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Description
This project focuses on solving the problem of insufficient capacities of NGOs to promote their interests - lobbying. In particular, medium and smaller NGOs do not have the necessary knowledge, experience nor the capacity for lobbying. Therefore, NGOs do not participate in creating legislative norms. NGOs only take notice of legal proposals at the last stage of discussions, when it’s too late to work in their suggestions and experiences. This results in the neglect of their inputs and has a negative impact on the quality of the decision-making process and standards adopted. Within the project, we will motivate the management of NGOs to participate in lobbying through exchanging of information, experiences, and through meeting with professional lobbyists during two round table sessions. Furthermore, representatives of NGOs will gain knowledge and increase their competencies in lobbying through two workshops, including meetings with MPs in the House of Commons. We will support NGOs to create informal platforms through which they can promote their interests together. In addition, project representatives of NGOs can participate in the ongoing activities of two professional platforms, participate in section meetings, and comment on the prepared legislative standards, which will be supported through professional consultations. We want to achieve the following changes in the project: In the field of advocacy, the NGO staff will use in practice the newly acquired knowledge, information and competencies (min. 20 participants). The NGOs can then create internal capacities to be used to promote their interests (10 NGOs). Within the project the NGOs will comment in detail on six legislative norms. The target group of the project are NGO employees, board members and volunteers.
Summary of project results
Advocating for interests, including influencing emerging legislation, is part of the mission of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as representatives of civil society. We focus on addressing the issue of insufficient capacity within NGOs to effectively advocate for their interests. Most NGOs lack the capacity to engage in this activity actively and effectively. Particularly, medium and small NGOs do not have the necessary knowledge and experience. The leadership of NGOs often perceives lobbying as inappropriate and beyond the capabilities of ordinary organizations. Another significant factor is the lack of resources for supportive activities, as the emphasis is placed on fulfilling their mission and direct work with target groups. Consequently, NGOs do not participate in the creation of legislative norms and only become aware of proposals in the final stages of deliberation, without providing feedback. The neglect of expert opinions from NGOs results in lower quality decision-making processes and the quality of adopted norms.
Project participants were trained in the lobbying process and how to lobby ethically. They learned the skills to run it successfully - communication, argumentation... They listened to practical examples, had the opportunity to discuss with lobbyists and parliamentarians. They also actively participated in the commenting process of the legislative process.
On the basis of the information received, existing lobbying positions within member organisations were either adapted or new ones created. Also, thanks to the information and skills acquired, representatives of member organisations have strengthened their negotiating positions in lobbying with local governments and other partners.
We managed to get our main priorities into the amendment to the Law on Public Collections, which is now awaiting consideration by the Chamber of Deputies. Other successes included the extension of the higher tax benefits for private donors (the 30% for Donors campaign) and the inclusion of the public benefit (non-profit) sector in the National Quality Policy 2023-30. Furthermore, partial changes have been pushed through, especially in the proposals regulating the social sector. These changes will lead to an improvement of the conditions for the activities of NGOs in the Czech Republic.
Thanks to selected activities—seminars, workshops, meetings with MPs or lobbyists—representatives of NGOs gained essential information about what lobbying is, its principles, and how to practice it ethically. Besides acquiring the necessary information, this project also motivated them to utilize lobbying (e.g., sharing best practices, building internal capacities, etc.) and provided support (such as consulting with experts as part of membership benefits or through seminars). Through this project, NGO representatives had the opportunity to actively comment on emerging legislative norms, which they used extensively.
As a result, we succeeded in incorporating our main priorities into the amendment of the Public Collections Act, which is now awaiting discussion in the Chamber of Deputies. Another success was the extension of higher tax benefits for private donors (the 30% for Donors campaign) and the inclusion of the public benefit (non-profit) sector in the National Quality Policy 2023-2030. Further partial changes were successfully implemented, particularly in proposals concerning the social sector. These changes will lead to improved conditions for the activities of NGOs in the Czech Republic.