An efficient
management structure and administrative support are important
pillars of CSD's institutional capacity. Having an annual range of
diversified projects, both in terms of subject area and activity
type, it is indispensable for the Center to maintain a managerial
structure ensuring that projects are implemented with the most
efficient use of resources. There is, therefore, a direct link
between CSD's external mission as a policy institute and its
internal management, which makes a unique type of institution in
Bulgaria's NGO sector.
This linkage has become all
the more pertinent since the Center has assumed the function of
Secretariat to three coalition initiatives - Coalition
2000, the Judicial Reform Initiative- and the Corporate
Governance Initiative. This occurred in recognition both of CSD's
reputation as an independent facilitator of reforms and its
institutional capacity to manage large-scale projects.
In 2000, CSD acquired
additional grant making experience as it administered the Small
Grants Program of Coalition 2000. Procedures were developed
for the calls for proposals and proposal evaluation as well as for
grant giving and tracking of projects with not-for-profit
organizations. As part of this program, consultations were held
with grantees in order to ensure that the awarded grants also
contributed to their organizational capacity building. Thus, there
has been a marked increase not only in the number of organizations
reached through the grant program but also an improvement in their
financial management skills.
Organizations supported
through CSD administered Small Grants Program
• ACCESS Association - Sofia
• Applied Research and Communications
Fund-Sofia
• Association of Young Lawyers in
Bulgaria-Sofia
• Center for Economic
Development-Sofia
• Center for Social Practices-Sofia
• Citizen Association - Sofia
• Citizens Council Civic Coalition
-Razgrad
• City and Culture Foundation
-Varna
• CiviLink Foundation - Sofia
• Egida Foundation - Gotse Delchev
• Foundation for Entrepreneurship Development -
Sofia
• Good Hope Foundation - Sofia
• Independent Ecological and Social
Inspectorate - Varna
• Initiatives and Citizens Activity Foundation -
Pazardzhik
• Economic Policy Institute -
Sofia
• Journalists for Democracy Foundation -
Sofia
• 'Local Agenda 21' Initiative for Sustainable
Development- Veliko Turnovo
• Political Processes Research
Center
- Shoumen
• Public Barometer Civic Association
- Sliven
• Revived Civil Society Regional
Association - Pleven
• Stefan Stambolov Bulgarian Youth
Legion - Smolyan
• Union of Bulgarian Journalists
-Sofia
The Center's
efforts in strengthening the institutional capacity of the
not-for-profit community in Bulgaria was also evidenced by the
participation of CSD's Financial Manager in a team of experts who
developed a handbook on not-for-profit accounting for Bulgarian
NGOs. The volume covers important nonprofit accounting
methodology, bearing in mind the diversity of NGO activities and
the regulatory framework in this area. Special attention was
devoted to requirements for non-profit reporting of the National
Accounting Standard. Practical accounting solutions are described
to assist NGOs in developing reporting documentation to donor
institutions. The volume has been reprinted twice and is in great
demand.
Collaborating closely with CSD on major long-term projects, IDLl
has helped the Center to acquire the capacity for sharing its
institutional experience and know-how with other organizations in
the region. This positive multiplier effect has strengthened the
non-profit sector in Bulgaria and the region.
Pasquale Ferraro, Deputy Director General, International
Development Law Institute
Long standing
cooperation with the International Development Law Institute (IDLI) in the field of
administrative and financial management of not-for-profit
organizations is now being utilized at a regional - Southeast
Europe - level through the role of CSD as Executive Secretariat of
the Southeast European Legal Development Initiative (SELDI). CSD is
thus transferring its expertise in this area to a number of partner
organizations in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,
Macedonia, Romania and Yugoslavia.
The external audit for 2000
was commissioned to KPMG; and their independent opinion and CSD's
financial statements follow.
In
2000, CSD employed 55 staff of which 34 were management and
professional, including part-time consultants, and 21 were
support personnel.