Unprecedented research by Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA), published this Monday (13), presents a survey that covers the universe of more than 1 million organizations in the Civil society (OSCs) formally created over a period of 120 years in the country. According to the survey Dynamics of Third sector in Brazil: Trajectories of creation and closure of organizations in the Civil society from 1901 to 2020, the majority profile of these CSOs is private associations (85%), based in the Southeast region (40%), with an average time of activity of 17.6 years, focused on the areas of “development and defense of rights and interests” (40.0% ) and “religion” (24.6%).
The study – produced by Ipea researcher Janine Mello and Ana Camila Ribeiro, consultant at Commission Economic for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) – estimates that among the CSOs currently active, 38% are focused on activities defending rights and interests, and 27% on activities of a religious nature.
According to the publication, the movement to formalize CSOs gained strength from the 1960s onwards and reached its peak during the 2000s: 99% of the CSOs created were formalized after 1960, probably as a result of legislation that regulated the General Taxpayer Registry (CGC), an instrument prior to the emergence, in 1998, of the National Register of Legal Entities (CNPJ).
Regarding closures, the research reveals that, of 1,161,354 CSOs created throughout the 120-year period analyzed, 345,678 – equivalent to a third – had their activities closed. The analysis also shows that, of every hundred social assistance CSOs opened, 49 closed their activities, a number that drops to 46 in organizations in other areas of activity.
The analysis concludes that it is necessary to increase trust, Transparency and the legitimacy of CSOs in society, revaluing the potential of interactions between the State and CSOs in the execution of public policies, better understanding how CSOs contribute to strengthening democracy and what role should be played by them in shaping the country's public policy agenda .
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