Civil Society Organization Sustainability Index 2021 for Asia: Sri Lanka Country Report

Abstract

The Civil Society Organization Sustainability Index (CSOSI) assesses the sustainability of the CSO sector across several countries from different regions. Since its beginning in 1997, it has expanded from covering 18 countries in Europe and Eurasia Region to 72 countries in 2021, including the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia.

The index has been assessing the civil society sector in Sri Lanka since 2014. By using standard indicators to collect data each year, the CSOSI allows users to track developments and identify trends in the CSO sector over time. This index facilitates cross-country and cross-region comparisons while highlighting the advances and setbacks in seven key components or “dimensions” of the sustainability of civil society sectors. The dimensions include legal environment, organizational capacity, financial viability, advocacy, service provision, sectoral infrastructure, and public image. This report finds that in 2021 Sri Lanka’s overall Sustainability Index recorded a slight improvement to a score of 4.7 from the 4.8 recorded in the previous year while remaining under the category of ‘Sustainability Evolving’. Sri Lanka participates in the index for the eighth time, and Verité Research acts as the local implementing partner for this initiative.