CIVICUS Civil Society Index

An international action-research project by and for civil society

Sharing the CSI paper and photos from the ISTR conference in Taipei

Posted by civilsocietyindex on November 10, 2009

Below are some more pictures from Tracy and Jacob from the CSI research team, who recently presented at the Regional ISTR Conference in Taipei, Taiwan.

We would also welcome interested parties to download the paper that the CSI team presented about CSO accountability with findings from the ten Asia Pacific countries that implemented in the 2003-2006 phase.  You can get a copy of The State of Civil Society Accountability in the Asia Pacific Region: Insights from the CIVICUS Civil Society Index here.

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CSI panel_group shot

Group shot: seated are Tracy Anderson, Jacob Mati, Abalika Kutty, Naoto Yamauchi; standing are Midori Matsushima and Naoko Okuyama

Presenting

Jacob presenting at the event

CSI panel: midori

Midori talking about the prelimiary findings of the CSI surveys in Japan

Ambalika and Tracy

Ambalika and Tracy relaxing in Taipei

 

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Help CIVICUS Plan for 2010

Posted by civilsocietyindex on November 6, 2009

Is there a theme close to your heart?

A special day that represents the change you want to see in the world?

An international meeting that you think has the potential to affect our lives and the lives of people around the world?

Do you think CIVICUS needs to make it a priority for 2010?

question

Help us plan for the year ahead by identifying the TOP 5 events and TOP 5 Global meetings that you think we will need to focus on in 2010. Please complete this short survey by 12 November and make sure your voice is heard in our planning process!

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Report from CSI participation in Regional ISTR Conference in Taipei

Posted by civilsocietyindex on November 6, 2009

Two members of the CSI research team were joined by partners at the 6th ISTR Asia and Pacific Regional Conference from November 1-4, 2009 in Taipei, Taiwan. Papers by Jacob Mati and Tracy Anderson of CSI, Ambalika Kutty (formerly from FCOSS in Fiji), and Naoto Yamauchi, Midori Matsushima, and Naoko Okuyama of OSIPP in Japan were presented in a panel session on the Civil Society Index.

The CSI and Fiji papers presented findings based on the 2003-2006 CSI phase, while Japan offered an intriguing teaser of the data they have compiled so far for the current 2008-2010 phase of CSI implementation. The presentations were a great success and provoked thoughtful questions from the audience regarding changes in the methodology, comparisons with the John Hopkins civil society methodology and Japan’s media review study.

Other panels and presentations at this conference covered a wide range of civil society topics related to the theme of the conference: Changes, Challenges, and New Opportunities for the Third Sector. For example, panels were held on the environmental crises and the Third Sector, the economic recession and the Third Sector, globalization, poverty alleviation, transparency and accountability, and fund raising.

The Conference was organized by the Center for the Third Sector, National Chengchi University and they have put on a professional and exciting event,  right down to the little details. The location of the conference, at the Howard International House, Taipei is a spectacular venue replete with comfortable conference facilities.

CSI would like to thank the ISTR for the opportunity to present at their regional conference, and would also like to thank Ambalika Kutty, Naoto Yamauchi, Midori Matsushima, and Naoko Okuyama for joining us on this panel.

CSI Presentation

ISTR Panel

 

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Tell us what you think of the CSI blog!

Posted by civilsocietyindex on November 4, 2009

csi_computerThe CSI team is reviewing the way we communicate with our audiences and partners ahead of 2010. As part of this process, we are keen to hear from you what you think about the CSI blog, including how you think it could be better and what changes we could and should make.

We’d therefore be extremely grateful if you could take 5 minutes to complete an online survey by clicking here.

We hope that in 2010 we can continue to improve the way we engage with you!  

Thanks

The CSI Team

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PS: This is the 100th post on the CSI blog! Thank you to all partners and stakeholders who have contributed to this blog, and keep those links, profiles, signs of impact, photos and articles coming…

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CSI Essay Contest – DEADLINE EXTENDED

Posted by civilsocietyindex on November 3, 2009

Our thanks go out to all those who’ve submitted an entry for the Civil Society Index Essay Contest.

However we’ve received a number of requests for the deadline to be extended, given that it initially only allowed a small window for prospective entrants. So, in the interests of encouraging as many entries as possible, the CSI team has decided to extend the deadline for entries until December 15th 2009.

Please click here to see the requirements and guidelines for the contest.

We look forward to receiving your entry and announcing the winner, who will be awarded $500 USD!!

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New joint publication between CSI and Sida

Posted by civilsocietyindex on November 2, 2009

CSI_writingIn 2008, the CSI programme conducted two training workshops at the Sida Civil Society Centre in Harnosand, Sweden. The results and experiences of these workshops have now been captured in a short publication, written by the CSI programme and designed by the SCSC. You can access a copy of this publication here:

SIDA_Civil Society Index

Thank you to all the CSI colleagues who participated in the trainings, and to Sida and the SCSC for their support and cooperation in putting this publication together!

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One World Trust and CIVICUS working together to improve knowledge exchange

Posted by civilsocietyindex on October 30, 2009

The Civil Society Index team is now pleased to be working closely with the One World Trust to better share and disseminate knowledge generated by civil society self-regulatory initiatives, including the findings of the CSI project.

 

One World Trust

  About the One World Trust

The One World Trust is an independent think tank that conducts research, develops recommendations and advocates for reform to make policy and decision-making processes in global governance more accountable to the people they affect now and in the future, and to ensure that international laws are strengthened and applied equally to all.  To achieve this the OWT develops practical tools and recommendations in support of organisational reform, identifying gaps in the accountability of governance systems, and highlighting opportunities for cross-sector learning.  

Visit the One World Trust’s website at www.oneworldtrust.org

 

About the CSO SRI Portal

The One World Trust has launched a portal on civil society self-regulation which includes a database listing over 320 initiatives (codes of conduct, certification schemes, working groups, self-assessments and information services) across 80 countries. Each initiative has a unique page with summaries of its content; contact details; areas and types of activities the initiative addresses; a list of participant organisations; compliance, monitoring and sanctioning mechanisms; among others.

The launch of their database provides the first ever detailed stock-taking of the content and mechanisms of CSO self-regulation worldwide. In addition, the portal offers an interactive map of CSO self-regulatory initiatives linking directly to the database, briefing papers, and the latest news on CSO self-regulation. The portal will be an important tool for civil society organisations, donors, researchers and the general public interested in the self-regulation of the sector.  

Visit the One World Trust’s CSO SRI portal at www.oneworldtrust.org/csoproject.

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Call for Nominations: CIVICUS Board of Directors

Posted by civilsocietyindex on October 30, 2009

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

CIVICUS seeks nominations of individuals
to stand for election to its Board of Directors

Deadline for nominations
Midnight GMT, Friday, 29th of January 2010

CIVICUS letter-head-final

Dear Colleague,

It is my pleasure to invite you to submit nominations for the upcoming CIVICUS Board elections. I sincerely hope you will take up this opportunity to participate in the governance of CIVICUS and that it will inspire you to renew your membership of our organisation. At the time of submitting your nomination, it is not vital that your membership is up to date. However, to be eligible to vote for the final candidates you would need to be a paid up member of CIVICUS.

Background

The CIVICUS Board of Directors is the organisation’s governing body. It comprises 13 directors elected to serve three year terms. Any current or prospective member of CIVICUS may stand for election to the 13 seats.

To ensure transparency and avoid conflicts of interest, the Board has created an ad hoc Nominations Committee to develop a list of candidates to be presented to the membership of CIVICUS. Members will elect the 13 directors from a list of approximately 26 names. The list will consist of current Board members eligible to stand for re-election and individuals not currently serving on the Board but who are nominated by CIVICUS’ members.

The outgoing Board Chairperson, Anabel Cruz, (Uruguay) will chair the Committee. Other members will include one current Board member who will not stand for election and three persons of prominent standing in the civil society movement who are not CIVICUS directors and who also will not stand for election to the Board. The CIVICUS Secretary General, Ingrid Srinath will serve as an ex-officio member of the Committee.

Selection Criteria

In selecting nominees, the Committee will take into account CIVICUS’ needs for a Board to be filled by persons who:

  • Have institutional and individual credibility in the civil society movement at national, regional and/or international levels;
  • Have experience at managerial levels and/or as a member of boards of directors;
  • Have demonstrated a commitment to CIVICUS’ mission, vision, values and programmes

The Committee will also consider CIVICUS’ needs for a Board that collectively is:

  • Broadly representative of CIVICUS’ global reach and geographic diversity;
  • Broadly representative of CIVICUS’ membership composition (by institutional type, national location, etc.);
  • Diverse in terms of gender, age, race, ethnicity and cultural background;
  • Diverse in terms of experience and talents.

The Call and Directions

The CIVICUS’ Nominations committee requests nominations from Members and partners of the organisation. You may nominate yourself and/or others.

A nomination will be certified when CIVICUS receives by midnight GMT, Friday, 29th of January 2010

  1. A completed Nomination Form for each nominee (copy the blank form as you need)
  2. A letter of intent from each nominee (other than self-nominees who have submitted the nomination form for themselves).

See Nomination Form Section B about what the letter of intent should include. (Note: a nominee does not have to be a member of CIVICUS
when nominated, but she/he or his/her organisation must join no later than 30th April 2010.)

Please submit completed nomination forms, which can be downloaded here: http://www.civicus.org/media/CivicusNominationForm.pdf

Sent you completed application package to:

Anabel Cruz,
Chair – CIVICUS Nomination’s Committee

By e-mail to: boardelections@civicus.org  or by fax to: + 27 11 833 7997

Please contact Sandra Pires at sandra.pires@civicus.org for further information on CIVICUS membership or take a look at the Membership section of our website at www.civicus.org

Warm regards,

Anabel Cruz

 

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New poll on the CSI blog

Posted by civilsocietyindex on October 29, 2009

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CSI Sign of Impact of the week: Engaging the general public

Posted by civilsocietyindex on October 28, 2009

sharingEngaging the General Public

After implementing the CSI in the 2003-2006 phase, several country partners have also tried to better engage the general public in civil society issues. For example, according to Analía Bettoni from ICD in Uruguay, one of the most significant changes in Uruguay was “more public visibility of civil society actions, in order to set some issues in the public agenda.” Eileen Kuttab of Palestine also notes that her organisation tried to “develop the interest of public in community issues.” In addition, one of the most successful recommendations that was implemented in Ukraine was “[developing] civil society culture, which includes active and knowledgeable citizens, their participation in the formation and realization of public policy.” Thus, there has been some success in making the general public more interested in civil society issues and more engaged in advocating for their policy positions.

In Indonesia, Yappika has sought to increase more concrete financial assistance from the general public. According to CSI findings, the general public in Indonesia is only willing to donate for charity or religious activities. Consequently, Yappika worked with a notable Moslem public fundraising organisation and the NGO Indonesia Corruption Watch to “conduct public fundraising for advocacy on education.” As Francisca Fitri Kurnia Sri notes, “in terms of [the] money we get, we consider this public fundraising is promising.” To some degree, the general public in Indonesia is becoming more willing to donate money for civil society initiatives.

In addition, for the last three years there has been a considerable effort to better educate and engage members of the private sector, government, and general public in civil society issues through the Social Forum in Hong Kong.

Keep you eyes on this blog for more signs of impact from the CSI in the 2003-2006 phase of implementation!

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