In the promising atmosphere following the downfall of Communism in Central and Eastern Europe, American and other foreign consultants flooded in with short-term training programs and policy recommendations.
Appreciating that democratic change and civil society building required new and acculturated skills and methods, PartnersGlobal established from 1991 to 1994 six national Centers led by trained, local professionals, whose expertise over time would exceed the need of expatriate consultants.
[3] Partners for Democratic Change received the JAMS Foundation's Fourth Annual Warren Knight Award in recognition of effectively managing and resolving conflict and for assisting emerging democracies throughout the world to advance a civil society.
[7] As of 2011, Partners has currently established centers in Albania, Argentina, Bulgaria, Colombia, El Salvador, Georgia, Hungary, Iraq, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Poland, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia and Yemen.
[8] The Centers focus on promoting and supporting civil society, interethnic relations, network building, anti-corruption reform, family mediation and youth and women's leadership in their home countries.