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ABOUT FONDAS
Foundation for Democratic Alternatives in Society
VISION:
Informed and involved citizens in a healthy, strong, and organized society ruled by a transparent, accessible, and accountable government.
MISSION:
FONDAS is an NGO aimed at furthering democracy, empowering citizens, and raising public awareness by strengthening
civil society and its operations, and enhancing cross-sectoral cooperation through the launching and fostering of advocacy initiatives, provision of training and technical assistance to all sectors, and grants management.
Background: The Foundation for Democratic Alternatives in Society (FONDAS) is an independent Montenegrin non-governmental organization
founded on 02 April 2004. The NGO grew out of the three-year, USAID- funded Montenegro Advocacy Program (MAP), implemented by American
ORT, and was founded in order to continue increasing the capacity of the civil society sector to conduct effective advocacy for legal
change on behalf of the community and their constituent members. FONDAS staff comprises former ORT MAP training consultants and program
staff who have built up considerable experience and skills over the past two years in designing and delivering high quality trainings,
technical assistance, and in monitoring grants.
The staff of this NGO, all former MAP training consultants and program staff, has built up considerable experience and skills over the past two years in designing and delivering high quality training and technical assistance to local NGOs, as well as in monitoring grants, under the MAP program. To date, FONDAS trainers have delivered over 140 days of specialized training to NGOs, international organizations, refugees and IDPs, as well as government.
FONDAS Values
FONDAS aims to realize its mission by acting upon the following values and principles:
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FONDAS encourages active citizen participation in determining the future of this country through assisting NGOs to serve the interest of citizens and constituents more effectively; |
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FONDAS sees teamwork and strong cross-sectoral cooperation as a prerequisite for a vibrant and democratic community; |
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FONDAS is dedicated to helping NGOs tackle issues of public interest more effectively, creatively, and transparently; |
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FONDAS respects, supports, and demands transparency and professionalism in every aspect of its performance and operations |
Governance
FONDAS is governed by an independent, voluntary Board of Directors, consisting of 9 members. The President of the Board is Vladan Micunovic, Deputy Editor-In-Chief of Montenegro’s largest daily newspaper, “Vijesti”. The other members of the Board of Directors are: Jadranka Vojvodic, Deputy to the Head of the Broadcasting Agency, Vladan Djuranovic, Senior Legal Advisor for the USAID/Urban Institute Good Local Governance Program and former Deputy Minister of Justice, Tamara Durutovic, Attorney-At-Law, Ali Salaj, Editor-In-Chief of the largest Albanian weekly magazine, Koha Javore, Aleksandra Redzic, Senior Citizen Participation Advisor for the USAID/Urban Institute Good Local Governance Program, Novica Ivanovic, Podgorica Board of the DPS Party, and Seka Buskovic, Finance Manager for the USAID/IRD CRDA Program. One position on the Board is currently unfilled. The FONDAS Board of Directors approves all FONDAS strategic planning and fundraising documents.
FONDAS Highlights to Date:
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140+ days of training delivered to NGOs, international organizations, and government |
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Trained over 120 different organizations since May 2003 |
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Client organizations represent 19 different sectors of NGO work |
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Trained 60 Community Action Committees for IRD |
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Trained 23 refugees & IDPs for ARC |
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Trained Urban Institute staff in PR |
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Trained two government bodies in leadership & management skills |
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Provided hundreds of TA hours to 19 NGOs participating in MAP over 2-year period |
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FONDAS trainers trained in delivery of training for monitoring the upcoming Free Access to Information Act |
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Provided fee-based trainings to Urban Institute partners, British Council partners, private company “Aleksandrija”, local NGOs Nansen Dialogue Center and Montenegrin Parents’ Association, Republican Secretariat for Development and the Republic Hydro-Meteorological Institute |
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Participated in Mosaic International PRA Training for Trainers course in Ottawa |
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Participated in Sales & Marketing Training for Trainers, Novi Sad |
FONDAS Trainings
FONDAS offers the following range of training seminars:
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Advocacy Skills Training (3 two-day modules = 6 days) |
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Board of Directors Development (3 days) |
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Organizational Development (3 days) |
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PR/Media Training (2 days) |
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Gender Sensitization Training (1 day) |
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Financial Management Training (1 day) |
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Watchdog Training (2 days) |
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Leadership Skills Training (3 days) |
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Message Development Training (1 day) |
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Project Development Training (3 days) |
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Grant Cycle Management Training (3 days) |
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Communications & Team-Building (2 days) |
FONDAS also designs and delivers fee-based training products that are tailored to the specific needs of organizations / bodies outside of its traditional client base (local NGOs), such as Government, International Organizations, and the business sector, especially where partnerships between local NGOs and these sectors can be strengthened.
FONDAS Initiatives & Projects
In addition to providing training & consultancy services, FONDAS is also actively involved in its own projects and initiatives. Currently, FONDAS is implementing the following initiatives:
The Local Watchdog Coalition Project
FONDAS works with NGOs in three municipalities, Herceg Novi, Ulcinj and Niksic, to form local watchdog coalitions aimed at monitoring the implementation of specific legislation in those areas. The goal of the project is to establish rule of law in municipalities where there is a demonstrated need for a closer watch on certain state institutions. With technical & financial assistance from FONDAS, the AHA coalition in Herceg Novi monitors the activities of the public company “Morsko Dobro”, the MOGUL coaition monitors the misuse of public spaces in Ulcinj, and the Gradjanski Dom monitors the enforcement of the Law on Social & Child Protection in Niksic.
The Ecological-Network Project
FONDAS established an ecological network of NGOs, currently consisting of 8 organizations, to increase the lobbying and watchdog power of civil society in the field of environmental protection. The eco-network is monitoring the privatization of the Pljevlja coal mine and thermoelectric plant.
FONDAS Donors
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USAID/ORT |
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World Bank |
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The Balkan Trust for Democracy |
FONDAS Newsletters
To view list of all FONDAS Newsletters in English 
To view list of all FONDAS Newsletters in Local Language
For Further Information
FONDAS
Njegoseva 16
81000 Podgorica
Tel. 081/667-140
Fax. 081/667-141
E-mail: fondas@fondas.cg.yu
Web: www.fondas.cg.yu
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FOUNDATION
FOR DEMOCRATIC ALTERNATIVES IN SOCIETY
FONDAS Highlights to Date
FONDAS Trainings
FONDAS Initiatives & Projects
FONDAS Newsletters
For Further Information
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