The objective of the project: To compile reliable data for representation of non-governmental organization’s interests, use those data for the development of NGOs in Latvia, including for improving the legal and financial environment of the NGO sector.

There is no regular information on the state and trends of NGOs in Latvia, no research groups specialized in this matter. The last comprehensive study was conducted 5 years ago. Consequently, there is a lack of substantiated data for the representation of NGOs interests. To solve this problem, the project will carry out 3 studies that will reveal the real situation of NGOs:

The purpose of the Study 1 (January 2021) is to collect factual information on NGOs, to analyze the basic data in order to identify the forms and areas of activity of NGOs, their financial capacity and flows.

Study 2 (October 2022) with the aim to study in more detail specific aspects of NGOs and issues about the organization’s capacity and resources, including what resources are missing from NGOs. A methodology and publicly available tool will be developed to identify the NGOs impacts on socio-political processes and to measure the multiplier effect of associations and foundations.

The aim of the Study 3 (April 2024) is to collect factual information on NGOs – changes in their scope, capacity, fundraising, and human resources of NGOs within 4 years (2019-2023), analyze data on changes or progress, as well as the effectiveness of the impact methodology developed in Study 2, and the technical tool for use of the methodology in practice. Appropriate recommendations for the future development of civil society will be developed.

All data obtained from studies as well as a tool for measuring multiplier effect will be available to anyone in Latvia for providing fact-based discussions on the NGO sector in Latvia, for future NGO interest representation activities and for promoting the development of the civil society sector.