italy (~) euforic
current issues, food for thought, background information

policy and strategy

The government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have defined the Italian policies for development cooperation through the Law number 29 of February 26th 1987 which regulates development cooperation issues. This law focuses on the protection of human life, nutritional self-sufficiency, revalorization of human resources, protection and conservation of the environment, consolidation of endogenous development and economic, social and cultural growth of developing countries, and finally, the improvement of the situation and living conditions of women and children.

Over the past years the tendency has been of reduction of public and bilateral aid. The Prodi-government that was elected in 2006 nominated a Vice-minister for Development and International Cooperation which demonstrates its firm commitment to international relations with a development focus.

The 'Regional Cooperation Support Programme' aims to contribute to the definition of a strategy for enhancing the contribution of the Italian independent regions and provinces to the development of Southern Mediterranean and West Balkan countries.

actors

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation is in charge of managing the policy for international cooperation and development, through the Directorate General for Development Cooperation (DGCS).

The growing relevance of decentralized cooperation is especially significant in Italy, where regions and local governments are progressively more involved in development and international cooperation activities. They fund the Regional Governments Conference (Conferenza delle Regioni e delle Province autonome), and the Interregional Observatory for Development Cooperation (OICS), which coordinates and promotes their development policies. Also the Union of Italian Provinces and the National Association of Italian Municipalities are represented there, apart of their own initiatives.

CINI and ONG Italiane are the two NGO platforms in Italy. The activities of VIS - presented via the portal Villagio Volint - are especially remarkable, promoting volunteering through information in Italy about the situation in developing countries and educational activities in the field. Equally relevant are the activities of universities, research and academic institutions, such as CeSPI, which are innovative and informative about new policies and possibilities for development.