Who We Are
The International Foundation for Sustainable Peace and Development (IFSPD), formerly known as the International Fund for Cooperation and Partnership of the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea (BSCSIF) is an international, non-governmental and non-profit organization, established on March 4, 2009, upon the initiative of distinguished intellectuals, scientific and public figures, diplomats, representatives of influential non-governmental organizations from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine.
This initiative was unique due to the complementary approach of Black Sea and Caspian Sea regions and the attempt to harmonize the interests of the neighboring countries in order to identify common goals and common means for the integrated development. In order to help people belonging to this regions to enhance the cooperation between their countries and with international organizations; distinguished representatives of civil society, scientific researchers, academics and diplomats decided to establish an organism that would be an alternative to the rigidity of the official high level relations and to pledge for people-to-people contacts and the dialogue between experts in various fields of activity.
Later, in 2011-2015, BSCSIF was joined by the representatives from countries such as: Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Luxemburg, Macedonia, Montenegro, Russian Federation, Sao Tome and Principe, Republic of Serbia, Slovenia, Republic of South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swiss Confederation. Thus, the activities of the organization geographically moved beyond the regions of the Black Sea and Caspian Sea.
From this perspective on June 10, 2017, the members agreed during the 16th sessions of the General Assembly and the Board of Directors upon the idea of changing the name of the organization in order to fully reflect its objective reality.
On this basis, and with due respect to its history and maintaining its continuity in accordance with its Charter, goals and objectives, BSCSIF was renamed to International Foundation for Sustainable Peace and Development (IFSPD).
IFSPD as the successor of BSCSIF is in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), since August 1, 2013.
Consultative status for an organization enables it to actively engage with ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies, as well as with the United Nations Secretariat, programmes, funds and agencies in a number of ways.
As a think tank, IFSPD has collaborated with world-renowned consultants and experts from Canada, Great Britain, Italy, Romania, Belgium, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Montenegro on more than 60 research projects, such as:
From the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea — A Strategic View; Multiculturalism in the Context of the Modern Globalizing World; European Identity; Abuse of the Principle of Self-Determination of Peoples and the Response of the International Community; Impact of Information Technology on Sustainable Development; Multiculturalism as a Necessary Element for the Cultural Component of the Project One Belt, One Road; Conflict Resolution, IFSPD Thought Leadership – Global Sustainability Impact Index; The Impact of Technology on Democracy in the 21st Century; The Role of Civil Society in Developing Countries; The Role of Mass Media in the Development of Society; The Role of Public Diplomacy in the Modern World; The Role and Place of Modern Youth in the Dialogue between Civilizations, etc.,