Structure
  • Introduction
  • NGOs in Iceland: Past and Present
  • How did the economic crisis of 2008 affect 
   the third sector and its relations with the 
   government?
  • The changing nature of the volunteer 
   sector-(Research from 2013)
  A short introduction to the 
  Icelandic volunteer sector
  • Icelandic society
    – Agrarian society
    – Farming economy
    – Urbanization
  • The volunteer sector in Iceland traces its 
   roots to the 19th century.
              Historical overview of the 
                   Icelandic third sector
    •   The “general” trend in accordance with 
        international developments
    •   In the 19th century and first decades of the 20th 
        century non-profits played a leading role both in 
        establishing and providing health and social 
        services – with or without limited government 
        support
    •   Fundamental changes in the relationship occurred 
        following the establishment of the welfare state, 
        economic growth and social changes 
    •   Following a large expansion of the government in 
        the 1950s and 1960s the government began to 
        dominate some areas such as hospitals and general 
        health services
    •   Several types of public services were left to non-
        profits
      Historical overview (cont.)
      •  Non-profits increased in numbers in the 60s and 
         70s, especially social movements and advocacy 
         groups. The advocative role of non-profits in 
         Iceland became strong in the 1960s and 1970s, 
         with creation of human rights organizations
      •  In the 80s an effort was made to create formal 
         contractual relations -  which had not existed 
         previously – some “tools of government” such as 
         tax incentives were left out
      •  The small and reactive public administration seems 
         to have had limited capability to play a leading role 
         in the partnership (administrative capacity)
      •  A tight but informal social network of key players 
         created complex relations early in the 20th century 
      •  Different historical paths depending on area of 
         activity
   NGOs fulfilling Public tasks
   • Elderly care(approx. 60%)
   • Mass care volunteering
     – The Icelandic emergency system consists of 
      state, municipalities and third sector elements
   • Various welfare task handled by different 
    NGOs
     – Influential disability society, both umbrella with 
      associate societies.
     – The Icelandic Red Cross and more...
   • Other NGOs...