Four NGOs will get to share €50,350 for their ongoing work in fighting corruption, cronyism, squandering of public resources and abuse of power. The money will be provided from a fund managed by the Pontis Foundation, the TASR newswire reported.
Specifically, Via Iuris is set to receive €20,000, Transparency International Slovensko €13,000, Fair-Play Alliance €10,350 and the Health Policy Institute €7,000, PR manager for Pontis Petra Nagyová told TASR.
Citing a lack of funds affecting NGOs in Slovakia, members of the Business Leaders Forum, a group in part initiated by Pontis, created the Fund for Transparent Slovakia as part of its For A Transparent Slovakia grant programme, to support organisations that engage in the public fight against corruption, cronyism and power abuse.
“Often, they draw attention to the negative side of how public matters are dealt with, which would be easily overlooked by people otherwise,” said Martin Slosiarik from the Focus polling agency, as quoted by TASR. “Regardless of how useless the function of watchdogs might seem to some, they are vital to a healthy democratic society.”
A total of 11 NGOs applied for funding from the For A Transparent Slovakia grant programme, with the winners being selected by a panel of experts, TASR wrote.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
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