Frequently Asked Questions

home.....faq

If you have a question and don't find the answer here, don't hesitate to contact us !

... about us and what we do:

So Areda helps poor people in Eastern Europe ?

No, what we do is provide information and expertise to western organisations who want to support those Eastern European groups which seek a real democratisation in their countries. By real democratisation we mean one in which average citizen can participate and which is based on a pluralism of opinions and values.

So Areda helps NGOs ?

Mainly, but not any NGOs and not only NGOs. We help western development aid organisations to build up realistic programs who really do something useful for the civil society in our target countries. We hereby support - but also make known - NGOs, individuals and media who deal with human and civil rights, action against corruption and clientelism, transparent government. We don't support - but respect - groups dealing with other topics like culture, science, ecology, religion, economic themes, etc.

What do you understand by “civil society” ?

A complete definition is given here; a briefer definition is: all groups and individuals who are concerned with the social and political conditions of life and actively try to make them better for all. However, excluded form this definition are political parties, the parliament, the government and other state institutions. For the latter we use the term “political society” or “political sphere”.

How well do you know the countries you are talking about ?

Areda has at least one member who is originally from one of the target countries. We are regularly monitoring the local press and make periodical field trips.

Is Areda a consulting company or an association ?

It is an consulting providing association. Areda is owned by its members and has not the purpose to generate benefits. But we aim to be able to devote as much energy as possible in providing an even better consulting. This is why we have consulting fees.

What is your experience with development projects ?

All current members have activated in the specialized association “Kommission für Entwicklungsfragen” at the University of Zurich. This association has own development projects and project management courses. In addition to this, most of us have managed projects for other organisations, partly in the same domain and geographical area as Areda.

Sounds nice, I'd like to help. How can I ?

If you have experience with either development aid, Eastern Europe, support of civil society or connections to groups or individuals who have, then e-mail us. The chances are good that you can help us.

...about our values and motivation:

Does Areda think external involvement in internal political affairs is legitimate ?

This is a difficult question, particularly at the present moment. We believe in solidarity with people suffering from authoritarian, brutal or unfair regimes. Solidarity is a feeling. Like with other feelings it is meaningless to try to draw a red line between “good” and “bad” manifestations, although some manifestations are definitely inappropriate. We don't believe in the right of a non elected or abusive government to represent its people and to block any external concern or support for that people.

What about extremist groups in Eastern Europe ?

We choose carefully the groups with which we work. Our criteria of selection are open. They contain several conditions excluding extremist groups from our programmes.

Why seems Areda to think governments are always bad and civil society groups always good ?

This is not quite true. The recent history of Eastern Europe was rich in brutal, abusive governments. As a consequence, many people have developed a basic distrust in their governments. This distrust is sometimes amplified by the fact that top officials now reappear in high positions and that crimes of the ancient regimes are not recognised. We understand this distrust. It is unfair to ask former victims to come together with unrepentant criminals and just trust them. To make aid dependent on this is simply silly.

My country's Government helps Eastern European countries already; why should I care about what Areda does ?

Many western governments have sent important sums to governments in Eastern Europe in order to support the transition of those countries. This is a fact. What Areda does is something completely different: it informs about and supports local people to implement local strategies of development. We believe this is a more efficient way than giving large sums to governments and trusting they will do the right thing. This is not just about who gets the money. It is important to show normal citizens that their initiatives are important and deserve respect. This is not the same as receiving charity from the government. It is regrettable that many western aid organisations have spent such enormous sums more or less uselessly in the past, instead of going to average people and discovering their true goals.

I want to start a business in Eastern Europe, how can Areda help ?

Sorry, we can't help you with that.

Is civil society not endangering the economical progress of those countries (people just debating and not working) ?

This is an older but still heavily debated issue. We don't believe people in any country are really under the pressure of choosing between political freedom and economic progress. There is even evidence supporting the thesis that an active civil society is beneficial for economic progress. Together with other actors, the civil society organisations can influence a fairer distribution of the fruits of economic progress, pressure for accessible health care and education: all things that are beneficial in the long term also for the economy. But even if people in a country get into a situation where they have to choose: it's up to them to choose, not to a “father of the nation” or a handful of top politicians.

All countries in the region have free elections and multi-party Parliaments; isn't Areda coming too late ?

Free elections doubtlessly are important achievements. We view as a progress that countries in this region mostly have implemented them. Still, we believe there is much more to be done: political and economic elites can trick observers by establishing meaningless institutions, while controlling the real decisions through hidden, nondemocratic channels. Moreover, mafias and clientelistic networks are able to keep functioning even in conditions of formal democracy. The degree in which the people of Eastern Europe are really free to choose their future still varies largely among the countries of the region.

Eastern Europe received so much help from the West in the past 17 years and it was no use: just a few people got very rich; why not help other/poorer countries instead ?

“No use” is not reflecting the reality, although we understand - and share - a certain disappointment. The amount of the financial help is not the key issue, but its distribution. At Areda we try to improve this for the organisations which choose to work with us. We do so by facilitating solid relationships to honest, realistic and motivated groups of citizen in the target countries. But most of all we advocate a broader dialogue between development aid organisations and the local people. A better development aid is possible if we listen to and respect the opinion of citizen in Eastern European countries.

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