ABOUT FSLD

Jerzy Regulski Foundation in Support of Local Democracy (FSLD) is the largest Polish non-governmental organization supporting the development of civil society and self-governance in Poland. FSLD is non-partisan, independent, and non-commercial entity. FSLD  was established in 1989 and over the years FSLD has grown to incorporate a network of local units and education institutions, as well as numerous experts and collaborators. Today, FSLD with 14 Regional Centres with local branches is designed to provide training, consultancy, networking and capacity building services on local level in voivodeships outside the capital of Warsaw. Fundation has 125 permanent employees and cooperates with ca. 150 experts and trainers. FSLD’s activities and programs cover the territory of the entire country. 

FSLD’s mission is to promote the idea of civil self-governance as the fundamental form of democracy. To fulfil its mission, the Foundation supports the activity of local authorities and non-governmental organizations, thus contributing to the development and reinforcement of the civil society in the region.

FSLD’s activities are aimed at beneficiaries representing 3 sectors including all levels of public administration, CSOs, informal groups and individuals (vulnerable social groups), as well private sector (small and medium-size companies and media). 30 years of Foundation’s experience resulted in natural, thematic and special-purpose partnerships established with: the Council of Europe; Ministries – structural programmes and projects; local authorities; media – media patronages, information campaigns, co-organisation of big public events; CSOs.

FSLD REGIONAL CENTRES 

FSLD has a network of 14 Regional Centers with local branches. Each Regional Centre is based in voivodship capital and provides services in the region. Every regional centre employs from 5 to 35 permanent staff members. Network-based model of FSLD’s functioning and everyday operation on local level allows the most efficient work in regions and rural areas of the whole country, based on good identification of the local communities’ needs, challenges and problems. Every year each FSLD’s regional centre runs from 100 up to 450 trainings and consultancy services for local self-government units and CSOs.


TRAINING

It was the recipients’ needs that have determined the basic form of FSLD’s operation from the very beginning: training for councilors and local government staff. Training remains till this very moment the basic form of FSLD’s effort to support local self-governance. The number and the scope of training topics increase each year, and the fact that the training is in high demand has made the Foundation in Support of Local Democracy the largest training organisation operating on the local government market today.

PROJECTS

The Foundation has implemented a large number of complex projects. Our expertise, coupled with an impressive network of Regional Centres spanning the entire country, has allowed us to win and implement important and prestigious projects. All of our projects are guided by the principle of effectiveness, thus ensuring the maximum possible impact.

For a number of years, the Foundation has been active in the field of migrating Polish experiences of the systemic transformation to the countries still on the path of reforms. The wealth of experience allows the Foundation to effectively assist countries undergoing systemic transformation in a number of fields, through direct technical assistance, as well as through implementation of activisation programmes. The Foundation began its international activities in 1994, and has been expanding both in scope and a number of projects ever since. Migrating Polish experience to countries of Central and Eastern Europe forms a formidable basis of our international activities. However, FSLD’s experts use sophisticated, tailor-made methodology to create the greatest impact in the existing legislative, socio-economic and cultural environments.

FORUMS 

FSLD Regional Centers also initiate the establishment and the operation of clubs and forums of gmina and powiat office personnel. Internships and study tours are also organized for local government officials, in order to better present the way local structures operate and the kind of solutions adopted abroad.

CONSULTING

The Foundation has also provided technical assistance to an ever increasing extent. The offer targets all local government entities and covers the full scope of services including strategic, financial consulting, as well as that concerning capital investment, transformation and privatization, and also crisis management. FSLD’s offer is based on surveys of the needs of local government milieus, while the high professional quality of service is based on a very well developed and experienced pool of trainers and experts available nationwide through FSLD’s Regional Training Centers’ network.

PUBLICATIONS

An important area of activity of the Foundation remains analysis and research activity. In this section Local Expertise Centre we will publish selected publications (opinions & comments) and reports in English. Our publications relate to the most current issues concerning local government. We invite you to review our selected works.