Foundation for Democratic Initiatives::FDI::

As a foundation oriented toward community development that supports local initiatives for local solutions, FDI has always been characterized by the willingness to be in close contact with grantees. This is supported by the fact that FDI is located in Gjakova. This “decentralization” of grant making is unique and successful for the Kosovo circumstances---not all should be and should come from Prishtina. FDI therefore has a “local touch” and reaches the areas that historically were left aside. After its planning process in 2006, FDI has focused on deepening its work in community development and encouraging citizen participation to address community needs. This is shown in the foundation’s revised programs described below.

Other donors in Kosovo basically deal with “big issues” at the central level, such as policy issues, infrastructure and/or services and there are no other local indigenous foundations in Kosovo. They are based in Prishtina and they are not specialized to deal with the local issues as FDI does and intends to do.

FDI’s proactive approach, FDI’s knowledge on how to approach different groups has helped it to be successful in working with different ethnic groups, especially with the groups from Serb minority.

FDI also has a history of successes in the past and it has public trust reached by its transparency, openness and well-established communication channels and financial tracks.

1.Community Development Grants Program

This program will support projects that address identified community needs and/or community development. This program will be focused on increasing active involvement of citizens on the local level in responding to challenges and issues of common concern in their communities. FDI will award grants to these organizations that identify community needs and who undertake concrete steps in solving community problems or develop community itself. Priority will be given to the projects that show interaction between respective sectors in solving community problems; grant proposals that will influence in increasing public participation in decision-making on the local level especially and in the rural zones.
Participation of youth is as a sub-focus of this program. Given the importance of youth to Kosovo’s future, we will give special attention to projects that increase the youth participation in solving community problems and in decision making on the local level.

2.Minority Integration and Reconciliation Grants Program

FDI will support projects that initiate and strengthen the process of the minority integration in the social life and institutional structures. Priority will be given to the projects that aim to integrate Serb minority (though other minorities will not be excluded) and the projects that initiate the process of returning, process of dialogue between ethnic groups, joint efforts of citizens from different ethnic groups to address specific problems in their communities, etc. The program aims to strengthen the process of de - enclavization of territories and by supporting the process of minority integration will have a great impact in the overall process of decentralization in Kosovo.

3.Cultural Heritage Grants Program

Projects that promote the cultural heritage as a communication bridge between different communities. Priority will be given to the projects submitted by two or more different cultural groups that promote the protection of religious monuments; projects that promote the wealth and importance of ethnography; culture; music, clothes…from the different national background and the importance of these characteristics of cultural heritage on the democratization and the creation of a multiethnic society in Kosovo.

4.Learning and Support Activities Program

This program will increase the capacity of NGOs and informal groups to identify project ideas and develop project proposals that are in accordance with FDI goals through advisory services and training activities, exchange experience practices, place making in Kosovo , etc. This is basically work to be developed by FDI, but a small grant making component is a part of this – when FDI will support NGOs to undertake exchange experiences and similar projects that could not be developed by FDI itself.

5.Place making Program

The program will support local initiatives on creating local capacities for participatory planning, that will help efforts of NGOs and other groups to involving wider community in planning and decision – making processes. The program will be further developed and specified in close cooperation with PPS New York. It is more a training program but it has a grant making aspect as well.

6.Institutional Support Grants Program

This program will support distinguished community based NGOs and community based networks in order to strengthen their inner capacities and ensure their long term sustainability. Only community based NGOs that have undergone audits, that have published regularly annual reports, and that show promise that during the life of this grant (when awarded) that they will produce visible and measurable products will be eligible to apply for this grants program.