Quality Assurance System for Non-profit Organisations SOKNO

1. Quality Assurance System for Non-profit OrganisationsSOKNO Association for Civil Society Development SMART Zagreb, 14-15th October 2010.

2. Quality Assurance System - SOKNO? SOKNO is designed to enable non-profit organisations to develop a quality system which: • Addresses all key areas of organisational life • Promotes continuous improvement, and • Provides a useful promotional tool with beneficiaries and donors

3. SOKNO- Development process • Preparation of SOKNO since 2002. • Second edition 2007. PQASSO Practical Quality Assurance System for Small Organization OKNO Quality Assurance for Non-profit Organisations SOKNO Quality Assurance System for Non-profit Organisations

4. SOKNO – Quality Standards (13) • Planning for Quality • Good governance • Management • User-centered Services • Staff • Volunteers • Training and Development • Managing Money • Managing Resources • Managing Activities • Networking and Advocacy • Monitoring and evaluation • Results

5. Quality Standard • Standard • Benefits of the standards for the organisation • Essential Definitions • Levels of achievement • Examples of suggested evidence • Self-assessment • Action planning

6. Levels of achievement Level 1 Helps you lay a sound foundation on which your organization can develop. Level 2 Helps you build on what you have achieved in level 1 by developing further in all areas of organisational life. Level 3 Helps you maintain good practice throughout your organisation.

7. Implementing SOKNO • Individually or with SOKNO mentor • SOKNO working group • Quality Champion • Levels of achievement vs. Time • Dynamics of implementation • Self-assessment vs. Certification

8. History of SOKNO development and implementation SOKNO development financed as a part of the CroNGO programme, USAID/AED 21 SOKNO certified mentors (5 licenced trainers for mentors by CES) 67 CSO’s implemented SOKNO 2002 -2007

9. 2007 to 2009 there was no activity “Agreement on development cooperation through systematic investement in civil society development – SOKNO” 200 SOKNO manuals distributed / 3rd edition in preparation 20 CSO’stated interest for SOKNO implementation with mentorship 52 CSO’s received introductory/ presentational workshop 16 persons educated for SOKNO presenters 2009 - present

10. Survey on implementation of SOKNO October 2010, SMART • 32 out of 43 CSO’s continued with implementation since 2002 • Most CSO’s are on the 2nd level of achievement • Most common challenges in the implementation are: continuance, frequency of meetings, finances, time, turnover of staff and volunteers in the CSO • Reasons for stopping the implementation: lack of human resources, switch to another QAS, decreasing activity of CSO

11. CSO’s motivation to start implementing SOKNO

12. Benefits of implementing SOKNO

13. Lessons learned • Minimum requirements for SOKNO implementation – operational budget (€7000- €8000), one employee, space • It takes at least one year to go through all 13 quality areas • Should build on what organisation is already doing well • Timing for implementation is crucial • Investment in mentor showed crucial • Limit the paperwork • Implementing SOKNO is as a continual process

14. Further steps/challenges in promoting and developing SOKNO in Croatia • Permanent promotion – as part of the organisational development of CSO’s • Promoting SOKNO in the non-profit sector and within the donor community • Financially support implementation of SOKNO with the mentors assistance • Certification of SOKNO

15. Thank you for the attention... Blaža Polića 2/4, Rijeka Tel. 051/332-750 Fax. 051/320-792 smart@smart.hr www.smart.hr