Capacity Development within ENGOs: A case study of Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, Friends of the Earth Sweden and Keep Sweden Tidy Foundation

Abstract: This thesis explores the capacities, challenges and differences of three Swedish environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs). It uses a case study method to examine the ENGOs Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, Friends of the Earth Sweden and Keep Sweden Tidy Foundation. The study will explore what capacities and challenges the organizations have to sustain and develop, using capacity development as an analytical framework. Qualitative methods are used for gathering data. The findings of this study indicates that all three of the organizations have several capacities that is suggested by the theory capacity development, such as monitoring and evaluating the organization, developed communication to donors and supporters, accountability, clear aim and goals, etc. These three ENGOs is well established in the society of Sweden and have been active for a minimum of three decades. However, there are always capacities and strategies that can develop and be more effective, as well as addressing organizational challenges. The challenges founded in this study that all three organizations have in common, is the issues of being dependent on external funding and donations, and the communication between branches of the organizations as well as among members of the staff. Increased communication could better unify the organization and less dependence of external funding and donations could make the organizations more stable as well as sustainable.