by Reinhard Millner
Out of long and intense interaction with a substantial pool of top-level leaders in European Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) a growing need is identified among these leaders to continuously challenge their own basic assumptions. The CSO leaders also expressed an interest in further development of formal knowledge and to expand their personal networks. With a firm base in frontline research, the aim of the current initiative is to strengthen and enhance this strategic and analytical capacity of European Civil Society Organisations.

Therefore, four European University Centres have designed an Executive Strategy Development Programme for CSO decision makers as a part of the CINEFOGO Network of Excellence. The EPICS programme is delivered by leading European Scholars and aims to provide relevant analysis and solutions to strategic and managerial challenges faced by CSO leaders and managers.

On the European level the programme will contribute to a strengthened and joint European identity of CSO policy makers. It will also enable Civil Society Organizations to enhance their opportunities to learn from other key players in the European field. Filip Wijkström, Associate Professor at the Stockholm School of Economics explains: "This initiative aims at contributing to a stronger civil society as part in an ongoing European integration process, where improved analytical skills are needed, and where new capacities addressing mutual understanding of frameworks, differences and similarities of all kinds of European organizations are required”.

The programme displays a mix of participants from different CSOs and countries which will thus gather challenging experiences, and help build professional contacts and potential future strategic partners. The participants will also meet and work with scholars from a variety of academic disciplines and research interests.
EPICS is designed to integrate and bridge the different modules as well as to provide links between theory and practice. It is offered by the following academic institutions from March 2009 to November 2009:

• The Economic Research Institute, Stockholm School of Economics (Sweden)
• Centre for Social Investment, Heidelberg University (Germany)
• Research Institute for Nonprofit Organisations, Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien (Austria)
• Centre for Nonprofit Management, Trinity College Dublin (Ireland)

Nina Palm is a future EPICS-participant from ‘Bilda’, a Swedish study association. Nina states: “Europe is transforming, and it is affecting us in many ways. We need to find ways to navigate and to build bridges across cultural and geographical borders. CSOs need to learn from each others differences as well as similarities. This will also help preserving independence from strong market actors and public authorities”.

Another future participant, Stefan Wallner from ‘Caritas Austria’ (Caritas is working with humanitarian aid and is a member of the International Emergency Aid Network ´Caritas Internationalis´ which consists of 162 national Caritas-Organisations) sees “a serious crisis of the European political institutions, mainly caused by nationally elected politicians, that strengthened the "nation first" principle”. Stefan claimes: “it is the civil society that has to think EU-wide, European-wide and global. The current economic crisis and the confusion after different national elections need a transnational and transsectoral cooperation for reform” and it is “the cooperation of NGOs that can be a model for other sectors”.

Reflecting on the programme Nina Palm adds: “In relation to this, leadership and management are two crucial aspects for how CSOs will develop in the future. As a leader it is also important to get a chance to network and to learn from others, as well as to contribute to and reflect upon my own experiences. EPICS combines all these aspects in a very interesting way.”

John R. Healy , Adjunct Professor at the Centre for Nonprofit Management, Trinity College Dublin and former CEO and President of The Atlantic Philanthropies summarizes: “In initiating EPICS, we seek to address these challenges faced by CSOs and to build a cohort of leaders who are engaged at a strategic level. Learning from others, understanding different perspectives, and challenging the prevailing thinking can only benefit the civil society sectors of the participating countries. The EPICS programme will enable leaders to develop European and global visions. It will create a learning network for civil society leaders across Europe. And it will position those leaders to shape the development of European civil society during the coming decades".

As indicated, the EPICS Programme has set ambitious goals, and has raised high expections. We are looking forward to fulfil both of these.