Moldovan scores well in Civil Society Sustainability Index

Moldova progressed in 5 of the 7 areas of the Civil Society Organizations Sustainability Index for 2011, which measures the involvement of civil society in several areas. The biggest progress was registered in the field of legislation improvement, reducing the dependence on foreign donors and strengthening the organizational capacity. The areas in which civil society failed to impress are financial viability and public image. As regards advocacy and provision of services, civil society organizations stagnated in these areas, Info-Prim Neo reports. Morana Smodlaka Krajnovic, author of the Sustainability Index, listed among the improvements the involvement of the Legislative and of the Executive in boosting the credibility and the role of civil society organizations in society. Involving civil society in the decision-making process and in the activity of parliamentary commissions improved their position in society. The Index author stressed that Moldovan civil society had to improve its managerial skills and develop projects that would bring long-term financing. Besides, nongovernmental structures must provide more services in order to get more recognition in society. Deputy Speaker Liliana Palihovici attended the event. She confirmed that civil society representatives actively involved in the work of parliamentary commission and the Parliament adopted a series of laws that facilitated the work of civil society, including the Law on Voluntaries and the Law on Social Work. The Deputy Speaker thinks that if Moldova respects the stipulations of the Development Strategy for 2012-2015, then the country will rise to 6th place in the top countries with the most active NGOs. In 2011, Moldovan was ranked 20th out of 28 countries. The list was topped by Estonia, followed by Poland.