NGO and Partnership Fund in Slovenia

Project completed
A group of children playing in an organic school garden in Slovenia
The first harvest – the "Organic School Gardens" partnership project aims to raise young people's awareness of sustainable development. © SDC SDC

The NGO Block Grant strenghtens civil society in Slovenia, and the Partnership Block Grant gives the opportunity to exchange knowledge and expereinces among Swiss and Slovenian entities.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Slovenia
Strengthening civil society
Non-governmental organisations
01.04.2010 - 31.12.2014
CHF  3’226’000

Note: the texts under all the headings, with the exception of 'Results achieved', describe the situation before the start of the project.

Background

In Slovenia, there are over 20,000 NGOs, mostly organized in associations. The employment rate in the NGO sector in extremely low; the sector is mostly based on voluntarism. Slovenian membership in the EU has not generated the benefits expected for the NGO sector. At first sight, the NGOs have new opportunities and sources, but in reality they are unable to compete successfully at the European level due to limited resources, lack of knowledge and capacity, and inadequate preparation in the recent years. Besides the lack of financial and human resources, there are also other obstacles to successful NGOs operation like weak NGO movement on local and national level, inappropriate recognition of the NGO role in society, inappropriate tax policies, and other legal issues especially related to the public-service status, and underdeveloped NGO participation in the decision-making processes.

There are more than 200 municipalities established in Slovenia. The municipalities are organised in two main umbrella organisations. On the regional level, the municipalities coordinate their development and decided on regionally important projects and activities with the support of regional administration.

 

Objectives

The programme allows to strenghten civil society in Slovenia, as well as to establish stronger partnership relations among Slovenian and Swiss entities.

Specific objectives are to enable successful implementation of the projects granted within the NGO and partnership Block Grants, and to raise applicant's skills in project management cycle.

 

Target groups

Slovenian NGOs and Slovenian non-for-profit organisations

Activities

Small projects from the NGOs, as well as small joint projects from Slovenian and Swiss partners, shall be selected and supported after a call for project proposals. Potential applicants and project implementers shall be provided with technical assistance.

Results

Achieved results:  

  • 42 projects implemented: 23 NGO-projects (12 environmental, 11 social) and 19 partnership projects with Swiss institutions
  • Projects promoted disabled-friendly tourism, reduction of non-native invasive species, environmentally sustainable sports events, better social inclusion, fight against drug abuse and assistance to elderly people with memory disorders, etc.
  • Strengthened relations between Slovenian and Swiss institutions at local and national level
  • Over 300 beneficiaries were directly reached in workshops
  • Media coverage about Swiss-Slovenian cooperation with over 200 articles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Swiss Contribution to the enlarged EU
Project partners Contract partner
Foreign state institution
  • National State Institute North


Other partners

Consortium of the Regional En-vironmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe, Slovenia and Pitija consulting

Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    3’226’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    2’944’927
Project phases

Phase 1 01.04.2010 - 31.12.2014   (Completed)