NGOs and the state

- a relationship of clients, partners or opponents?

What is changing in NGO-government relations in the post-accession period? What is the reality of NGO-government partnerships in the diverse countries of this region? Are NGOs contractual implementers or drivers for change and improvement? What consequences does this have for the service and advocacy functions of NGOs? Is critical feedback welcomed or punished? How do we maintain independent voices while sustaining and developing funding from government sources? Where is the space for supplementing each other? Where do service functions overlap? Where do clashes emerge? What is the cross-sector experience of coalitions? What needs to change on both sides?  The purpose of this session is to discuss how fundamental EU principles of NGO-government relations translate into practice in our countries and to outline the key challenges and opportunities for effective interaction of NGOs with governments at different levels.

Dušan Ondrušek, Partners for Democratic Change Slovakia, was formally educated as a psychologist and works as a trainer, facilitator and consultant for various organizations around the world, including the UN, World Bank and UNDP in countries like Afghanistan, Kosovo, Serbia, Bosnia, Jordan, Central Asia, Indonesia, Jordan and Yemen. He focuses mostly on areas of organizational development, peace work and conflict transformation, partnerships and public participation. He lectures at Comenius University in Bratislava and is a widely published author. His publications include Reader for nonprofit organizations, Altruists motivation and Training? Training.