The European Development seminar - social innovation & partnerships for development was an opportunity to further the dialogue with the EU institutions and international agencies involved with development issues and funding. The first compendium of the projects European cooperatives and cooperative development agencies are currently undertaking was enthusiastically received and gave a useful backdrop to the showcased development projects.

To date, the Compendium contains information on 311 development projects in 80 different countries with funding of at least €80 million for 162 of those projects. Projects in Africa are receiving 44% of the funds with 26% going to the Americas and 19% to Asian projects. Around 50% of the projects are concerned with the agriculture and credit sectors. The 10% of funds going to projects in Europe are mainly for the promotion of cooperatives in the social economy, consumer and agricultural sectors. (The Compendium data files will be on the website in the near future.)

In the concluding debate of the seminar it was evident that there was still room for more inter-agency cooperation and an increased exchange of knowledge relating to cooperative development. The Compendium will continue to be updated and added to with the proposal to include more information about the beneficiaries of the projects.

Down load the presentations below.

View the photo gallery (click on photo to download from web album or go to the web album )

ENDS

May 2008