History of MDF
With the strong increase in support for development cooperation in the seventies and early eighties, the number of
development projects mushroomed enormously. These projects were often implemented by multi-disciplinary and
multicultural teams. However a good doctor, engineer or agronomist does not automatically make a good manager.
Subsequently, most of these development projects and programmes were lacking adequate management and
organisation.
MDF, the Management for Development Foundation, was established in 1984 to contribute to a better organisation,
planning and management of development projects and programmes. It started with the organisation of open subscription
courses on project management and programme administration. Soon MDF also started rendering consultancy services in the
field of organisation and management and by taking the responsibility for the implementation of donor financed projects
focussing on improved planning and organisation of development interventions.
In the late eighties and early nineties, it was realised that it was equally important to contribute to a better
organisation and management of organisations implementing all these projects. This resulted in a number of new courses
on organisational analysis, capacity building and institutional development. Donor organisations realised that they
also were in need of better management skills and methods. MDF developed courses for desk-officers on portfolio
management and designed the Project Cycle Management method, based on the concepts Objective Oriented Project Planning
(OOPP) and the Logical Framework. PCM gained international recognition. The fact that the European Commission declared
the PCM method compulsory for all its external aid programmes played an important role in its dissemination.
However, systems, methods and instruments alone are not sufficient to improve management and organisation. Since the
mid nineties MDF expanded its product range further by adding courses on human resources development, training of
trainers and facilitation skills.
Present situation
Since the late nineties and especially since the beginning of this millennium the landscape of international
development cooperation appears to be changing quickly. The new buzz words are "sector wide approach", "none state
actors", "private sector", "budget support", "accountability", "good governance" and "transparency". These words
reflect a new way of thinking about the role of recipient governments, donor organisations, the private sector and the
civil society in the development process. These new trends are also reflected in MDF's portfolio. Courses on management
of sector wide approach programmes, private sector development, management for development results and development
of entrepreneurship have been added.
Though trends in thinking about development assistance have changed over the years, MDF's mission has remained the
same. We still seeks to enhance management capacities of professionals and organisations in the development sector.
However broad the scopes of development, our focus remains on aspects related to planning, organisation and
management.
The Future
The future only exists in our dreams but knowing that dreaming is vital for maintaining our mental health, MDF does
not shy away from dreaming. We dream about a moderately sized and efficient MDF head office in the Netherlands, with
small branch offices all over the world. In these offices MDF staff cooperates with all kinds of partners; training
institutes, umbrella-NGO's, public organisations, consultancy firms and community based organisations. They are closer
to our customers and can as such better cater for the demands of a wider range of clients. They will stimulate our
cross-cultural learning ability and put us in a better position to serve as a broker between organisations in the South
and the North.
We also dream about transforming our training centre in The Netherlands into an International Learning and Conference
Centre for development practitioners from all over the world. A place where courses and workshops are organised and
public hearings and debates are held. A market square where experiences, ideas and best practices are exchanged. A
place where development practitioners can meet, discuss, learn, share, teach, reflect and contemplate. An inspiring
environment that serves as a gateway to new knowledge and enriched experiences, but at the same time a pleasant and
cosy location where they feel at home and can gain new energy.
We consider these dreams as a beckoning panorama. We can make these dreams come true, little by little. If you have
suggestions, please feel free, do not hesitate and let us know.
