BGI Consulting has carried out a research of community organisations, operating in Lithuania. The results showed there are currently about 1800 community organisations implementing public needs related to improvement of the neighbourhood.
The most active community activities take place in rural areas, where community organisations play an important social function. However, financial resources of community organisations are sufficiently limited and most of the income is allocated through membership fees and deductions of personal income tax. The funding of community organisations from EU structural funds and other funds is still relatively marginal. This situation is influenced by a lack both of human resources, as well as of inadequate financial capacity.
In order to encourage activity of community organisations and improve access to potential funding, it has been suggested to apply the principle of flat-rate management costs more widely, facilitate conditions to receive part of the funding in advance and to simplify the terms and conditions for social and public services, allowing community organisations to decide and implement relevant services to local residents. In order to promote community organisations to take greater diversity of activities, it is also important to not only organise individual trainings but establish long-term mentoring projects that would allow continuously strengthen activities of community organisations.
Contracting authority - Ministry of Social Security and Labour of Lithuania.