Chapter 7
Conclusion



A close evaluation of the results and hypotheses yields several major conclusions, which in turn suggest ways that the REC and other international donor organizations can better address the needs and problems of CEE NGOs.

Results of the Mail Questionnaires and Personal Interviews: Similarities and Differences

Two methods of obtaining information about CEE NGOs were used for this study, mail questionnaires and personal interviews, both of which were very similar. For this reason, the results acquired from the two methods complemented and reinforced each other. However, because the questions were not exactly the same in each survey, there were some minor differences in the results.

For example, while the mail survey indicated statistically that most NGOs do not have paid staff, the interviews expressed how serious this problem really is. And while the mail survey results denoted that there is little cooperation between NGOs and governments, particularly at the national level, the interviews clearly illustrated that many NGOs believe this is one of the most important methods of significantly improving the quality of the environment.

Hypotheses and Assumptions: An Analysis

In the following section, each major hypothesis is restated and analyzed independently, and it is determined whether each is true or false and why this is so.

Hypothesis I

Environmental NGOs working in CEE conform to typical organizational profiles that can be predicted by reference to the following control variables:

While it is possible to list the characteristics most common to NGOs, and therefore develop a profile of the typical CEE NGO, the results of the study indicate that it is virtually impossible to generalize about CEE NGOs with any degree of accuracy. There are far too many variations within each control variable, and within each country, to predict much about an organization based on its basic organizational characteristics. Hypothesis I, therefore, is false.

However, it is possible, based on the results, to draw up the profile of a typical CEE NGO. The following list is a description (profile) of the most common NGO characteristics:

This description was based on financial status, level of success, level of cooperation with government and other NGOs, and experience with the REC. The similarities among NGOs related to these four categories are discussed in detail in Chapter 3: Results and Discussion of Mail Questionnaires.

Hypothesis II

Environmental NGOs in CEE not only work to improve the quality of the environment; they also spend a significant amount of time and effort obtaining the funding and organizational development necessary to complete their missions. These two categories can be described as environmental project implementation and internal organizational capacity building.

The results of the study show Hypothesis II to be correct. While the mission of most environmental NGOs includes improving the quality of the environment in some manner, many NGOs spend a great deal of time and effort searching for funding, hiring and training staff and volunteers, and obtaining adequate office space and equipment. In order to improve the environment, most NGOs focus on three important activities: environmental education, fieldwork and dissemination of information. However, their most frequently mentioned challenges are problems internal to the organization such as insufficient funding, limited communication access, and lack of volunteers. The NGOs ability to achieve their environmental goals is directly limited by their ability to effectively administer the internal organizational aspects of the group.

Hypothesis III

The majority of CEE environmental NGOs have common needs and problems. These problems and needs can be divided into three general categories:

The results of the study show that there are indeed specific needs and problems common to most NGOs. These major problem is insufficient funding, and the most pressing needs include training in the area of fund raising, increased access to modern means of communication, and additional support for implementing environmental projects and building capacity. The major problems and needs identified in this study do indeed fall into the three general categories listed above, making the third hypothesis true.

Hypothesis IV

REC programs differ in their attractiveness to environmental NGOs in CEE. Certain REC programs are very helpful to CEE environmental NGOs, while others are less so. By helping the REC to adjust some of its programs, policies and procedures, this study can assist the REC to better meet the needs of CEE environmental NGOs.

The attractiveness of the REC's programs varies greatly due to the diversity of CEE NGOs and the wide range of their needs and problems. Most require general financial assistance, but some require specific office equipment or management training. Most REC programs are designed to directly assist NGOs with their most important needs and problems, and demand for all REC programs seems to be high. Grants, information, training and fellowships are seen as very valuable. Therefore, the first part of Hypothesis IV is true.

It is also true that the REC can make some adjustments to its existing programs and activities in order to assist NGOs to improve their ability to operate, as well as to make a positive impact on the environment. For example, the REC could encourage NGOs to cooperate more with government authorities. Therefore, the second part of Hypothesis IV is also true.

Hypothesis V

There is a significant difference in the general organizational characteristics (profile) between cooperative and noncooperative environmental NGOs in CEE.

This hypothesis is true for NGOs who cooperate at the highest level with other NGOs and governments, but false for those NGOs who cooperate at the lowest levels. NGOs that conduct joint projects with other NGOs tend to have larger budgets, more members and at least some paid staff. NGOs that cooperate closely with local and national governments have similar characteristics. It seems to be an advantage, at least in terms of strengthening their internal organizational potential, for NGOs to cooperate as much as possible.

Hypothesis VI

In relation to other international environmental NGO service providers in CEE, the REC fulfills a unique and specific niche for CEE NGOs.

REC services were requested by many CEE NGOs. The REC does not have a single, specific niche, but acts as a broad service organization, offering many forms of assistance to a wide variety of NGOs throughout CEE. The REC may be more popular than other similar organizations because it provides many different services to all sectors of society, including businesses, governments, academics, and NGOs. Many other international service organizations are more specialized in certain areas, so Hypothesis VI turns out to be false.

Conclusions

The results of the study yield several major conclusions about environmental NGOs in CEE. What follows is a list of these conclusions, organized into the major research topics of the study.

Organizational Characteristics

The vast majority of NGOs in CEE (about 2000) are located in the Visegrad countries. While the potential exists to help many more of these NGOs by focusing efforts on these countries, it seems that NGOs in the rest of CEE expressed a greater need for assistance. The original hypothesis that there are four distinct subregions is not correct; instead, it seems more likely that greater differences exist between NGOs from the Visegrad countries and Romania, and all other CEE countries. About half of all CEE NGOs also work in areas other than the environment, and most are very young, requiring assistance to get started and become stable. Three-quarters of CEE NGOs do not have any paid staff, making a lack of qualified staff one of the biggest problems for CEE NGOs.

Activities

The most common activities are education and training, environmental fieldwork and dissemination of environmental information. This indicates that most NGOs believe environmental projects should include an educational component in order to have a real impact on the quality of the environment.

Success

About three-fourths of CEE NGOs rate themselves as having at least intermediate or partial success. However, the impact they have on the quality of the environment has yet to be measured, and the exact criteria by which NGOs measure their own success is unknown. This makes it very difficult to understand the level of success of CEE NGOs.

Financial Status

Most NGOs operate on annual budgets of less than USD 5,000, and the overwhelming majority of CEE NGOs require external financial support. Most NGOs perceive the REC as one of their main funding sources; in fact, about one-fifth indicated that more than 25 percent of their funding comes from REC grants. The REC's support is both highly desired and critically important to the survival of many environmental NGOs.

Cooperation

In CEE, there is little cooperation among NGOs or between NGOs and governments; if there is any cooperation at all, it exists at the local level. Many NGOs believe that cooperation is critically important for solving environmental problems, indicating that there is much potential for further cooperation, especially between NGOs and national governments.

Experience with the Regional Environmental Center

More than one-third of CEE NGOs have occasional contact with the REC, or see the REC as a traditional partner. According to the mail questionnaires, the REC is the most frequently utilized international service organization that currently operates in all CEE countries, particularly in the areas of grant giving, technical assistance, campaigning, information dissemination, training and networking. In addition, the presence of REC Local Offices has a significant impact on the ability of NGOs to learn about, cooperate with, and participate in REC programs and activities. Many NGOs depend on and expect future assistance from REC.

Recommendations for Donors

In order to develop recommendations on how various donors can further assist environmental NGOs in CEE, it is necessary to describe the typical kinds of activities conducted by these organizations. For example, all of the REC's programs are unified in their purpose of promoting regional cooperation and building the capacity of NGOs to solve environmental problems. These programs can be listed in the following four main areas:
  1. Grants to support the institutional development of NGOs and to build their capacity to increase public participation in environmental issues, as well as grants specifically earmarked for environmental projects that involve regionwide cooperation.
  2. Information exchange to increase public access to environmental information, and to facilitate networking among diverse interest groups.
  3. Special projects and initiatives to assess and share regional experiences in addressing crucial environmental issues.
  4. Fellowships and internships to provide networking and training opportunities to promising individuals.

Most REC programs are directly related to the most important needs and problems of the region's NGOs. However, some minor changes to other donors' programs could help to focus CEE assistance efforts, including:

REC * PUBLICATIONS * PROBLEMS, PROGRESS AND POSSIBILITIES * CONCLUSION

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