[CivilSoc] CIVICUS Civil Society Index 2003-2004--Apply to Become a National Partner in the Assessment
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****** CIVICUS Civil Society Index 2003-2004
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Call for Statements of Interest.....Apply to become a national partner in an
international endeavour to assess the state of civil society.
The deadline for submissions is January, 31st 2003. Applications should be
sent to the CIVICUS at [email protected].
1. Introduction
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is a global alliance
dedicated to strengthening civil society and citizen action throughout the
world. Its members include voluntary organizations, foundations, research
institutes and individuals from 106 countries. As one of its major
programmes, CIVICUS coordinates the CIVICUS Civil Society Index (CSI).
The CSI is an innovative action-research project that assesses the state of
civil society in countries around the world with a view to creating a
knowledge base and an impetus for civil society strengthening initiatives.
The CSI is a unique analytical and diagnostic tool to increase knowledge and
raise awareness about civil society among the public, government and other
sectors of society. It is more than a mere research exercise, however. It
seeks to empower civil society stakeholders through the promotion of
dialogue, collective learning and network-building. The ultimate aims of the
CSI are to enhance the strength and sustainability of civil society and to
strengthen civil society's contribution to positive social change.
The CSI was successfully piloted in 14 countries around the world and
CIVICUS is now launching the first full implementation phase in
approximately 25 countries in 2003-4.
The Index will be implemented by civil society organizations at the country
level, in close partnership with CIVICUS. These organizations are selected
by CIVICUS based on the criteria outlined in this document. CIVICUS welcomes
applications from national-level civil society organizations that deem a
participatory assessment and reflection on the state of civil society a
timely and relevant endeavour in their country. Organizations focused on
strengthening civil society in their country are particularly encouraged to
apply.
2. Overview of CSI conceptual framework and research approach
The Index assesses four different dimensions of civil society:
(1) the structure of civil society, i.e. the vibrancy of collective
citizen action and its organizational infrastructure;
(2) the external political, legal, socio-economic and socio-cultural
environment in which civil society exists;
(3) the values practiced and promoted in the civil society arena, and
(4) the impact of activities pursued by civil society actors on society at
large.
Each identified core dimension of civil society (environment, structure,
values and impact) is made up of a set of sub-dimensions. For each
sub-dimension, individual indicators have been identified.
The in-country implementation process of the CSI will be undertaken by
country teams comprising (a) the national co-ordinating organization (NCO),
(b) a participatory researcher and (c) a person with considerable knowledge
and experience about civil society. CIVICUS provides the Index country teams
with a comprehensive toolkit for implementing the CSI and conducts a global
training workshop on its use. The country teams carry out research on each
of the four identified dimensions of civil society.
Research findings are then presented to a "jury" of informed citizens
(representing diverse sectors of civil society and society at large) which
rates each indicator. These scores are then aggregated into an overall
score for each of the four dimensions. Research findings and scores are
presented and validated at a national workshop where strategies for
prioritising and addressing identified weaknesses are discussed. A final
country report including research findings, dimension scores and the
outcomes of the national workshop is published for national and
international readership.
For further information on the conceptual framework and research
methodology, please refer to the information sheet attached to this
document, which can also be downloaded from the CIVICUS website at
http://www.civicus.org/cc/portal/index2.cfm?contentid=403&link_url=.
3. Roles and responsibilities
Over the course of the project, the country teams receive training,
technical guidance and overall support from CIVICUS. The selected civil
society organizations are expected to provide the necessary human resources
and to generate (with support from CIVICUS) the financial resources required
to effectively implement the project. In exceptional cases, CIVICUS will
endeavour to provide limited financial support, where local fundraising
proves to be more difficult.
Specific tasks of the NCO include:
� Liasing with CIVICUS (and other National Index Teams) on the
implementation of the CSI;
� Fund-raising for CSI activities at the country level;
� Appointing a participatory researcher and civil society expert (in
close consultation with CIVICUS);
� Establishing a national advisory group for the CSI;
� Building awareness of and support for the CSI among civil society
stakeholders in the country;
� Conducting or coordinating a review of secondary data available on
civil society issues;
� Coordinating the organization of national advisory group meetings,
focus groups meetings and the national workshop;
� Ensuring the dissemination of Index findings and outputs;
� Undertaking an agenda-setting exercise with national civil society
stakeholders on specific strategies and tasks to tackle areas where
weaknesses have been identified (as part of the national workshop), and;
� Tracking activities and campaigns ensuing consequently to the CSI
implementation.
The NCOs are expected to benefit from implementing the CSI in several ways:
1) The CSI is an organizing and mobilizing tool that facilitates
networking and relationships with other organizations in the country.
2) The information and knowledge generated by the CSI will allow NCOs
to identify specific strengths and weaknesses of civil society and, where
desired, provide a platform for subsequent civil society enhancement
initiatives.
3) NCOs will be part of an international network of organizations
concerned with understanding and enhancing civil society around the world.
This network will provide opportunities for information-sharing, collective
learning and alliance-building at the regional and international levels.
4) NCOs will receive training and technical support from CIVICUS
regarding the conceptual framework and research methodology developed by the
CSI project.
"To implement the CIVICUS Civil Society Index in Uruguay was a most
rewarding and worthwhile experience. It allowed a fruitful interaction among
the different actors of the Uruguayan society. We treasure this useful and
valuable tool!!" Anabel Cruz, CSI Partner in Uruguay
4. Selection Criteria
To apply as an NCO, an organization should meet the following criteria:
� Have an organizational mandate to strengthen civil society.
CIVICUS therefore especially encourages applications from civil society
support organizations or networks;
� Operate at the national level;
� Possess strong linkages within civil society in the country. As
the CSI seeks to include various forms of civil society organizations
(beyond NGOs), we place a strong emphasis on the ability of the NCO to bring
faith-based organizations, trade unions, social movements, community-level
organizations and other forms of civil society into the CSI process;
� Be willing to invest considerable time and resources to carry out
the CSI;
� Have the capacity to play a coordinating role at the national
level and to manage the Index process;
� Be capable of raising and managing the necessary funds for the
effective implementation of the CSI. CIVICUS will assist the NCO in the
fundraising task through letters of support, joint fundraising proposals
and, in exceptional cases, through providing limited funding support;
� Be willing to work in close partnership with CIVICUS as well as
the other members of the National Index Team, and;
� Be committed to building cross-sectoral linkages within civil
society. Given the emphasis on civil society dialogue and reflection in the
CSI process, the organization should be committed to implementing the CSI
through an inclusive process that ensures widespread ownership.
5. How to Apply?
If your organization wants to submit a statement of interest, please proceed
as follows:
1. Inform the CIVICUS at [email protected] as soon as possible.
2. Initiate a process to complete the form attached at the end of the
document, which can also be downloaded from the CIVICUS website at
http://www.civicus.org/cc/portal/index2.cfm?contentid=403&link_url=. Please
note that to provide CIVICUS with the information required in the
application form, your organization needs to liase with potential donors,
potential members of the Index country team and other civil society
stakeholders beforehand.
3. Send the completed form, including the supporting documents, by
January, 31st 2003 to:
CIVICUS
Civil Society Index
via mail:
P.O. Box 933
Southdale, 2135
Johannesburg
South Africa
or via fax: + 27 11 833 7997
or via email: [email protected]
CIVICUS will conduct an in-depth review of the applications received and
inform applicants of the outcome by the end of February 2003.