The existence and operation of non-governmental organisations is a crucial condition for the comprehensive reinforcement of plurality and democracy in a society. Through involvement in non-governmental organisations and other forms of civil society organisation, individuals can have an impact on the overall and sustainable development of society, the increase in social welfare, quality of life and social security.

The government of the Republic of Slovenia recognises the importance of the professional and effective functioning of non-governmental organisations, and is therefore making efforts to strengthen the basic and other conditions for their faster and more effective development. The government will continue to be open and transparent in its cooperation with non-governmental organisations and will respect the principle of independence in the setting of goals. The activities of non-governmental organisations are of great value to society in many spheres; the government is therefore planning to support the transfer of public functions and powers to the non-governmental sector in cases where non-governmental organisations are more successful and more efficient.

In Slovenia, as in many other countries, the implementation of various services is being transferred from the public to the private sector. Some of these services can be carried out by non-governmental organisations, which often provide the initiative for the provision of certain necessary services themselves; after identifying the public interest in the service, the government will often then provide subsidies. This is particularly effective and successful in the sphere of social welfare, where user-friendly projects of high quality are formulated.

One of the aims of the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs in the field of social protection is therefore to devise new approaches to tackling social hardship. In this area a substantial role is played by non-governmental organisations in developing new projects that are user-friendly and adjusted to the users’ needs. Non-governmental organisations are expected to design a comprehensive national social welfare system in collaboration with the public sector. Due to their strong civil society links, non-governmental organisations can articulate the needs of individuals and population groups very precisely; projects should therefore mostly be carried out by non-governmental organisations.

The ministry is supporting the development of non-governmental organisations, regulating the legal bases for their activities, determining areas of operation for the non-governmental sector in the sphere of social welfare, providing and redistributing funds for their operation, publishing tenders for the subsidising of projects, granting work permits, and ensuring a high standard of project implementation. The ministry has been supporting non-governmental organisations by subsidising the implementation of social welfare projects since 1993. There was a substantial increase in funding after 1996, when approximately SIT 136 million was set aside for supplementary social welfare projects. The National Programme of Social Welfare emphasises the importance of social welfare projects and brings more stability to the funding process.  The majority of projects are implemented by non-governmental organisations; public institutions may occasionally apply to carry out projects but not as part of their public service.

The level of funds has increased over the years, reaching 1.254.271.928,00 tolars in 2005. The planned amount in 2006 is 1.256.483.000,00 tolars. After the success of a number of projects and providers which had demonstrated a professional approach and whose achievements had been considerable, the ministry decided in 1998 to start multi-annual financing. The first five-year contracts were signed in 1998, thus ensuring stable financing for certain providers. Further multi-annual contracts were signed in the years that followed. All projects received a five-year renewal of subsidies in following years at the end of their contracts, on the basis of a public tender.

Multi-annual subsidised projects:

In 2006 the ministry shall therefore subsidise over 60 projects on the basis of a resolution on multi-annual subsidies. All selected projects constitute an important addition to the activities provided by the public service network. By signing multi-annual subsidy contracts, the ministry has supported and ensured the new employment of approximately 190 specialists in various fields and the involvement of volunteers, who contribute to the higher quality of project implementation.

Projects are divided into four groups:

• Social rehabilitation of addicts – prevention of risks and problems relating to drug-taking and other addictions, reduction in social damage caused by drug-taking and reduction in the number of addicts. Projects take place in day centres, therapy groups, group living environments, and counselling and information offices.
• Experimental and developmental social welfare projects – centres for drop-in or full-day treatment and care of children and young people deprived of normal family life, specialist prevention programmes for children with problems that have already been diagnosed, special telephone helplines for children and young people, intergenerational and other self-help groups, reception centres and shelters for homeless people, and other projects aimed at eliminating social hardship.
• Mental health projects – for people with long-term mental health problems (day centres, counselling and information offices, advocacy programmes, self-help groups, programmes for relatives of people with long-term mental health problems). 
• Centres and shelters for women and mothers – networks of centres and shelters for women and mothers, psychological and social help programmes for abused women and children.

Alongside the stable subsidising of multi-annual projects, to which the main share of funds is allocated, the ministry also subsidises a number of other projects based on annual public tenders, some smaller in scope (A-projects) and others broader (B-projects). As a rule, 150 to 200 different projects are awarded subsidies by the ministry each year following the tender. 

The ministry shall continue its support for non-governmental organisations through annual public tenders and other forms of cooperation.  It is important to stress that in accordance with the National Programme of Social Welfare, attention shall also be focused on extending the project network to new areas, improving the professional approach to particular projects and adapting certain projects to the specific needs of their users. Equally, the role of voluntary work is increasing with the development of the non-governmental sector and also the public recognition of the contribution of voluntary work to society.  Finally, local communities must become more strongly involved in this sphere of activity; this is a condition for the development of projects that address specific local needs.