In November 2009, directors from all the PDCI member centers gathered in Washington DC to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Partners for Democratic Change at John Hopkins University and the Swedish Embassy. The founding member of the PDCI network, Partners for Democratic Change was established in 1989 and initiated the creation of partner centers in Central and Eastern Europe to enhance the role of civil society in democratic transitions.

The event culminated in the “Innovations for Tomorrow” Conference co-sponsored by the Center for Transatlantic Relations at the Paul H. Nitze School for Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University (SAIS).

The Conference caps a week long series of workshops highlighting innovations in good governance co-sponsored by Partners and a diverse group of institutions from Washington and leaders from the field.

Promoting a “conversation” with key policy and foundation leaders, the Conference focused on three critical deficits which undermine international development: leadership, capacity building and sustainability. Conference participants discussed new policies, innovations, and opportunities are envisioned by the National Security Council, the Department of State, USAID, the World Bank and foundations to address these deficits.

Distinguished speakers included Robert L. Corcoran (President, GE Foundation), Sanjay Pradhan (Vice President, World Bank Institute), Dr. Anne-Marie Slaughter (Director of Policy Planning, Department of State), Dr. Gayle Smith (Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for International Development, Democracy, and Stabilization, National Security Council).

At this occasion, PDC awarded four persons for good services: the National Endowment for Democracy President and the USIP President for their sustainable support to PDC activities; Dusan Ondrusek from Partners-Slovakia, for his various trainings on conflict management methodologies, and Daniela Kolarova from PDCI, for building the Partners Network and establishing PDCI.