Calendar

December 2008: Conference on Non-Governmental Diplomacy, organized with the support of the Embassy of France in Washington (Washington DC, USA).

This conference focused on the increasingly important role played by non-governmental organizations in addressing global issues, a function that was traditionally the sole prerogative and responsibility of nation-states. This event wass organized by the National NGO platforms InterAction and Coordination SUD and the Mortara Center for International Studies of Georgetown University, with the support of the French Embassy.

 Forum on Venture Philanthropy, held at the Embassy of France in Washington, DC. This forum was the opportunity for representatives of the French private and non profit sectors to learn more about this branch of American philanthropy.

November 2008: The Non governmental affairs office held a working lunch on Monday, November 10, on the occasion of a conference on climate change co-organized by the French, Polish and Danish Embassies. This lunch brought together high ranking representatives of American environmental NGOs, congressional staffers, institutional actors from the French, American, Danish and Polish governements, and the ambassadors of Poland, Denmark and the European Union to discuss the future position of the United States in upcoming international climate change negotiations.

October 2008: The NGO National Platforms International Conference organized by Coordination SUD (Paris, France).

This meeting brought together NGO national platforms’ representatives from more than 80 countries. It aimed to both promote NGOs’ initiatives to national authorities and to regional and international organizations and lay down the foundations for a better participation of NGOs from the South in international debates. Participants also worked to facilitate the creation of a global network or a NGO national platforms alliance.

September 2008: Visit of Mrs. Laurence Tubiana, director of the IDDRI, a French organization at the interface of research and decision-making, which gathers knowledge and expertise on the main international themes of sustainable development. On this occasion, the Non Governmental Affairs Office organized a working lunch with representatives of prominent American NGOs in the field of biodiversity in order to garner their reactions to the initiative IPBES. The following NGOs attended the lunch: Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, the Union of Concerned Scientists, Worldwatch Institute, World Resources Institute, World Wildlife Fund and the Heinz Center.

May 2008: Reception at the Ambassador’s Residency with representatives of the international non governmental community.

Ambassador Pierre Vimont gave a reception at his residency in honor of the fruitful collaboration between the French and American national NGO platforms, Coordination SUD and InterAction. Along side these two organizations presidents, Mr. Henri Rouille d’Orfeuil and Sam Worthington, were in attendance numerous representatives of the international non governmental community - friends from NGOs, Think Tanks, foundations and universities.

March 2008: Participation in the American Association for Affirmative Action’s 34th Annual Conference (Washington DC, USA)

 Visit of Mr. Henri Rouille d’Orfeuil, president of Coordination SUD, and Fabrice Ferrier, the International programs manager of Coordination SUD.

 Participation in the Rhode Island College’s International Conference on Labor and Human Rights. Presentation on "Labor Unions and NGOs : A French Perspective."

February 2008: Visit of Jacques Pellet, Under Secretary in charge of Human Rights.

In preparation of the French Presidency of the European Union, Mr. Pellet sought to garner american organizations’ views on the Death Penalty. He consequently met with a number of organizations, most notably the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC), Human Rights Watch (HRW), the American Bar Association (ABA), the Constitution Project, Amnesty International and the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (NCADP).

 Participation in an international conference on the role of NGOs marking the 25th Anniversary of Handicap International (Lyon, France).

January 2008: Visit of Coordination SUD to discuss aid effectiveness.

Representatives of Coordination SUD spent 4 days in Washington DC and New York, meeting officials (French Embassy, World Bank, IMF, UN) and specialists from universities (Georges Washington University) and Think Tanks (The Brookings Institution, The Center for Global Development). The high point of their visit was their meeting with representatives from InterAction with whom they exchanged views on aid efficiency and discussed their organizations’ respective positions for the forthcoming G8 summit.

November 2007: Presentation of a French Annual Report on Sustainable Development in collaboration with the French Development Agency, the World Resources Institute, and Conservation International

October 2007: Visit of Coordination SUD to discuss HIV/AIDS

Representatives of the French Development NGOs coalition Coordination SUD (from Handicap International, Solthis, AIDES, ACT-UP, and OPALS) spent 3 days in Boston, New York and Washington DC to meet various U.S.-based organizations. Among these organizations were Harvard University, Partners in Health, Human Rights Watch, the Clinton Foundation, Population Services International, InterAction, PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief), USAID (United States Agency for International Development) and the World Bank.

 Visit of Henri de Cazotte, Communication Officer of the French Development Agency. Henri de Cazotte spent 2 days in Washington DC meeting with NGOs - most notably Africare, CARE, WWF, World Vision and Interaction, to discuss possible partnerships and collaborations.

 Visit of Jean-Marie Bockel, Secretary of State in charge of Cooperation and French Speaking Communities. Mr. Bockel met with representatives of Conservation International.