Which are the challenges and opportunities for the Third Sector in Europe?

"The Third Sector in Europe: Challenges, Opportunities and Required Leadership Skills", is the title of the report published on 22nd September by the Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien, where a group of experts came up with an exhaustive analysis by country of the current state of the Third Sector in Europe, its future challenges and opportunities.

The document concludes that, as a common denominator for all States, the Third Sector is operating in highly dynamic environments with constant changes that are characterized by their volatility, uncertainty and complexity. Taking this framework into account, the main challenges and opportunities at a global level relate to issues such as financing, innovation and business intelligence, management of human resources, public image and trust in the sector, responsibility and governance, cooperation and legality issues.

On another note, the report focuses on the challenges that are more specific to some regions or States. For instance, the rich countries in northern and central Europe present very different situations than states in the south, which have been more deeply affected by the recent economic crisis, or countries from the east, which present extraordinary conditions that are the product of a long-lasting transition from communism to capitalism through recent decades.

The document also highlights the importance of developing leadership and business skills in the Third Sector as a key element to increase the contribution of this sector when it comes to meet the basic needs of society.

For further information specific to each State, you may read the report.