The Near East Foundation (NEF) established the Center for Development Services in Cairo in 1990 to support community development initiatives.

The Center for Development Services (CDS) is the largest single provider of Arabic language development-related services for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the Middle East. Each month, CDS delivers 250 days of hands-on, practice-oriented training and technical assistance aimed at enhancing individual skills and institutional performance.

Research. Development planning requires information. The way in which information is collected and used determines how and to what extent people participate in the events that will affect their lives and livelihoods. The Center for Development Services wields a well-stocked arsenal of participatory, qualitative research techniques that encourage and facilitate the active involvement of community members in data collection and decision making.

Teaching and Learning Materials. The Center for Development Services maintains an extensive, frequently consulted collection of Arabic and English language materials for development practitioners .

Experienced, Dedicated Staff. The Center for Development Services draws staffers from a wide range of disciplines; most are full-time, mid-career professionals with extensive field experience who have also lived, studied, or worked abroad. Teams of seasoned CDS professionals deliver flexible, integrated services designed to help clients define their developmental priorities and take meaningful steps toward self-directed, self-sustaining change.

CDS Staff

CDS Supporters

CDS Financial Statements

Learning Resource Centers