SeminarSeminar“Strengthening Development Cooperation“Strengthening Development Cooperation

in Enlarged Europe”in Enlarged Europe” Luxembourg - 9 & 10 December 2004 Luxembourg - 9 & 10 December 2004

SOS FAIM (Luxembourg)SOS FAIM (Luxembourg)

INTEGRA (Slovakia):INTEGRA (Slovakia):

towards a new partnership ?towards a new partnership ?

A collaboration initiative between two NGO’sA collaboration initiative between two NGO’s

ContentsContents

Presentation of SOS FAIM and INTEGRAPresentation of SOS FAIM and INTEGRA

Common aspects and differences of the 2 NGO’sCommon aspects and differences of the 2 NGO’s

Context for the collaborationContext for the collaboration

Building up of the partnershipBuilding up of the partnership

The common projectThe common project

Added value and limits of the partnershipAdded value and limits of the partnership

Conclusions and discussionConclusions and discussion

Presentation of SOS FAIM and INTEGRAPresentation of SOS FAIM and INTEGRA

I. I. SOS FAIMSOS FAIM

Independent and professionalIndependent and professional

Long term development in AfricaLong term development in Africa

Three priorities:Three priorities:

– Developing peasants organizationDeveloping peasants organization– Supporting microfinance institutionsSupporting microfinance institutions– Public information in LuxembourgPublic information in Luxembourg

Presentation of SOS FAIM and INTEGRAPresentation of SOS FAIM and INTEGRA

II. II. INTEGRAINTEGRA

““Helping people to build their businesses to Helping people to build their businesses to become « Islands of Integrity » and participate become « Islands of Integrity » and participate in the transformation of their communities”in the transformation of their communities”

Three Strategic Programs:Three Strategic Programs:

- Social Enterprise Program- Social Enterprise Program

- Micro-Enterpirse Development Program for - Micro-Enterpirse Development Program for WomenWomen

- Corporate Social Responsibility Program- Corporate Social Responsibility Program

10 years of development experience in Eastern Europe10 years of development experience in Eastern Europe

Starting to operate in AfricaStarting to operate in Africa

Common aspects and differences of the 2 NGO’sCommon aspects and differences of the 2 NGO’s

I.I. Common aspectsCommon aspects

ProfessionalProfessional

Similar views on MicrofinanceSimilar views on Microfinance

Strong positions in their own countriesStrong positions in their own countries

Open to new collaborationsOpen to new collaborations

Common aspects and differences of the 2 NGO’sCommon aspects and differences of the 2 NGO’s

II. II. DifferencesDifferences

Confessional / non confessionalConfessional / non confessional

Different uses of the microfinance toolDifferent uses of the microfinance tool

Different geographical prioritiesDifferent geographical priorities

Human and financial resourcesHuman and financial resources

Context of the collaborationContext of the collaboration

New Member States (NMS) = new donorsNew Member States (NMS) = new donors

Political will of EC to support NMS NGO’sPolitical will of EC to support NMS NGO’s

SOS FAIM & INTEGRA: open-minded NGO’sSOS FAIM & INTEGRA: open-minded NGO’s

Building up the partnershipBuilding up the partnership

Initiative of SOS FAIMInitiative of SOS FAIM

Identification of NMS NGO’sIdentification of NMS NGO’s

(Internet, TRIALOG, etc…)(Internet, TRIALOG, etc…)

Trip in Czech Republic & Slovakia (May ’04)Trip in Czech Republic & Slovakia (May ’04)

(Meeting with MFA, UNDP, NGOs, embassies and universities)(Meeting with MFA, UNDP, NGOs, embassies and universities)

Building up the partnershipBuilding up the partnership

Conclusions of the first missionConclusions of the first mission::

Easier context in Slovakia than in Czech RepublicEasier context in Slovakia than in Czech Republic

Different geographical prioritiesDifferent geographical priorities

Small NGO’s need institutional supportSmall NGO’s need institutional support

Building up the partnershipBuilding up the partnership

Identification of INTEGRA as a possible partnerIdentification of INTEGRA as a possible partner

Identification of a joint projectIdentification of a joint project

Second mission in Slovakia (August ’04)Second mission in Slovakia (August ’04)

Redaction of the projectRedaction of the project

Application to EC (B-21-02-03)Application to EC (B-21-02-03)

The common project:The common project:

‘Microfinance: let beneficiaries speak’‘Microfinance: let beneficiaries speak’

Development education projectDevelopment education project

Focus on the microfinance beneficiaries Focus on the microfinance beneficiaries

Human approach (rather than a technical one)Human approach (rather than a technical one)

To schools & universities, corporations, NGO’sTo schools & universities, corporations, NGO’s

National campaign in the two countriesNational campaign in the two countries

3 years time span (2006-2008)3 years time span (2006-2008)

Added value and limits of the partnershipAdded value and limits of the partnership

I.I. Added valueAdded value

New partnership = new ideasNew partnership = new ideas

Geographical crossroads approachGeographical crossroads approach

Common understanding between 2 NGO’s Common understanding between 2 NGO’s

Similar needs in the two countriesSimilar needs in the two countries

Learning from each otherLearning from each other

Added value and limits of the partnershipAdded value and limits of the partnership

II. II. Limits

Small NGO’s: limited human & financial resourcesSmall NGO’s: limited human & financial resources

A new partnership : needs to be consolidatedA new partnership : needs to be consolidated

Language issuesLanguage issues

Distance between the two countriesDistance between the two countries

Dependence on public fundingDependence on public funding

Conclusions and discussionConclusions and discussion

Conclusions:Conclusions:

New and still “theoretical” partnershipNew and still “theoretical” partnership

Building up a partnership requires timeBuilding up a partnership requires time

IMPORTANCE TO MEET PEOPLEIMPORTANCE TO MEET PEOPLE(institutional relationships = first human ones !)(institutional relationships = first human ones !)

Starting a new partnership = a great challenge !Starting a new partnership = a great challenge !

Conclusions and discussionConclusions and discussion

Discussion (proposal …):Discussion (proposal …):

Western NGO’s / NMS NGO’s :Western NGO’s / NMS NGO’s :

a fair partnership or a new business ?a fair partnership or a new business ?

THANK YOU !THANK YOU !

Thierry DEFENSE, SOS FAIM (Luxembourg)Thierry DEFENSE, SOS FAIM (Luxembourg)

Marek MARKUS, INTEGRA (Slovakia)Marek MARKUS, INTEGRA (Slovakia)