Scotland CSI Report: Executive Summary. Downloadable in pdf[394KB]
Scotland CSI Report: Full Report. Downloadable in pdf[1.0MB].
Project Evaluation for Scotland: Executive Summary. Downloadable in pdf[61KB].

An Assessment of Scottish Civil Society: A Strong Value-driven but Fragmented Civil Society Gaining Confidence in a Post-Devolution Scotland

The CIVICUS Civil Society Index (CSI) is a global initiative to develop a preliminary assessment of the state of civil society in different countries. In Scotland, it was led by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) with a National Advisory Group (NAG) drawn from people across a wide range of civil society sectors, such as the voluntary sector, charitable trusts and foundations, trade unions, professional associations, faith institutions, international NGOs, cooperatives and academia.

The NAG defined civil society as "the act of associating to advance common interests and concerns, but not motivated by personal profit or statutory obligations." What are the particular benefits of the CSI in Scotland? The CSI findings could be used to set common goals for civil society. They should be taken as a way of raising informed debate, and in particular as a way of shining a new light on existing issues, rather than a rigorous assessment. This assessment is meant to be an iterative process.

It is valuable for Scottish civil society to be self-reflective, not just doing, but also looking at what has been done, and sharing this good practice internationally.