FOND signed Collaboration Protocol with the MFA

This long awaited moment happened during the FOND General Assembly (GA) which took place between 28th-29th of March, 2013. The Collaboration Protocol represents a major step in the cooperation between the Romanian NGDO platform FOND and the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in terms of development cooperation and reflects the efforts and progress made during the last years. The objective of this Protocol is “to enhance dialogue, collaboration and mutual support between the two parties in the implementation of the Romanian international development cooperation policy, to increase cohesion, coordination, transparency, complementarity, effectiveness and the impact of Romania’s official development assistance”.The Protocol reiterates the important role of FOND in building the national community acting in development cooperation and emphasizes the fundamental role of dialogue, cooperation and partnership between the MFA and FOND. The first draft of the Protocol used as an example the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Slovak NGDO Platform - MVRO and the Slovak MFA.

The priorities of the MFA for 2013 (which will involve FOND as main partner) will include: achieving a new national strategy on development cooperation, achievement and implementation of the strategy on communication, education and public awareness in the field of development and implementation of the Annual Action Plan on granting development assistance from the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the General Assembly, FOND members reflected on the progress made during the last year and identified the priorities for the next period: strengthening FOND members’ capacity to implement projects on development cooperation/development education, developing the policy and advocacy capacity (national and European level). The platform members were engaged in several thematic discussions – policy & advocacy, development education, humanitarian aid, opportunities provided through the TRIALOG project.
The Board of Directors changed its component: Olivia Baciu (President), Doina Crangasu (Vice president), Stefania Mircea, Borbala Koo, Ioana Manaila, Daniela Buzducea, Natalia Budescu. FOND also welcomed 4 new members (Habitat for Humanity, Romanian Center for European Policies, Ecopolis Association and Mai Bine Association) working in policy issues, environment, humanitarian aid, adding up to a total of 35 members.

Additional information is available on the websites: www.fondromania.org and www.aod.ro.

In the picture: MFA representative and FOND President Olivia Baciu signing the Collaboration Protocol.

Information provided by Adriana Zaharia, FOND