Dear friends,

We are glad to announce a launch of the Community Development Fund (CMDF) in a new format. The dynamically developing situation in Belarus prompted us after two years of work to evaluate and upgrade the CMDF program.

First, we attempt to present our understanding of the situation in Belarus community and a development approach accordingly. We welcome your feedback further as our approach was developed by local inputs and using local as well as regional experience.  We hope that honest communication will contribute to the establishment of greater level of mutual understanding and trust what makes development of Belarusian communities feasible.

Secondly, as you have already noticed, the Fund’s name no longer includes the word “media”.  It means that CMDF will focus its support toward local communities and local civic initiatives as its main priority as this seems to us as the most acute need. The reason for the new format to be chosen is our desire to improve the quality of our work and sharpen our focus.

Thirdly, the renewed CMDF  will work more comprehensively and with even greater partnership  with available Belarusian human resources to deepen local ownership as well as quality of CMDF support projects. Thus, CMDF will rely more on Belarusian experts and local expertise. 

In line with this fresh approach now CMDF is awaiting ideas from local and regional initiatives, groups, networks as well as national organizations to develop contacts, partnership with local communities and organization and with the regional elites. 

We invite you to visit our updated web-site and are looking forward to receiving new ideas!

Sincerely yours,

CMDF team