SALVADORAN CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS MUDDLE AHEAD

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 000514

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KWMN KOCI SOCI ES
SUBJECT: SALVADORAN CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS MUDDLE AHEAD



1. SUMMARY: El Salvador's most prominent civil society
organizations grew out of the nation's 12-year armed
conflict, but many international donors have switched their
focus elsewhere since the 1992 end of hostilities. Most
Salvadoran NGOs are struggling to replace lost international
support with local funding, and lack of communication and
coordination among such groups is hampering their ability to
fulfill their missions. END SUMMARY.

Background
--------------


2. From December, 2005 through February, 2006 poloff met
with the leadership of ten local civil society groups, most
of which were formed during the Salvadoran civil war.
Although the groups are primarily local in membership,
funding is generally derived from international sources,
especially from Europe. Historically, El Salvador has
enjoyed no strong tradition of participation in charitable or
civil organizations, and unlike the U.S., few prominent
figures are publicly associated with such groups. The
groups, selected to provide a wide variety of viewpoints and
agendas, included the University of Central America's
Institute for Human Rights (IDHUCA),the Norma Virginia
Guirola Institute of Women,s Studies (CEMUJER),and the
highly-respected Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and
Social Development (FUSADES),the nation's best-known "think
tank". The Salvadoran Indigenous Movement (MAIS) was
included, as was the Olof Palme Foundation, which works to
improve the welfare of poor and homeless children. COCIVICA
is a strategic alliance of local NGOs involved in monitoring
of elections and increasing civil participation in
government. The ADESGOLFO, ASIGOLFO, and AINU associations
are devoted to the development of La Union Department and the
Gulf of Fonseca region. "Tercera Palabra" is a group of
local businessmen in the initial stages of forming a new
think-tank.

Current Conditions
--------------


3. The above NGOs operate freely in El Salvador without
government interference; the biggest impediments to their
achieving their goals appear to be societal attitudes and
inadequate funding, communication, and cooperation. Given
the lack of Salvadorans' contributions to such groups, most
are supported primarily by international donors; several
cited a decline in Swiss government support in recent years.
Some have had success raising money from new sources, but
with the notable exception of FUSADES (which is supported by
private-sector funds),nearly every group inquired about the
availability of USG funding.

Poor visibility and communication
--------------


4. MAIS indicated that poloff was the first diplomat who had
visited their offices, and outlined the traditional patterns
of discrimination faced by indigenous people (see reftel A).
Poloff,s first meeting with MAIS representatives occurred
against the backdrop of Hurricane Stan (October 2005),during
which MAIS experienced serious difficulties in coordinating
GOES relief efforts for remote indigenous communities.
CEMUJER complained of poor relationships with other NGOs
working on women's issues; they reported that their support
for legalizing abortion in El Salvador has created friction
with the Salvadoran Catholic Church. La Union NGOs
ADESGOLFO, ASIGOLFO, and AINU receive funding from Japanese
aid agency JICA; the Japanese are the primary financiers of
the new deepwater port currently under construction there.
Although the three organizations work in the same region and
share similar missions, there appeared to be no communication
or coordination of efforts among them.

Weak Finances and Poor Management
--------------


5. Financial concerns plague many of the individuals with
whom poloff spoke. Several organizations, including
COCIVICA, stated that they were changing their proposals to
more closely match the funding opportunities from
international donors. Emblematic of Salvadoran NGOs'
problems with poor management is the plight of the Olof Palme
Foundation, which in 2004 hired a new director who they also
appointed as legal counsel. After the new director began
firing longtime employees, changing objectives, and taking
control of finances, the foundation's concerned board took
steps to freeze the organization's resources, but the new
director's near-absolute administrative, legal, and financial
control has resulted in the freezing of more than USD 120,000
in assets. The case remains mired in the Salvadoran court
system, and inasmuch as years may pass before the board will
be able to access frozen assets, they may be forced to reopen
the organization under a new name.

Outlook
--------------


6. A group of local businessmen and academics has recently
formed a new think-tank, to be called &Tercer Palabra8,
membership in which will be by invitation only, and limited
to prominent men and women in diverse fields. These invited
members must be well-known public figures with reputations
above reproach; based on members recruited so far, it appears
that Tercer Palabra will be dominated by the views of
highly-regarded Salvadoran academic figures.


7. COMMENT: Salvadoran civil society organizations, most of
which were forged in the crucible of the country's 12-year
civil war, have not evolved as rapidly as have other sectors
of Salvadoran society. Lack of communication, cooperation,
and coordination among NGOs of similar focus squanders their
limited resources in duplicative efforts. Additionally, new
areas of the world now in crisis demand the attention and
resources of the international donors originally essential to
Salvadoran NGOs' survival. Salvadoran civil society
organizations must change their focus, and concentrate
greater effort at garnering local support in order to succeed
in their long-term goals; some may not be successful in the
transition that lies ahead. END COMMENT.
Barclay