In 1991 a consortium of international founders has made a special initiative in the new democracies of Central Europe, from which the (EPSD) emerged. Members of EPSD are indigenous foundations of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia that are focused on mobilizing and empowering the people of the region to improve their environment, their local communities and societies.

HEPF the Hungarian member of EPSD became an independent domestic legal body, under the name: "Ökotárs" Foundation. Besides grantmaking and training, we also offer technical assistance, by organising expert help and advisory upon request. In this framework, during the last four years we significantly contributed to the internal co-operational mechanisms of the movement.

In the third year of its operation (1993) the offer of the program has broadened. Responding to the feedback of representatives and leaders of environmental organisations, we have realised that simple financial aid has little effect without methods, opportunities and systems for organisational development – thus the training programme has emerged. Nowadays it provides systematic organisational support both by means of shorter trainings (with themes ranging from strategic planning to fundraising and media work) as well as long term co-operation and consultancy services.

Change and renewal is continuous in our life: we regularly review and evaluate our programmes (involving both the board and external reviewers), adapt and adjust them, answering new challenges in the fast-moving Hungarian environment.

Today, EPSD operates independent organisations in Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary. The foundations are united in an Associaiton, which primarily means co-operation:

• among funders, uniting their financial means as well as experience in this field;
• among the Partnership organisations, both by sharing experience and operating joint thematic programmes;
• among NGOs both internally and across the borders.