Imagine a Romania where the impact of civil society is not only felt, but also meticulously measured, a country where experts are actively engaged in supporting the common good! It sounds ideal, but this is our dream and we are happy to have taken the first step towards fulfilling it. The study, the report of which you can download from here It shows us how great the need for data is in the non-governmental sector.
At the same time, this study is also the first project of the Center for the Study of Philanthropy and Civil Society (CSCS), an institution that joins prestigious European centers dedicated to supporting the non-governmental sector with vital information and relevant statistical analyses.
Since the launch of the project, in December 2022, we have carried out a mapping of the needs of the non-governmental sector in Romania, revealing the essential role of data in its operation and progress. Using online questionnaires and interviews, we explored areas of crucial interest for financiers and NGOs in an attempt to set the sector’s priorities clearly.
We have thus seen that it is imperative to increase the expertise of non-profit organizations in data collection and use, as well as continuous professionalization in key areas.
CSCS will meet these needs by collecting and processing pertinent data and analysis, through specialized trainings and through the coagulation of a network of researchers and organizations, all in the service of civil society. The goal is to build a collaboration-based ecosystem between organizations, universities and research centers, but also the business sphere and state institutions.
The results of our study indicate the size and typology of the data and professionalization needs of civil society organizations, paving the way to their satisfaction. Thus, the research and professionalization needs are significant and vary depending on the type, size and degree of maturity of the organizations. We note that Romanian NGOs use data and studies in a limited way, often without access to well-documented sources and with difficulties in using them in their own analyses. Even if the data would be easily accessible, many organizations lack the resources to properly analyze and use it to inform organizational practices.
Given the fact that there is a fragile balance between the need for professionalization and structure and the freely associative nature of GRASSROOTS-type organizations, it must be maintained to leave room for the development of new civic initiatives. Professionalization must be approached through a personalized method, adapted to the diversified needs of the sector.
To address these challenges, CSCS proposes:
● development of accessible and relevant databases and studies for the sector.
● Creating training programs to develop the sector’s ability to understand, use and produce data relating to their activities and other related topics.
● Advocacy for improving data collection practices by state institutions.
Universities, support organizations, financiers and the sector themselves play a significant role in meeting data needs and in the process of increasing professionalization. In this ecosystem, the role of data knowledge and use is essential and interconnected with professionalisation, which implies a collection, management, analysis and use of data based on a specific set of skills.
We are Dr. Lev Fejes, Dr. Daniela Angi, Dr. Melania Leșe, drd. Adina Salaoru and Prof. Dr. Gabriel Badescu and we invite you to go through this study, carried out with the support of the Romanian-American Foundation, to see how together we can transform the non-governmental sector in Romania into an organized, experienced and responsible one in the use and production of data about and for the sector.
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For details on the study and CSCS, please contact Dr.. Lev Fejes. .
