belarus

The Pontis Foundation has been active in Belarus since 2000. Initially, we focused on providing campaign assistance for civil society and youth organizations, specifically targeting the presidential elections in 2001. Since 2003, the Pontis Foundation has assisted in revitalizing the Belarusian analytical community under the conditions of the authoritarian regime. Our main goal is to stimulate and foster public debate and strengthen public policy in the country. At the core of our assistance is an increase in the analytical community’s research capacity, and development of experts´ ability to communicate policy recommendations and alternatives to Belarusian public and all stakeholders.

After the referendum and parliamentary elections of 2004, the Pontis Foundation established the Slovakia-Belarus Task Force, which provided a framework for greater cooperation between Slovakia (as an EU-member state) and Belarusian democratic forces, to transfer policy reform know-how from Slovakia to Belarus.

Following the 2006 presidential elections, the Pontis Foundation initiated the establishment of the Belarus Public Policy Fund to increase direct support for those Belarusian scholars and experts working on issues of strategic importance and to strengthen public policy in the country. To intensify public dialogue and engage various stakeholders into this discussion, we have supported, among other activities, the development of a communication platform for the expert community in Belarus; the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies (BISS). BISS focuses on re-starting public debate and public dialogue within the country by systematically engaging different stakeholders and generating a bold positive program for Belarus.

To provide Belarusian students, scholars and professionals with more opportunities to become an integral part of the international academic community and actively shape the current discourse on new vision for country's future, Pontis Foundation issues newsletter with information about scholarships, conferences and other academic forums open for Belarusian participants.

Pontis has come to be recognized as one of the most reliable sources of information on Belarus both domestically and internationally. The Pontis Foundation regularly issues analysis and briefs, civil society monitoring, and surveys which provide a comprehensive look at the key aspects of civil society and reform policies of Belarus in English. The Pontis Foundation aims to actively shape Slovak and EU policy towards Belarus and has organized numerous consultation trips for Belarusian experts and civil society activists to Brussels. Since 2004 the Pontis Foundation has assisted in the establishment of our Brussels-based partner, the Office for a Democratic Belarus and has become the member of its International Consortium. The Office works to strengthen ties among Belarusian pro-democratic groups, the EU institutions and international organizations and press. 

News and analyses are availabe in this section.