The CSO Sustainability Index for Sub-Saharan Africa: 2009, 2010 and

2011 trends

Lisa Slifer-MbackeTechnical DirectorManagement Systems International

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CSOSI Methodology

Assesses the enabling environment for and the sustainability of CSOs, based on 7 key “dimensions”:

Seven Dimensions– Legal Environment– Organizational Capacity– Service Provision– Financial Viability– Infrastructure– Advocacy– Public Image

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CSOSI Methodology (continued)A qualitative assessment conducted by a locally-convened panel of CSOs.

• Methodology based on Freedom in the World report

• Developed by USAID in the 1990s

• Scores range from 1.0 to 7.0

Three Tiers

SUSTAINABILITY

IMPEDED 5.1-7

SUSTAINABILITY

EVOLVING 3.1-5

SUSTAINABILITY

ENHANCED 1-3

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CSOSI Process and Participants

• Country Panel led by a local implementer (CSO)• 8-20 civil society representatives and experts

• Broad cross-section of CSOs

• Editorial Committee • USAID (AFR, DCHA/DRG), Aga Khan Foundation (AKF)

• Management Systems International (MSI) International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL)

• Regional experts from West, East and Southern Africa

Country Rankings for 2011

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Liberia 4.8Mozambique 4.8Sierra Leone 4.8

Zimbabwe 4.8 Zambia 4.8

Nigeria, 4.6Rwanda

4.5Mali 4.4Uganda

4.3Ghana 4.3

Senegal 4.3

Botswana 4.2

Tanzania 4.2

Kenya 4.1South Africa 3.6

Malawi 5.1DR Congo

5.1

Gabon 5.4

Angola 5.7The Gambia

5.7ENHANCED 1-3

EVOLVING 3.1-5

IMPEDED 5.1-7

SUSTAINABILITY

SUSTAINABILITY

SUSTAINABILITY

Burundi 5.2

Guinea 5.5

Ethiopia 5.6

2009 Overall Scores• South Africa: 3.6; Kenya: 4.0 (most sustainable)• Angola & Guinea: 5.6 (least sustainable)

Country Rankings: Highest and Lowest

2010 Overall Scores•South Africa: 3.6; Kenya: 4.0•Angola: 5.6

2011 Overall Scores•South Africa: 3.6; Kenya: 3.9•Angola & The Gambia: 5.7

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Overall Trends and Changes 2009-2011

• Worsening of Financial Viability– Global financial crisis has resulted in overall reduction of funding,

particularly from international donors – South Africa – qualified staff leaving civil society; Tanzania –

closing of some CSOs

• Worsening in Infrastructure – access to CSO capacity-building and networking on the decrease– Closing of CSO capacity-building projects and services in Gabon,

DRC and Senegal

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Overall Trends and Changes 2009-2011

• Service Provision is the strongest of all dimensions– Noted CSO support to government service provision and

sometimes in lieu of any government provision– Still one of the best scores across dimensions but in 2011

decreased - related to reduction in financing

• Improvement in Advocacy– Steady overall improvement over three years. Kenya – post-

constitution opportunities to participate in policy-making process; Uganda, working on MOU to institutionalize government/CSO relations and participation in policy-making

2011 Bifurcation of Government – Civil Society Relationship

• While overall improvement in Advocacy, varying scores in terms of civil society and government relations.– A deepening relationship between government and civil society

(Ghana, Kenya and Guinea)– A shift toward polarization and distrust

(Burundi, Ethiopia, Senegal, DRC and South Africa) – caused for a variety of reasons but exacerbated by elections – Gabon, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda and Zambia