FpTS: Expert Support for Stronger Civil Society Organizations

The project addresses a critical mismatch between the currently available forms of financial and non-financial support for civil society organisations and their actual day-to-day operational and organisational needs. While organisations actively working in the fields of democracy, the rule of law, transparency, and human rights can often access project-based grant funding for their core programmatic activities, they consistently lack dedicated resources for strengthening their internal institutional capacities, proactively managing operational risks, and accessing specialised external expertise. At the same time, these organisations face an increasingly complex environment marked by growing legal, regulatory, reputational, and cybersecurity risks. Without adequate internal safeguards and professional support, these vulnerabilities can severely undermine their ability to operate effectively, safely, and sustainably over the long term.

The project aims to systematically strengthen the institutional resilience and operational stability of civil society organisations through a comprehensive, structured model that combines in-depth organisational diagnostics, targeted expert support, and direct access to specialised professional capacities. Specifically, the project will develop, pilot, and test a dedicated support mechanism operating within the framework of the Fund for a Transparent Slovakia (FpTS). This mechanism will enable participating organisations to thoroughly assess their internal operations, identify their most critical organisational vulnerabilities and risks, and effectively address them through tailored, hands-on expert assistance. This specialised support will cover essential operational areas such as legal and regulatory compliance, labour law, IT and cybersecurity, personal data protection, strategic and crisis communication, and overall organisational development.

The project aims to significantly improve the overall organisational capacity, institutional stability, and operational resilience of at least 25 civil society organisations actively working across the fields of democracy, the rule of law, transparency, anti-corruption, and civic participation. Through targeted interventions, the supported organisations will systematically strengthen their internal governance processes, operational policies, and risk-management systems. Consequently, they will substantially improve their institutional preparedness for emerging regulatory, security, and reputational challenges, while gaining vital access to high-level specialised expertise that is otherwise very difficult to finance through standard project grants. In the longer term, the project will contribute to a safer, more sustainable, and more enabling environment for civil society in Slovakia by fostering stronger, long-lasting partnerships between civil society organisations, professional experts, and corporate donors.