• Ngo’s and CI : two separate worlds• Historically: a lot of ‘ad hoc’ collaborations

and exchanges between NGO’s and CI’s• A lot of ngo’s started as CI’s• CI’s not recognized as actors in the field of

international solidarity.

Before 2009

Ngo’sstructural aid-programsactive on national scaleprofessionalsorganised in a federation and an ngo-platform (11.11.11)

CI’s small scale-projects local volunteers not organized

NGO’s / CI’s

A certain generation of ngo-professionals was pleased that we finally left this

small scale CI-approach behind to concentrate on a more structural approach

2007Prof. Develtere (HIVA)

identifies 4 pillars of international cooperation4th pillar = CI’s = “the socialization of development aid”

2009

“4de pijlersteunpunt” founded by the Flemish government and 11.11.11,

umbrella organization of Flemish North-South movement

website helpdesk, coaching, trainings, meetings, networking,

Vision statement adopted by the ngo’s

• CI’s recognized as an actor in international solidarity• Acknowledge the creativity and dynamism of CI’s• We are all expert in our own way• Both have strengths and weaknesses• Let’s not be competitors, but allies.• The ‘big picture’ and ‘small story’ (CI’s) are two sides of the

same story• Focus on local level: The local councils on international

solidarity in towns and cities • Recognizing CI’s does not mean that we have to appreciate all

CI-projects in the same positive way!

Not so easy• Big ngo’s not really interested. Small ngo’s are closer

to CI’s• Ngo’s have their own program: long term programs -

specific countries - specific topics.• Ngo’s lack time and human resources• Ngo’s ‘protect’ their own market• A lot of prejudices about each other

Mutual distrustNGO’s CI• lack of vision, capacity,

professionalism• old style charity • quality of the projects is

questioned• competitors on

fundraising market• ‘no harm’-approach

CI NGO’s• big and non-efficient• money gets lost in

overhead• ngo’s monopolize the

market for themselves• arrogant and looking

down on CI’s

Looking for ways to stimulate exchange

• Platform for CI to defend their interests was created 5 CI-represenatives member of the general assembly

• Getting CI’s involved in public campaigns (MDG’s, climate change, ..)

• Inviting CI’s to events, conferences, political actions,

• Joint network events

Looking for ways to stimulate exchange

• Open up the ‘expertise’ of ngo’s to CI’s • Stimulate partnership on local level (local councils

on international solidarity)• Involve CI’s in networks on actual topics (Philipines,

Central-Afrika, …)

Questions for the future:• How to get more south-south cooperation ?• Open up budgets for CI ?• Do we need an ethical code for CI’s ?