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A Civic Chamber and Roscongress Innosocium Foundation social platform session on the topic of “The Role of Public Organizations in the Creation and Implementation of Russian Social Policy” took place at the end-of-year Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation Community Forum in Moscow.

The influence of non-profit organizations on Russian social policy continues to grow though they are not adequately involved in the planning and discussion of thematic national projects and government programmes. As a result, social activists find their resources primarily involved in fulfilling tasks that have already been established and not in helping establish the agenda or determining the priorities of social policy. This, in turn, prevents people from perceiving public organizations as a tool for real problem solving. They know little about the work of NPOs, and the incomplete understanding they may possess is often distorted by headlines. The third sector’s image is largely shaped by “fundraising” texts that do not reflect the systemic results of NPOs and the positive changes they bring about in society.

Chairman of the Civic Chamber Commission on Charity, Civic Education and Social Responsibility Alexander Tkachenko and Civic Chamber Secretary Valery Fadeyev moderated the session on “The Role of Public Organizations in the Creation and Implementation of Russian Social Policy”.

NPOs must be more actively involved in the discussion of state programmes and the popularization of Russian experience in the resolution of social problems abroad. At the same time, efforts should also be made – especially in work with the media - to inform people about the good work done by NPOs and the specific positive changes that are occurring as a result. The moral issues surrounding media coverage of social issues are directly related to public trust for NPOs, and the development of corporate rules of ethics among journalists should contribute to raising public awareness what public organizations are capable of.

“Public organizations form the foundation of civil society. Our job is to talk about the work carried out by non-profit organizations and to build trust in public organizations because the activities of the non-profit sector largely determine the logic behind the state’s further development”, - said Chairman of the Civic Chamber Commission on Charity, Civic Education and Social Responsibility Alexander Tkachenko.

“The potential for a social partnership between NPOs and the state has not been fully examined; this is not about transferring additional preferences to the sector, but about more efficient use of the what’s already in place. Thanks to the joint session held with the Civic Chamber, we were able to talk about the outlook and contribution that public organizations can make to the future of the country and the Innosocium Foundation, the social platform of the Roscongress Foundation, is actively working to this end”, - commented Deputy CEO of the Roscongress Foundation and Director of the Innosocium Foundation Elena Marinina.

01.11.2019