Estonia once again topped the Civil Society Organization (CSO) Sustainability Index for Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia for 2016, published by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The annual report contains information about 29 countries from Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia.
Estonia has been at the top of the index for years, meaning it is the country with the most vital civil society. Private giving is becoming more ingrained in society and volunteerism is also on the rise. CSOs remain active advocates, demonstrating their ability to stand up for the interests of civil society, their communities and society at large. Perceptions of civil society have also shifted, with many regarding civic action as an integral oart of life, not just something relevant to CSOs. In the fresh index, Poland placed second after Estonia, while Latvia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Lithuania followed. The viability of CSOs was deemed weakest in Belarus, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.
