The IRPC has been engaged in a number of activities and teleconference discussions on a variety of themes and issues involving community development worldwide.
First, we have renewed our Special Consultative status before the United Nations. The designation of Special Consultative status provides us with a communications channel to the various U.N. activities, meetings and publications available to civic society. It also provides us with a seat at the table during exchanges between governmental representatives and civil society. We have already had representation during a forum on development financing and the UN South-South conference and expect to participate in others, as appropriate. We will also be talking with and seeking collaboration with other NGOs that participate in the U.N. dialogue with civil society.
Second, committee members have been reviewing the “Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness” from donor organizations as well as the “Accra Agenda for Action” from civil society promoting the need for a discussion on “Development Effectiveness.” We are promoting and encouraging IACD members from around the world to participate in the various national conclaves being organized to discuss and formulate civil society’s perspectives on “Development Effectiveness.” IACD will post the dates and time of these conclaves as they become known to us.
Third, the committee has been developing a proposal for submission to funders requesting their support for a study on community development from a global perspective. A number of IACD members have been asking, is the way community development is defined, taught and implemented the same world-side, and if not, what are the differences? We are proposing to answer those questions. In addition, there are a number of other spin off sub-studies that we believe will benefit from such a survey of the development field, for example, what are the various structures and processes in which business, government and civil society interact? What are the various ways NGOs are funded, and how does that affect their influence and effectiveness? How are academics and practitioners prepared for their work, and by whom?
Fourth, some other activities the committee is hoping to do include:
* Survey of membership around key questions for consultation (global).
* Reach out to members in countries with upcoming consultations to see if they can attend and if they can represent their region of IACD at these meetings and report back.
* Put the information gathered on our website.
* Include a policy specific e-bulletin with all of this and concrete ways members could participate.
* Develop a one-pager/policy brief from IACD (region by region and global) as informed by the committee teleconferences.
Finally, we are looking for a few open Regional representatives positions on the committee to fulfill the complement needed to assure and representation and voice from all of our Regions. I am reminded of the story of the cobbler who produces fine quality shoes, yet his own children go without shoes. As community organizers, we are asking of ourselves for you to volunteer to help us organize and fill the openings on the IRPC committee, as well as of all of the IACD committees. We want individuals who are excited and committed to the agenda provided above. The following Regions are open: Latin America, North Africa & Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania. Please volunteer to represent your Region by sending a note to the IACD President, Ingrid Burkett (ingrid.burkett@iacdglobal.org) for consideration with a copy to Debi Fry (debi.fry@iacdglobal.org).
Thanks and take care, Randolph (Randy) Adams, Ph.D. – IRPC Chair
