\n\tGrowing Gap in Civil Society Sustainability in the Region: USAID Releases the 18th Edition of the Civil Society Organization Sustainability Index (CSOSI) for Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia.<\/b><\/p>\n
\n\tWashington, D.C. – The Civil Society Organization (CSO) sectors in the twenty-nine countries covered in the CSO Sustainability Index for Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia continue to be highly diverse. On one end of the spectrum is Estonia, which records the highest level of sustainability of any country measured in all the regions covered by the CSO Sustainability Index. With a population of just 1.3 million, the more than 30,000 CSOs in the country continue to benefit from a supportive legal environment, infrastructure, and public image and are strong advocates and service providers. On the other end of the spectrum are countries where CSOs operate in highly restrictive legal environments, with limited access to funding and virtually no space for independent advocacy. This division occurs across countries—in terms of vastly different legal and operating environments—and within countries—where different CSOs are subject to different restrictions and benefits. CSOs also face several barriers to improving their public image and financial viability.<\/p>\n