1. The Memorandum of Co-operation between Non-Governmental Organisations
and the Cabinet of Ministers
Latvia
Dita Erna Sīle
15 May 2017

2. NGO PORTRAIT IN LATVIA 18 697 375.9 MEUR 72,4 MEUR 8% 2 640 96.7 MEUR
organisations
1 225 foundations
1 299 religious organisations
375.9 MEUR
NGO revenues 2015
(total) -
72,4 MEUR
NGO financing through line ministries (2017 prognosis)
28.7 MEUR economical activities
25.3 MEUR recreation, culture, religion 8%
Annual growth of registered NGOs -
2 640
96.7 MEUR
Public good NGOs
Companies donating to public good NGOs receive company income tax discount
Donations (2015)
14.7 MEUR sports
10.3 MEUR charity
4.4 MEUR education -
62 043
100.4 MEUR
Employees at NGOs -
Revenues from economic activity
(2015)
...

3. MEMORANDUM – BREAKING SILOS
Introduced in 2005 based on NGO initiative
Between the Cabinet (direct public administration) and NGOs
57 NGOs were first signatories of the Memorandum
Now 424 NGOs have signed the Memorandum
It aims to promote effective work of the public administration in the public interest and to ensure the involvement of civil society in the government’s decision-making process
The Memorandum is the main co-operation platform between government and NGOs in Latvia
Participation is free and open for any registered NGO

4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS
GREEN PAPER
DRAFT
ANNOUNCEMENT
(Meeting of State Secretaries)
MEETING OF THE CABINET COMMITTEE
MEETING OF THE CABINET
SAEIMA
(parliament)
Working groups/ advisory councils
Public consultations
ADOPTION
Explanatory video
Applies to:
each stage of policy cycle
policy planning documents and legal acts, including EU national positions
formal and informal groups can participate, as well as individuals

5. THE COUNCIL FOR IMPLEMENTATION
The Council equally represents both the public administration and NGOs
8 representatives from each side
NGO representatives re-elected by signatories each 1,5 years
Chairperson: Director of the State Chancellery
Co-chairperson: elected representative from NGOs
Statutes in English (technical amendments of 2017 not included)
Meetings each month
Transmitted live; agendas, videos and minutes publicly available
Public administration experts and NGO representatives can participate without voting rights
Excluding summer; extraordinary meetings convene
Secretariat: the State Chancellery

6. MEETING OF THE COUNCIL

7. THE COUNCIL AT WORK Discussions on
Co-operation issues and challenges faced during stakeholder engagement process
Assessment of NGO participation in the drafting of regulations and policy planning documents, and implementation of policies affecting NGOs
Issues raised by NGOs on problems in certain sectors
Decisions of the Memorandum are in form of recommendations, but in practice the Council is used as a mechanism to obtain the opinion of NGOs
NGO representative of the Council in an advisory capacity participates in
State Secretaries' meetings
The Cabinet of Ministers Committee meetings
The National Tripartite Cooperation Council meetings
In different thematic participatory formations, based on delegation
Annual NGO conference organised on topical issues

8. MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS
The intensity and quality of the Council's work have increased over time
From necessity to ensure participation to common initiatives
Horizontal issues that are of relevance for the operation of NGOs
The number of visitors that followed the livestreams of the Council meetings has also grown over time
The discussions result in concrete solutions
Rules of Procedure of the Cabinet of Ministers: horizontal NGO issues before deliberation at the Cabinet must be examined at the Council
Advice provided by NGOs are translated into policy planning documents, draft legal acts or legislative amendments
The Council helps to find settlements to problems by collaborating with officials of public institutions

9. PARTICIPATION STATISTICS (2015)
168
Advisory Councils
997
NGOs in Advisory Councils
PARTICIPATION STATISTICS (2015)
207
Public consultation meetings
164
Regulation and policy document projects discussed in Councils
120
Written public consultations
266
Working groups on singular regulation or policy document projects
716
NGO opinions received within official decision-making process

10. ANALYSIS OF CO-OPERATION
Sustainable Governance Indicator 2016
Performance: 7 (EU: 6 / OECD: 6.4)
Societal consultation takes place frequently and is diverse in nature
Diverse outcomes observed in relation to quality of government policies or to induce societal actors support
The Review of the NGO Sector in Latvia 2015
In trade and manufacturing state institutions recognize that large professional organisations act as lobbyists, because they represent the field. However, the collaboration is mainly characterised not as pressure on state institutions, but more as constructive collaboration.
There are fewer opportunities to order studies in social issues and ministries rely on the expertise of the organization provided free of charge. Participating organizations often come into conflict with each other, by not harmonizing positions among themselves.

11. EVALUATION OF CO-OPERATION (2017)
Evaluation 1 (lowest) – 7 (highest)
Direct PA
NGOs
Gov’t improves open and participatory decision-making, involving NGOs in due time
5.4
5.0
Gov’t ensures development and implementation of civic society development policies
5.2
4.9
Gov’t furthers delegation of public functions, conclusion of co-operation agreements
5.1
4.3
NGOs promote effective and constructive mutual dialogue and co-operation between NGO’s and PA
5.3
NGOs ensure open and participatory development of opinions on regulation and policy planning documents
NGOs ensure participation at public consultations, advisory councils and working groups meetings
5.9
NGOs provide information on participation practices and co-operation with direct PA, providing proposals for improvements
NGOs ensure qualitative participation; effective, transparent and responsible use of provided financing
4.6
4.5

12. MEDIUM-TERM PRIORITIES AND ANNUAL WORK PLANS
Further development of NGO sector
Increase of the State NGO Fund financing / new period of the EEA and Norway Grants
Improvement of public good status administrations process and donation regulation
Survey of other necessary regulatory improvements, incl. ex-post evaluation of the Voluntary Work Law
Co-operation between NGOs and public administration
Guidelines of advisory council work
Development of the draft Society Integration Plan 2019 – 2025
Revision of public administration functions delegation process
NGOs as tool for civic participation
Development of the NGOs Code of Ethics
Monitoring of the UN SDGs implementation
Promoting inclusion of civic education in general education curricula

13. LESSONS LEARNED FOCUS: horizontal issues for NGO sector
POLITICAL SUPPORT: influencing decision making process
FEEDBACK: communication and feedback within PA and NGOs
BALANCE: proactive and reactive activities
REGULARITY: monthly meetings, systemic approach to consultations
REPRESENTATION: high level officials

14. FUTURE PLANS: IT SYSTEM
To improve decision
making process
To expand possibilities of society participation
Due 2018

15. Thank You Dita Erna Sīle
Deputy Head of the Department for Public Administration Policy
Head of the Change Management Division
State Chancellery of the Republic of Latvia
Phone:
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