CONCEPTS FOR CIVIC SOCIETY 

Institutional Development and Organizational Strengthening

Non-governmental organization (NGO) is a term frequently used in the western countries to determine all forms of civic gathering for accomplishing certain mutual goals and interests. This definition encompasses all civic associations, societies, organizations, clubs and other forms of organizing. The following association categories are present: environmental, women, human rights, civic society, youth organizations, children rights organizations, social and humanitarian organizations, organizations promoting international cooperation, the handicapped organizations, etc.

In general, the NGO sector in the Republic of Macedonia is not developed enough, although there has been a certain improvement since the beginning of the nineties, when this sector started to operate according to modern standards.

There are about 3000 civic associations functioning in Macedonia who are facing many problems in their work. The low level of budget planning, the joint functions of the executive and managing role in the NGO structures, not well developed planning and reporting systems, the lack of technical equipment, the unsatisfactory knowledge of the other NGOs’ condition and the incapability of making selection of the types of project development activities and basic help, are the main problems that the civic associations are facing.

To overcome this condition the associations should pay attention to their institutional development and the organizational strengthening.

The concept institutional development and organizational strengthening (ID/OS) is becoming more and more important factor for the development and the progress of civic associations. The working definition for institutional development is the following: Creating and supporting network of organizations for generating, arranging and using human, material and financial resources in order to accomplish specific sustainable goals. The network can consist of several organizations and institutions and encompass their mutual dependence in the joint activities for accomplishing the goals. The institutional development is not limited to the organizations and institutions only, but it includes all projects, development initiatives and other interventions in the surrounding where the associations operate.

The definition for organizational strengthening is the following: the measures for improving the capacities of an organization in order to implement selected activities within its efforts to accomplish the goals.

The organizational strengthening is directly linked to the institutional development, that is, the institutional development is conditioned by the capability and the capacity of the organization to implement the necessary activities. Thus, the organizational strengthening has a primary role in the NGO sector development.

The organizational strengthening is focused on improving the organizational structure, establishing appropriate systems and working procedures, strengthening the staff capacities…For example, to improve its personal organizational capacity, an organization can offer its staff a training, after which it will be able to respond appropriately to the given tasks, improve the system of information exchange within and out of the organization, establish or improve the decision making process in the organization, adjust the managing style to the staff needs and the organization efficiency, etc.

The institutional development of an organization refers to improving the coordination with the relevant organizations and institutions, developing or strengthening network of cooperation, adjusting its services to the needs of the surrounding where it operates, having in mind the competition, etc.

Where and how to intervene is established by a previous analysis of the surrounding and internal analysis within the organization. The conclusions and results from the analyses should be transformed into an intervention plan, which mean a change. Sometimes the changes are smaller, but sometimes depending on the analyses results there is a need of bigger and rapid changes, for example, restructuring, implementing new systems and procedures, employing new people in the organization, changes in the managing style.

Why is the application of ID/OS concept so important in the everyday work of the civic associations?

It provides financial sustainability.
Not applying the principles of ID/OS, that is the weak organizational setup and the weak position of an NGO in the wider surrounding, is considered one of the main reasons for the problem of organizational sustainability.

It strengthens the capacity of the associations. The sustainable development does not only need involvement of the local institutions and organizations in the development projects. It takes organizations with strong capacities (human resources, material and financial assets) t provide a right development of the civic society.

It provides adjustment to the rapid changes in the environment. Civic associations are often forced to make changes and adjustments of their strategy and way of work as a result of the donors’ policy, economic, social and political changes. Knowledge of the instruments (tools) and methods of the appropriate analysis of these changes, as well as the assessment of its capacities, enables the organization to provide adequate answers.

It contributes to the management professionalism. One of the main things originating from the NGOs’ ID/OS is the distinction between the staff’s managing and executive role, in terms of having a professional approach in defining and the actual realization of the work.

It motivates coordination between different organizations. Building networks of cooperation, being familiar with the activities realized by organizations similar to ours, directly contributes to the development of the NGO sector. Thus, we can avoid overlapping in the activities and we can provide a coordinative and overall approach in finding solution to the problems identified.

Unfortunately, in the reality, the civic associations in Macedonia take very few of these steps. As it has been mentioned above, the associations face many problems, which are result of not applying the ID/OS concept. The associations in Macedonia have to direct their development towards serious development agencies and not towards humanitarian associations and societies. They should acquire proper knowledge and skills, reach certain level of organizational development, strengthen the organizational capacity and create conditions and capacities in their field of operation if they want to function continually with success.

Liljana Alceva - Jovanovska