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After nearly eight years of assisting political parties, activists, and civil society organizations, NDI ended its programming in 1998. Though not devoid of political turmoil, as a member of NATO and the European Union with a democratic government and a strong economy, Poland now serves as a beacon to many of its neighbors and to countries around the world who aspire to greater freedom. For that reason, the Institute maintains close partnerships with Polish political and civil society organizations, most notably the European Institute for Democracy (EID), a non-government organization (NGO) that runs training programs for democratic activists in other countries.
Past Programs
With funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development and the National Endowment for Democracy, NDI assisted Poland’s political parties as they evolved from broad-based opposition movements to ideologically defined national organizations that could contest elections and aggregate public interests. During its tenure in Poland, NDI worked with more than 2,500 political party leaders, candidates and activists from eight political parties and the Solidarity trade union in more than 25 cities. Throughout Poland, hundreds of additional activists benefited from NDI materials. NDI's multi-partisan training helped to foster cooperation and relations that contributed to the reduction of longstanding political animosities that for many years impeded the political transition.
NDI's approach centered on long-term party development (branch organization, membership and volunteer recruitment, headquarter-branch relations, and fundraising), as well as on election-related themes including campaign planning, organization, voter contact, and message development and delivery. An integral component of NDI's program was to augment the political participation of women and youth by improving their political skills and strengthening their presence in party ranks. Perhaps most important, NDI's training-of-trainers program provided long-term skills with which Poles could continue to transfer knowledge, skills, and information long after NDI's departure. Many of these activities also served as a basis for subsequent NDI work elsewhere.
East-East Exchanges
In September 1998, NDI hosted six Serbian political activists to take part in the Polish election campaign. The Serbian activists campaigned with local candidates, met with national campaign managers, and conferred with journalists on media coverage. Unlike a study mission to a western-style democratic country such as the United Kingdom, this program represented the first east/east political-party exchange for NDI and laid the foundation for NDI’s ongoing program in Serbia.
To sustain that legacy, NDI assisted with the creation the European Institute for Democracy, a Polish NGO whose mandate is to support democratic transitions in Poland and abroad. Headed by former NDI staff and trainers, EID educates political parties on organizational development and works intensively with women and youth activists, using principles acquired from NDI's programs.
Contact Information
For more information about these programs, use our contact form or contact:
Washington, D.C.
Robert Benjamin, Regional Director
(202) 728-5660
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