Russia Civil Society Support Program (CSSP)

Program Overview

The Russia Civil Society Support Program (CSSP) is a four-year, USAID-funded initiative aimed at strengthening the nongovernmental (NGO) sector in Russia, particularly in the Russian Far East. CSSP promotes an environment where the government actively reaches out to involve NGOs in policy development and, in turn, NGOs demonstrate the skills and capacity to advocate their positions in a constructive manner. IREX partners with The Russian NGO InterTraining (IT) and the UK-based NGO Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) on CSSP.

KEY OBJECTIVES

Consolidate the Russian NGO community along thematic and professional lines
Establish constructive partnerships between civil society leaders and local, regional, and federal governments
Strengthen the NGO sector’s capacity to develop and advocate for policies that address citizens’ needs

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

Creating over 30 local and regional NGO associations and advocacy groups, involving over 840 constituent organizations across Russia
Funding and supporting over 360 advocacy campaigns addressing local and federal legislation
Publishing nine sets of policy recommendations for the NGO sector’s advocacy goals

PROJECT ACTIVITIES

Third Sector Development
CSSP supports NGO sector development by facilitating collaboration between special interest NGOs and third sector professionals. Through social policy research and coalition-building activities, NGOs enhance their organizational capacity to create advocacy goals from evidence-based research. CSSP’s grant funding supports coalitions and alliances, and has fostered the creation of over thirty regional and inter-regional coalitions to advocate for housing rights, education reform, women’s rights, environmental protection, healthcare, government transparency, and rights of people with disabilities in 20 regions of the Russian Federation.
Advocacy and Policy Analysis Skills Development and Training
IREX supplements grant funding with mentorship and training in strategic advocacy design, implementation, and evaluation, establishing venues where NGOs can come together to collaborate as a sector. CSSP has established a number of forums for networking and professional exchanges among NGOs. By encouraging cooperation and information-sharing with research-oriented organizations, CSSP empowers Russian NGOs to provide informed input into social policy development.
Forums for Policy Dialogue between NGOs and the Government
Trainings on NGO networking and communications between civil society leaders and policymakers build the foundation for federal-level working groups to promote better collaboration between NGOs and the government. By engaging legislative and executive authorities in dialogue, NGOs effectively represent citizen interests in analyzing social policy and bringing about positive change.

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