History never repeats itself, but certain criteria for successful transformation were equally valid during Poland’s period of radical change 20 years ago as they are today in the Middle East and North Africa. This was the opinion voiced by former Polish prime minister Krzysztof Bielecki in Warsaw in December 2011, at one of various new activities organised by the Transformation Thinkers, a joint project of GIZ and the Bertelsmann Foundation.

Honesty as the basis for reconciliation, sticking to democratic rules of play, and good timing: these are the criteria for successful transformation, said Krzysztof Bielecki at the opening panel of the European Development Days, which AgenZ organised in conjunction with the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ‘But there is no recipe for transformation – such change processes are far too dynamic for that,’ said GIZ Managing Director Christoph Beier, who noted a growth in demand for GIZ support for transformation processes.

GIZ’s advantage in this field lies in its extensive experience in supporting social change worldwide, and in its ability to bring together the relevant actors in a network. ‘As a process, transformation is marked both by setbacks and by positive steps in development. In this context, it really helps to take a look at other transition countries,’ said Dane Taleski from Macedonia, who shared the stage with Beier and Bielecki in Warsaw. The 32-year-old academic is one of 120 Transformation Thinkers whom GIZ and the Bertelsmann Foundation have been supporting since 2003.

The initiative aims to set up a viable network of young actors for change, which is designed to systematically reflect on transformation experiences and give guidance on finding possible solutions and taking strategic action. A reunion of Transformation Thinkers in Potsdam in late 2011 showed that the approach is having an effect. Many of the alumni from the past nine years are active and important shapers of change in their home countries.