TACIS Partnership for Democracy Project
Through the support of the European Commission SCAF conducted the project aimed at promotion of dialogue and partnership between NGOs, government and business sectors in four Belarus regions (Brest, Grodno, Minsk and Vitebsk). Representatives of over 60 local and regional NGOs have been trained by SCAF and in co-operation with the government and business counterparts elaborated action plans for civil society development in their regions (2002-2004).
Engagement of Youth in Civic Participation
In cooperation with the National Institute of Education, Department on Youth Matters of the Ministry of Education and youth NGOs SCAF developed the youth strategy and supported youth in rural communities in Belarus engagement in civic activities aimed at meeting their communities’ needs.
Civil Society Forum
SCAF dialogue project started in 1999 offered a forum for informal discussions among representatives from the official and the opposition side of Belarus as well as from NGOs, think tanks, international organizations and the diplomatic circles. According to the opinion of the OSCE expert "there are hardly any other regular fora with this high level composition from all the sectors. All participating sectors are offered the chance to explore new ideas and initiatives. Such initiatives can have a follow-up in direct talks. The informality of the talks, the regularity of the meetings, and the participation from government/parliament and opposition as well as the international community make the forum to one of the opinion building "institutions" in Belarus".
Through its activities SCAF has gained trust and respect among the Belarus and international political and civil society stakeholders and now continuous its role as a think tank and mediator for conflict resolution in Belarus. SCAF is an active participant of major civil society experts’ meetings on Belarus initiated by the international community.SCAF is part of the Global Peoples’ Assembly that unites civil society assemblies (national dialogue forums) through out the world.
Research, Publications, Training
SCAF developed reports for the UN NGO Millennium Forum in New York (May 2000), UN Social Summit in Geneva (June 2000) and its representatives participated in these civil society forums through support of the UNDP and Council of Europe.
At the request of the European Foundation Center (EFC) SCAF conducts research and contributes to the EFC publications - "European Foundation Fundamentals" (1999), "Democracy Corridors: a Strategy for Change in Belarus" (EFC Social Economy and Law Journal, 1999), “ From Elections to Elections: Strategies of Development of Belarus ” and “The State of Civil Society in Belarus: A Research Summary by the Support Centre for Associations and Foundations” (EFC Social Economy and Law Journal, 2001).
In July 2000 SCAF was selected by the World Alliance for Citizen Participation - CIVICUS as the leading civil society experts in this program. The research results in the development of Agenda for Civil Society Development in Belarus. The outcomes of the pilot program were published by CIVICUS (Belarus Civil Society: In Need of a Dialogue. Civicus Index on Civil society Occasional paper Series, Volume 1, issue 3) The Belarus Index on Civil Society Report is also available via SCAF web page at http://scaf.int.by and in publications «The State of Civil Society in Belarus: A Research Summary by the Support Centre for Associations and Foundations» (EFC Social Economy and Law Journal, Brussels, 2001), «Index on Civil Society in Belarus» (Belarus Association of Think Tanks Bulletin, 2001 and 2004).
SCAF's recent research on the development of the NGO sector in Belarus also resulted in corresponding publications "Promotion of Dialogue in Belarus Society", «Peaceful Scenarios of the Political Developments in Belarus”, «Isolation or Cooperation?» , «Index on Civil Society in Belarus»,, "Support to Sustainable Development of NGOs in the Republic of Belarus", "Strategy for Change in the Republic of Belarus" in the Belarus Association of Think Tanks' bulletins and books (1999-2004) and also in the following handbooks for NGOs developed and published by SCAF in cooperation with the NGO Futures (Switzerland), Westminster Foundation for Democracy (UK), and ICBL: "Organizational Management and Development of NGOs", "Fundraising and Grantmanship", "Internet Resources for NGOs", "Organization of NGO Conferences", «Partnership Building Between NGOs and Local Government», «Solutions of the Landmines Problems in Belarus:Civil Society Monitoring» (2000 - 2004) . All the handbooks have been tested through training of representatives of regional and local NGOs.
Landmine Monitor and Belarus Campaign to Ban Landmines
Since 1998 SCAF has conducted campaign to ban landmines and an annual landmine monitor research. This research results in annual publications of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) "Landmine Monitor Report: Toward a Mine-Free World" (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005). It is an effort by civil society to hold governments accountable to the obligations that they have taken on with regards to antipersonnel mines; that is done through extensive collection, analysis and distribution of information that is publicly available. In 2000 and 2003 SCAF in co-operation with the ICBL and Belarus Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense organized the international conferences to promote the total ban of this inhuman weapon in Belarus (Belarus has one of the largest stockpiles of landmines in the world). SCAF managed to promote transparency of the Belarus government on these issues. It provided the international community with the information needed for solution of this important humanitarian problem and also engaged the European Commission and other international donors in the solution of the landmine problems in Belarus. SCAF built trust between the international and Belarus stakeholders. As a result Belarus has recently acceded to the Mine Ban Convention. In this peace building and arms control activities SCAF has successfully used the strategy of "citizen diplomacy" proposed by the ICBL and strategy of "democracy corridors" developed by SCAF.
SCAF has also successfully used the Democracy Corridors approach in promoting transparency of the Belarus government on small arms transfers. SCAF serves as the national independent research and monitoring agency for small arms surveys in Belarus and corresponding publications by SAS, NISAT, SIPRI and IANSA.
In co-operation with the UNDP office in Minsk SCAF organized international meetings on transparency in small arms transfer that took place in Minsk. Top experts from the main Belarusian agencies involved in arms transfer issues namely National Security Council, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as representatives of the European and international community - OSCE, EC, UN, NATO, Germany, France, Italy, UK, and other EU countries participated in and contributed to the meetings.
The meetings helped elucidate issues surrounding transparency in the reporting by Belarus its small arms transfers. Clarification was partly the result of points made by several representatives of foreign countries but also by the expression of underlying concerns from the Belarusians side which may, in turn, have been supported by recent agitation from abroad regarding Belarus’ arms trade. There was considerable goodwill expressed on the Belarusian side which had, independently, led to the conclusion that there are inherent advantages to be derived from increased accessibility to information surrounding the small arms trade.
The next step in advancing through “democracy corridor” was the Regional Workshop involving Belarusian and international government and civil society stake holders organized by SCAF and its partners in Minsk. Top experts from the regional governments and representatives of the major international organizations such as SIPRI (Stockholm), Small Arms Survey (Geneva), Saferworld (UK), NISAT (Oslo) actively participated in the regional meeting and developed the standards and recommendations for the region on transparency in small arms transfers.
The initial progress made through Democracy Corridor strategy in promoting Belarus government transparency in arms transfer includes initiation of regular publications by the Belarus government of its National Reports on Arms Transfers and making it available for Belarus and international communities. Belarus is now also engaged in a project supported by the OSCE that will lead to the destruction of its surpluses of small arms.
Global Survey on ERW and MOTAPM
SCAF serves as a primary research organization for developing a chapter for the Global Survey Reports on Explosive Remnants of War and Mines Other than Anti-Personnel Mines in region 20 (Belarus, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine). This initiative is an important step in implementation of Protocol 5 of the Geneva Convention of Conventional Weapons (CCW).
Civic Education
In co-operation with Belarusian Ministry of Education, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Dutch NGO Educaplan SCAF carried out Matra Civic Education project. Through this project new civic education curricula for secondary schools and in-service training institutes was developed, new civic teaching methodologies based on principles of freedom, independence and co-operation were introduced, teams of teachers and school leaders
were trained and independent civic education consultants’ network was established. The project also resulted in the International Conference on Civic Education and publication of the book "Dalton Methodology: History. Principles. Organisation" (1999). The project has been further continued in 1999-2005 with a focus on students community out-reached research and civic participation projects.
Community-Based Curriculum for Confidence-Building Inter-Ethnic Education in Belarus
In co-operation with the National Institute of Education, National Association for Educational Innovations, Committee on Nationalities and Religions, the Council of Europe and NGOs representing ethnic minority groups in Belarus SCAF has developed community-based curriculum and methodologies for confidence-building inter-ethnic education in Belarus (2001-2005). The project has resulted in the national dissemination conference and also the publications of “Student-Oriented Methodologies in Confidence-Building Inter-Ethnic Education in Belarus”, “About History and Culture of Ethnic Minorities in Belarus”, “Students’ Projects Aimed at Inter-Ethnic Confidence-Building”.
Violence and Terrorism Prevention
In co-operation with the EC, CoE and Texas University SCAF administers an international survey to Belarus students to diagnose their attitudes towards violence and terrorism and conducts projects in Belarus schools and communities aimed at violence prevention. SCAF participates in the experts’ meetings at the Council of Europe aimed at development the new programs on violence prevention in Europe. SCAF has published a guidebook for students, teachers and parents “Learning to Live Together: Prevention of Violence in School and Society”.
Democratization and Decentralization of Education
SCAF conducts research on democratization and decentralization of Belarus educational system, develops corresponding country reports and contributes to the publications of the International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI), European Forum on Educational Administration (EFEA), European Network for Improving Research and Development in Educational Management (ENIRDEM).
SCAF most recent educational research has resulted in publications: "Third Millennium Schools: A World of Difference in Effectiveness and Improvement" (Holland,), "Adult Education in Belarus", “Selecting and Developing Heads of Schools” (UK), “Actual and Desired Levels of Participation in Educational Decision Making”, “Educational Stake Holders Empowerment”, “The Role of Civil Society in Educational Decision-Making” ), “Centralization and Decentralization in Education” (Moscow), “Promoting Democracy Through Students’ Community Outreached Projects” (Minsk),
Educational Leadership Development
In co-operation with Umea University, Sweden and Belarus National Institute of Education SCAF has developed an innovative curriculum and model for training educational leaders and promoting of democratic leadership in schools. SCAF also published two books on Educational Leadership in Belarus (2001,2003) and organized international conferences "School Leaders' Development in Belarus: in Search of a New Model" (2001 and 2003).
UNESCO "Education for All" Program
In 2002 SCAF educational experts represented CIS countries at the meeting with UNESCO G8 Task Force with civil society on identifying priorities in meeting the goals of "Education for All" Program. SCAF experts also actively collaborate with the Belarus National Institute of Education and UNESCO International Bureau of Education in Geneva in promoting UNESCO “Education for All” agenda in the Russian speaking region.
Promotion of Belarus Rock Music
SCAF organizes regular forums that involve musicians, producers, media, FM and TV companies and also government representatives to create more space for young musicians’ self-realization and the development of high quality rock music in Belarus. Through music concerts thousands of young people can be reached out and European values promoted in Belarus.
