National and local governments

These are the official authorities of the countries in which the Soros foundations are working. They are present at various levels - national, regional, district, and municipal. Government officials may be elected, appointed, or employed as civil servants.

Many areas of the work of the Soros foundations involve some kind of oversight, regulation, or reform effort of the government and parliament. National and local governments can be your worst enemy or your strongest ally. They can create obstacles in developing and implementing a program, or they can be a valuable partner and perhaps even crucial to the long-term sustainability of your effort.

National foundations are well aware of the realities, advantages, and disadvantages of their own country's governments. Obviously, the relation between the NGO community and the government, the relation between the national foundation and the authorities, and even the image of George Soros in the country are factors in building a partnership.

It is important, wherever politically possible, for the national foundation to have a working relationship and regular consultation with the authorities. Informing the government about the Soros foundations' activities might help to avoid suspicions or misperceptions and could even lead to partnership opportunities.

In what ways can the Soros foundations and governments be partners?

• Public financing can be used to co-fund, expand, or ensure sustainability of programs initiated by the national foundation.
• Government officials can donate their time and expertise to the design, implementation, or evaluation of a national foundation's program.
• The national foundation can launch a pilot project at the request of the government.
• The national foundation and the government can jointly develop and implement a program that promotes the building of open society.
• The national foundation can provide resources, including expertise, for the reform and restructuring of a sector by the government.
• Resources of the national foundation can be used to stimulate extra-budgetary matching funds from the government and parliament.
• When a government cannot provide funds, it can allocate land, use of facilities, media time, or staff to a donor partnership.
• Governments can waive or reduce taxes and duties for efforts of the Soros foundations.
• Governments can publicize the programs or requests of the national foundation through official channels, often at no charge.
• Government institutions, parliamentary bodies, and the national foundation can organize seminars jointly on major national issues or policy questions.

As with other donor partners, it is important to acknowledge publicly the successful collaboration of the government and the Soros foundations. Each national foundation will know best the sensitivities, advantages, and likely consequences of a public and visible cooperation with the government.