Let's reform the central civic fund!

The project by NOSZA Association and the Civil Society on New Grounds Coalition coalition seeks to address operational, transparency and professional issues affecting the National Cooperation Fund (NEA), the most important source of funding for Hungary’s civil society sector. Although the NEA has distributed more than HUF 100 billion in grants, the list of grant recipients and documents enabling substantive evaluation are not easily searchable. As a result, public scrutiny of the precise use of public funds is difficult. A major concern is that two-thirds of decision-makers are politically appointed, calling into question the political impartiality of decisions. Furthermore, the government has not consulted civil society organisations in fifteen years, undermining the NEA’s professional credibility and weakening the sector’s unity and advocacy capacity.

The initiative pursues its objectives through three interconnected strands of activity focused on the central civil society funding system. First, the findings of previous research will be published and presented to decision-makers. This will be followed by a citizens’ assembly in Budapest, where civil society representatives and experts will jointly develop a new operational concept. Support for the resulting proposals will be strengthened through a nationwide grassroots campaign, including a petition aiming to collect 2,000 signatures, as well as local micro-campaigns and actions involving civil society organisations outside Budapest. Finally, an advocacy working group will be established, representatives will receive training, and direct negotiations will be held with ministry officials to secure acceptance of the proposals.

The project’s main outcome is the development of a transparent, professionally grounded and credible reform proposal for the National Cooperation Fund (NEA), and securing its adoption by decision-makers. For civil society organisations, this means a more predictable funding environment, stronger sectoral independence and shared identity, a positive experience of democracy through collective action, and enhanced advocacy capacity. For decision-makers, the initiative provides a widely supported set of proposals to encourage the meaningful involvement of civil society as a professional partner in decision-making. For residents and local communities, more effective civil society organisations receiving appropriate support directly contribute to better quality of life, while the citizens’ assembly provides a replicable model for public participation.