Framework agreements with four Icelandic organisations have strengthened Iceland’s strategic partnerships with civil society organisations (CSOs) and built their institutional and financial capacities. These new framework agreements with Iceland’s key partner CSOs are an important shift towards more stable partnerships and co-operation based on mutual trust, accountability and continuous dialogue.
Iceland’s strategic partnerships strengthen civil society capacity
Abstract
Civil society organisations (CSOs) play a key role in achieving sustainable development. Iceland’s development co-operation policy 2024-2028 states that the objective of Iceland’s support is to “strengthen the crucial role played by civil society [in the field of development co-operation and humanitarian assistance], including in protecting the human rights of the poorest and those facing discrimination.” Iceland’s CSOs are an important partner for delivering the country’s development co-operation and humanitarian assistance, and they work to directly support local organisations in partner countries. However, due to the relatively small size of Icelandic CSOs, capacity building is needed to help them strengthen their internal controls and address certain risks related to managing official development assistance (ODA).
A 2021 evaluation of Iceland’s CSOs strategy and previous peer reviews of Iceland’s development co-operation both recommended establishing framework agreements in order to strengthen the partnership between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and CSOs. Iceland’s 2022 CSO co-operation strategy reflects how this was factored in and underlines the importance of good and transparent partnerships with capable and active CSOs, clear and accessible rules on grants and procedures, and focuses on accountability and monitoring.
Based on these recommendations, Iceland set up a process for developing framework agreements for both humanitarian assistance and development co-operation with Icelandic CSOs. The process for developing these agreements involved:
A requirement for interested CSOs to undertake an audit and due diligence study by an independent external consultancy company, assessing three primary factors:
CSOs’ institutional capacity, including management, organisation and human resources
CSOs’ management of funds, standards and controls
the expected role of the MFA in managing co-operation with CSOs and the framework agreements.
Targeted recommendations for all participating CSOs, which improved their institutional and financial management. The conclusions of the study were used to assess the feasibility of establishing a framework agreement with each CSO; each CSO received a final report, with a summary report going to the MFA.
Training for CSOs in internal controls, delivered by the external consultancy company. The training focused on how to set up an effective control system and included good practices for addressing the most common challenges.
The framework agreements with Icelandic CSOs generate the following benefits:
Partnerships between the MFA and CSOs are reinforced through multi-year framework agreements. Following a positive internal assessment of the initial agreements, a second round of framework agreements (2025-2028) is now in place with four Icelandic CSOs. At the same time, smaller CSOs that do not benefit from framework agreements can still apply for grants through open calls, without having to compete with those that do.
Internal financial management and control of CSOs has been strengthened. Regardless of whether the exercise resulted in a framework agreement being awarded, all participating CSOs recognised the benefits and usefulness of this initiative, which enabled them to identify areas for further improvement in strengthening their internal financial management and control.
Greater predictability. Thanks to the three-year agreement, CSOs know their annual financial allocations in advance and can hire professionals to support programme implementation and longer-term planning.
Framework agreements with key partner CSOs are important for more stable partnerships and co-operation based on mutual trust and accountability.
Conducting financial and due diligence audits as part of the application process makes it possible to increase strategic co-operation with CSOs.
Unearmarked funds give CSOs flexibility in meeting specific needs and priorities, including responding to humanitarian crises – within the confines of Iceland’s development co-operation objectives and the Sustainable Development Goals.
MFA (2024), “Iceland Development Co-operation Policy 2024-2028”, International Development Cooperation, https://www.government.is/topics/foreign-affairs/international-development-cooperation/.
MFA (2022), Civil Society Organisation Co-operation Strategy, www.government.is/library/01-Ministries/Ministry-for-Foreign-Affairs/Int.-Dev.-Coop/Publications/EN - Civil Society Organization Cooperation Strategy.pdf.
NIRAS (2021), Evaluation of the Icelandic CSO Strategy, www.government.is/lisalib/getfile.aspx?itemid=2f01b29b-7feb-11eb-8131-005056bc8c60.
OECD (2024), “Enabling Civil Society”, Fundamentals, Development Co-operation TIPs ∙ Tools, Insights, Practices, https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/development-co-operation-tips-tools-insights-practices_be69e0cf-en/enabling-civil-society_7a182c48-en.html.
OECD (2023), OECD Development Co-operation Peer Reviews: Iceland 2023, OECD Development Co-operation Peer Reviews, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/a1552817-en.
OECD (2021), DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance, https://legalinstruments.oecd.org/en/instruments/OECD-LEGAL-5021.
OECD (2020), Development Assistance Committee Members and Civil Society, The Development Dimension, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/51eb6df1-en.
OECD, “Civil society engagement in development co-operation”, Development Co-operation, https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/development-co-operation.html#context.
To learn more about Iceland’s development co-operation see:
OECD, "Iceland", in Development Co-operation Profiles, https://read.oecd.org/10.1787/5da76f8b-en.
More In Practice examples from Iceland are available on Development Co-operation TIPs • Tools Insights Practices.
