sea Secretariat in Poland. This manual is a compilation of resources designed for people in the environmental field in the Baltic Sea Region.
A comprehensive, 11-page survey was sent to 411 representative environmental and conservation groups throughout the United States. A total of 225 completed surveys were analyzed (a 55 percent response rate), and project staff interviewed leaders of environmental groups, funding sources and training providers. A small, one-day conference was convened to discuss the future of graduate-level environmental studies programs, and to review the relevant literature.
Overall, about one-sixth (16 percent) of the groups surveyed identified training as one of their most important needs. Over 50 percent viewed training as important, but not as important as other needs. About one-third of the groups have training budgets under USD 500. The survey measured training needs in 30 key areas. The four main categories of training included fund raising and membership recruitment, internal management, communication and education, and policy development and research. Fund raising and membership recruitment were the highest priority training needs, while the internal management skills of strategic planning and use of volunteers were rated as high priorities. The need for press relations and editing and production of newsletters was identified as a high priority in the area of communication and education. Regarding policy development and research, training in the economics of environmental issues was the most frequently mentioned area.
The results indicate that while many leaders of environmental groups perceive the need for training, they do not budget for it. More than one environmental group leader pointed out that one reason for this is that funding foundations rarely pay for overhead expenses such as training. Funding institutions should be made aware that many environmental group leaders believe training in management skills could be very helpful. Fifty percent of the groups did not know what training resources were available to meet their needs.
The need for training is generally given lower priority than objectives such as project implementation and fund raising, and training is usually the first to go in tight budgetary conditions; however, training can improve the effectiveness of both project implementation and fund raising. The report acknowledges that creating links between environmental groups is one of the first steps, but in the end it is unlikely that many environment groups will devote a significant amount of funding to staff and volunteer training programs.
Recommendations to improve training in environmental groups include establishing a national clearinghouse to link groups to providers, holding a national conference of training providers to discuss how to better meet the needs of environmental groups, and organizing private funding sources to provide funding for pilot programs in policy analysis. This pilot program could be developed and delivered by universities. Annual meetings of the heads of university environmental programs, sharing facilities, field programs, classroom curriculum, internships and job placement were also requested.
The Institute for Sustainable Communities conducted this extensive needs assessment on NGOs in Macedonia, including facilitated group discussions with 50 NGOs. Each NGO was also asked to complete a survey. The final report contains a description of the political, economic, historical and cultural context within which these groups operate, the current status of NGOs in Macedonia, and the key barriers to NGO effectiveness.
The most common internal barriers were lack of funding, lack of organizational infrastructure (office equipment), and lack of organizational skills. External barriers include the lack of acceptance and support from local and national governments, the lack of a strong legal and regulatory framework, discordant economic and political priorities, and low public awareness and responsibility. The most requested training courses were on developing and implementing action plans, membership development, fund raising and involving the public.
A mail survey was sent to 176 environmental groups in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. A total of 106 surveys were completed and returned for a 65 percent response rate. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Processing for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer software program at the Social and Economic Science Research Center (SESRC) at Washington State University.
The results of the survey suggest that most environmental NGOs' internal problems revolve around their tasks and the people who work within it. Strategic planning, team building and goal setting were the most desired training needs. Developing staff, increasing participation and functioning strategically were the most common problems concerning the needs of individuals. Managing volunteers, obtaining grants and financial management were the most common internal management problems.
Overall it is unclear whether there is a link between Northwestern environmental groups' use of OD and their overall success. Those groups that have existed for many years, that have large budgets and memberships, and that rate themselves as successful use OD much more than small, poor groups. Larger groups are also more familiar with OD, see it as a necessity and have even hired OD consultants in the past. They have also allocated a percentage of their budget for such services.
Chapters include the history of the NGO movement in Eastern Europe, government approaches to promoting public participation, key funding issues for Western support organizations, and prospects for NGO involvement in environmental policy-making in Central and Eastern Europe.
The major problems facing environmental NGOs include a passive public, lack of government support, unwillingness of NGOs to cooperate and an over-reliance on Western financial assistance. There was no common, ideal type of NGO, and many differences existed among and between countries.