Western Balkans nonprofits face significant digital barriers, including a lack of digital skills and essential hardware needs. Many organizations prioritize using software like Zoom, Microsoft 365, and WordPress, while emphasizing the need for improved digital security practices. The COVID-19 crisis has accelerated the push for digital transformation among these nonprofits.

1. Western Balkans
NONPROFIT TECH NEEDS
NEXT DIGITAL STEPS
THE BIGGEST BARRIERS
HARDWARE NEEDS
SECURITY PRACTICES
SOFTWARE NEEDS
SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS
These are the top 10 software categories that Western Balkan's nonprofits
intend to start to use or use more intensively in the coming period.
Albania
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatia
Montenegro
North Macedonia
Serbia
Around 20 percent of surveyed nonprofits believe that the lack of digital
skills and knowledge is the most significant barrier for better and more
efficient use of technology.
Despite being less sought after, cameras, servers, projectors, smartphones
and tablets are needed by at least 50% of respondents in all countries.
Nonprofits mostly use various tech solutions for antivirus, backup, and firewalls.
However, they use encryption, VPN, and fraud detection solutions very rarely.
The most popular software solutions nonprofits would like to use are Zoom,
Microsoft 365, WordPress, Photoshop, Google Drive, and MailChimp.
For improved digital security, nonprofits believe that they need better software
in the first place, followed by better skills and knowledge within the team.
COVID-19 crisis has forced the nonprofit sector into digital transformation.
We researched how Western Balkan's nonprofits use technology, their
security practices, and their most pressing digital needs.
Research by
Zoom
Photoshop
61.9%
67.4% 64.9% 70.8%
76.5% 73.1%
61.9%
69.8%
51.9%
75.0%
60.8%
69.0%
14.3% 18.6% 18.2%
25.0% 21.6% 22.1%
100.0%
89.5% 85.7% 87.5%
94.1% 95.2%
76.2%
72.1%
64.9%
79.2% 78.4%
71.0%
95.2%
77.9%
72.7%
79.2%
90.2%
81.4%
61.9%
55.8% 53.2%
66.7%
74.5% 74.5%
66.7%
51.2% 55.8%
79.2%
84.3%
62.1%
57.1%
50.0%
58.4%
75.0% 76.5%
62.8%
42.9%
37.2%
45.5%
58.3% 54.9% 51.7%52.4% 48.8%
57.1%
75.0% 70.6%
64.1%
38.1% 41.9%
45.5% 45.8%
60.8%
51.0%
61.9%
55.8% 58.4% 62.5%
43.1% 40.0%
90.5% 86.0%
79.2% 83.3%
72.5%
82.1%
52.4%
33.7%
50.6%
20.8%
41.2% 37.9%
52.4%
64.0%
54.5% 50.0%
58.8% 61.4%
76.2% 75.6%
55.8%
75.0%
82.4%
76.6% 71.4%
65.1% 68.8%
54.2%
60.8% 63.4%
Conference calls and webinars
57.1%
43.0% 45.5%
62.5%
54.9%
41.4% 42.9%
58.1%
50.6%
33.3%
52.9% 53.8%
Project management
38.1%
44.2% 46.8%
54.2% 49.0%
44.1%
Databases
47.6%
38.4%
31.2%
62.5%
43.1% 39.3%
Social network management
42.9% 40.7%
31.2% 33.3%
52.9%
36.6%
Data collection
Resources to buy hardware Resources to buy software Lack of knowledge and skills
Desktop PC Laptop PC Offline storage
Antivirus / antimalware
Supported by
Backup Firewall
Better software Better hardware Better skills
Google Drive MailChimp
WordPress
33.3% 31.4% 29.9% 29.2%
56.9%
49.7%
Donation/grant management
61.9%
37.2% 33.8% 37.5% 37.3% 39.3%
Data storage
28.6%
33.7%
46.8%
54.2%
45.1% 42.1%
Design
28.6%
41.9%
55.8%
50.0%
43.1%
35.9%
Media clipping
47.6%
41.9%
31.2% 33.3%
39.2%
33.1%
Internet security
Microsoft 365
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