USAID Promotes Quality Assurance System for NGOs
USAID Promotes Quality Assurance System for NGOs
Zagreb, May 9, 2006 - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) supported Croatia’s first Quality Assurance System for Non-Governmental Organizations (SOKNO – Sustav Osiguranja Kvalitete za Neprofitne Organizacije). With USAID assistance, 18 newly licensed SOKNO mentors will assist non-government organizations to improve accountability, transparency and quality of work. USAID Mission Director, William Jeffers will present certificates at a ceremony on May 10, 2006 at 11:00 at Novinarski Dom, Perkovceva 2, Zagreb.
Five Croatian trainers assisted a new group of NGO leaders making a total of twenty-three (23) Croatian mentors, licensed to assist interested NGOs and other public institutions to implement SOKNO.
The SOKNO Program was developed by the Charities Evaluation Services (CES) and the Croatian NGO Quality Assurance Working Group and in cooperation with two USAID implementing partners, Academy for Educational Development and the World Learning.
This is part of USAID’s Assistance to Croatian NGOs (CroNGO) program implemented by the Academy for Educational Development. Through technical assistance, training and grants, this program assists civil society organizations to contribute to Croatia's democratic, economic and community development. This program also increases the NGO advocacy capacity, financial viability, organizational capacity and networking. It also promotes the practice of voluntarism and visibility of the sector within Croatian society. Details on these activities are available on www.aed.hr
USAID is the primary assistance organization of the United States Government. Since 1992, the United States has provided over $407 million to Croatia (much of it through USAID programs) to strengthen democratic institutions and assist in postwar reconstruction and the return of refugees, to support de-mining and economic development, and to provide educational and training opportunities. The U.S. has also provided guidance and support to the Croatian judicial and military sectors to further Croatia's integration in Euro-Atlantic institutions.