Intercooperation Jubilee Celebration
25 years of inspiring change
Friday afternoon 17.08.07
For this celebratory afternoon, approximately 200 guests found their way to
Solothurn, the home city of Intercooperation’s Executive Director, Felix von
Sury.
| After warm welcome addresses from the Canton of Solothurn by
Peter
Gomm
, President of the Canton’s Government, and from the City of
Solothurn by
Kurt Fluri
, Mayor and Member of Parliament,
Elmar
Ledergerber
, President of Intercooperation’s Foundation Council,
took the floor. In a speech spanning three languages, he looked back to
the first steps of Intercooperation’s establishment, at its dynamic
development, and speculated briefly on its future. He affirmed that
however Intercooperation evolves, its strong commitment to the principles
of development remains. |
|
| Both our guest speakers, Mrs.
Doris Solís
, Andes Regional
Coordinator at the World Tourism Organisation in Ecuador, and Mr.
Ramesh Singh
, the Executive Director of ActionAid International,
presented their vision of the roles of development aid institutions,
especially NGOs in the rapidly evolving development context.
Internationalisation, and the restructuring of decision-making powers and
processes were key words. |
|
|
Daniel Gerber
, Secretary of State, SECO highlighted 15 years
of partnership in development cooperation between SECO and
Intercooperation, drawing particular attention to the professional
back-stopping provided by Intercooperation in international forestry. He
also raised the suggestion of SECO to take responsibility for Swiss
cooperation with middle-income countries. |
|
| SDC Director-General
Walter Fust
provided an outlook on future
challenges of Swiss Development Cooperation. Development policy needs to
constantly adapt to new challenges in a globalised world that is changing
at breakneck speed. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), human
security and pro-development globalisation are three crucial issues. Mr
Fust also highlighted Intercooperation as an important implementation
partner of SDC, valued for its professional competences at both micro and
meso levels, based on practical, hands-on experience. |
|
| It was a great honour to be addressed for the final words by
Ruth
Dreifuss
, Former President of the Swiss Confederation. Confessing
that she had not been convinced at the time of its establishment of the
need and potential of an organisation such as Intercooperation, she
affirmed that she is now glad to see what it has achieved over the past
25 past years. |
|
Then the glasses tinkled on the terrace outside against the backdrop of the
old city and the river Aare, with participants toasting to next 25 years of
Intercooperation.
Last modified
26-09-2007 09:14 AM
