Digital Services for Non-Commercial Organizations

KEY CONCLUSIONS

State institutions are already well-placed to implement digital mechanisms for interacting with non‑profit organizations

“Digital mechanisms are somewhat more complex in public administration than they are in, say, the commercial sector. <...> We are faced with numerous challenges to do with a certain sense of inertia and bureaucracy. Primarily, however, this is down to the fact that everything is subject to rather complex regulation. At the same time, the digitalization of public administration is not a straightforward process. <...> There are also some specificities related to interacting with the non-profit sector, and there are many factors which we need to consider, such as security,” Andrey Fridshtand, Director of the Department of Informatization and Digital Transformation, Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation.

“In reality, interaction happens on paper. <...> The amendments which provide for electronic interaction are set to come [into force – ed.] in July 2023. That means we will exchange documents electronically. <...> In terms of technology, the Ministry of Justice and the Federal Tax Service are ready for this,” Denis Kuzmichev, Head of Taxpayer Registration and Accounting Department, Federal Tax Service (FTS of Russia).

PROBLEMS

Workers in the non-profit sector require training in order to enhance digital security

“Around 67% of non-profits are unable to afford training for their staff. Why is training important? People tend to be drawn to the non-profit sector not because of professional ambition per se, but because they feel it is their calling. <...> Training is an important aspect of raising efficiency at non-profit organizations. <...> We run an online initiative. <...> This includes a course enabling non-profit organizations to search for resources. <...> Digitalization is another aspect that can raise efficiency, <...> and emotional burnout is also an issue,” Olga Zanko, Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on the Development of Civil Society, and Issues of Public and Religious Associations.

“We conducted a survey of more than 8,000 people working in the non-profit sector and compiled an overview of the results. <...> Sixty-five per cent of non-profit organizations do not employ anyone in the field of information and digital security, and 82% of them do not use any digital and information security services provided by outside organizations. What does this tell us? It tells us that this is a blind spot. <...> Without help from outside organizations, it can be very difficult to ensure information and digital security. That is because a certain degree of technical knowledge is required. <...> This side of things also requires working with employees <...> and involves additional documents which should remain inside the organization,” Olga Zanko, Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on the Development of Civil Society, and Issues of Public and Religious Associations.

SOLUTIONS

Creating a unified register of non-profit organizations that will offer privileges

“Our colleagues at the Federal Tax Service maintain a unified register outlining support for small and medium-sized enterprises. It strikes me that this is exactly the sort of thing we should be working towards. <...> The desire to create a unified register outlining support for socially-focused non-profits is there,” Elena Ivanitskaya, Deputy Director of the Department for the Development of the Social Sphere and Non-Profit Sector, Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.

“We support the creation of a unified register and believe we should be moving in this direction. However, in addition to this, we need to be able to offer additional bonuses and privileges to non‑profits, because these are currently very limited. The most substantial support was offered during the pandemic. Organizations in the register were exempted from a portion of their tax obligations. <...> Support needs to be offered to non-profits in the register,” Olga Zanko, Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on the Development of Civil Society, and Issues of Public and Religious Associations.

“The situation surrounding COVID-19 is very indicative. Back then, the commercial and non-profit sectors found themselves working in constrained conditions, and interaction was hampered. At that time, we greatly improved the ability to interact with non-profit organizations electronically, and the percentage of registrations done electronically grew. We anticipate that there is the potential to interact electronically. We are making every effort to boost this side of things. Our aim is to reduce the time taken to provide services. <...> We also plan to increase the number of documents which can be provided in electronic form,” Andrey Fridshtand, Director of the Department of Informatization and Digital Transformation, Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation.

For more information, visit the Roscongress Foundation’s Information and Analytical System at roscongress.org/en

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