FOND launches research paper "It's our turn to help"

On the 6th of November 2009 the Romanian NGDO Platform (FOND) organised a conference to launch a research paper regarding development cooperation issues in Romania. The paper was prepared by Mirela Oprea (FOND Board Member / World Vision Romania) and Rodica Novac (ADO SAH Romania). Among the guests invited at the event there were representatives of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Romanian Ministry of Interior and Administration, the European Parliament, FOND members, embassies in Bucharest, mass-media, private sector, academia and students. The event was part of a project currently implemented by FOND and financed by the Presidency Fund.

The research paper “It’s our turn to help” not only reflects the present state of affairs, but it also considers the past, drawing our attention on Romania’s pre-’89 policy towards the developing countries. Other issues taken into consideration revolve around the current Romanian institutional framework for development cooperation (local capacity building, the role of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the coordinator of this policy, the Romanian National Strategy on Development Cooperation) and the Romanian ODA projects and initiatives (including the creation of the Romanian NGDO Platform, cross-border co-operation and NGO awareness and development eduction campaigns).

The conference opened an interesting debate on Romania’s past experience with international development matters; for the first time sources showing that before 1989 Romania ‘was by far one of the biggest donors of foreign assistance in Eastern Europe’ were brought into a public debate. This new approach may help define better Romania’s role as a “new” donor.

The paper is available on the FOND website: http://www.fondromania.org/eng/library/research.rar. For further information please contact Adela Rusu: adela.rusu@fondromania.org. Feedback is very much welcome as well!

Information provided by Adela Rusu, FOND