Building Capacity for Social Development in CEE/Russia
Development School
- Program Civil Society
- Program Area Strengthening Civic Space
- Grant Amount $220,000
- Grant Period April 1, 2005–March 31, 2007
- Location London, United Kingdom
- Geographic Focus Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia
About this grant
This grant will support efforts to build the social development capacity of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Central/Eastern Europe (CEE). In 2001, the Development School, in partnership with Partners for Democratic Change – Slovakia, initiated a program to offer nonprofit leaders in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic and Slovakia the opportunity to earn a postgraduate diploma in social development practice. Course work included subjects such as organizational development, community development and building advocacy networks.Multiyear funding will enable the Development School to assume responsibility for the program and expand the program to include NGO leaders from the Western Balkans and Russia. In addition to offering a master’s degree program in social development to 24 NGO representatives from CEE, the Western Balkans and Russia, the school will offer a postgraduate program for 12 representatives of indigenous grantmaking organizations in CEE and Russia; provide an interactive, online professional development resource to practitioners and donors throughout CEE and Russia; and conduct a feasibility study to assess the potential of launching a similar program in Southern Africa.To date, 23 NGO representatives from CEE participated in the program, and 18 of those graduated with a postgraduate diploma.