NPF's Chair and President, Sarah Harder, and NPF Advisor & Fellow, Olga Bessolova, have worked together in Russia since 1990 to empower citizens, strengthen the institutions of civil society, and make and institutionalize progressive change. Together, they have developed an extensive network of partners in Russia who collaborate on these important programs. For almost 20 years, NPF has provided critical assistance, expertise and self-funded support to these programs. Sarah and Olga have worked with Women of the Don Region and its Chair, Valentina Cherevatenko, on post conflict leadership projects related to the Chechen War. In 2004, NPF was asked to assist in leadership training for professionals from Beslan, North Ossetia, the site of the September 2004 school tragedy. These projects have resulted in the establishment of permanent, continually functioning NGO coalitions in 11 regions in Russia.

NPF's Russian projects primarily focus on the following issues: Combating Addiction, Women's Empowerment, Family Economic Self-Sufficiency, Conflict Resolution and dealing with the consequences of post-conflict healing. To address these issues, NPF uses its unique model of:

• Building cross-sectoral networks.


• Providing cutting edge information and materials frequently provided in English and bringing in experts from the US who work in related programs.


• Breaking down pre-conceptions.


• Doing group/interactive work.


• Designing collaborative follow-on projects.


• Maintaining the network.

 This work has been funded primarily through various foundations and trusts based in Russia. Many of the programs receive direct additional funding support from major US and European-based funders (foundations and governments).