Recent global events have caused the redefinition of the context within which international non-government organizations conduct their activities in the field of development cooperation.
An international organization that has implemented a number of a pioneering programs under the auspices of the United Nations Development Programme, DEVNET has embarked on a bold attempt to put the organization on the map as a globally recognized leader in the field of development cooperation, particularly in sectors where it has accumulated over 20 years of experience. It has injected new dynamism into its global network and adjusted its focus on new priority areas with the election of the organization’s new leaders.
At a board meeting held on 29 September 2011, two new officers were elected to guide DEVNET through the critical new phase of its organizational life. Manuel Manonelles from Spain assumed the position of Chairman of the Board and Phil Harris from Scotland, as Executive Director. Both are committed to strengthen the organization and realign its vision and mission to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Manuel Manonelles is the Director of the Office of Barcelona Culture of Peace, responsibility that he combines with that of Director of the Secretariat of the World Forum of Civil Society Networks, better known as the Ubuntu Forum, institutions that are both chaired by Federico Mayor, former Director General of UNESCO. He has also served as Special Adviser of the co-Chair of the UN High Level Group for the Alliance of Civilizations. He is a member of the Steering Committee of the Jean Monnet Centre of European Excellence on “Intercultural Dialogue, Human Rights and Multi-level Governance”, based at the University of Padua, Italy; and member of the International Council of the World Social Forum. A political scientist specialized in International Relations, Human Rights and the Democratization process, he has acted on several occasions as International Relations, Human Rights and the Democratization process, he has acted on several occasions as International Electoral Observer and Supervisor for the European Union and the OSCE.
Phil Harris is a communications policy and strategy adviser with an extensive and important career in communications management and research. Harris is also an author, editor, journalist, and development communication specialist. He has been a communications consultant for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the World Food Programme (WFP). For 18 years, he served as Director of Publications and Senior Editor for Inter Press Service. At present, he is Managing Editor of Working With Words, a communication services agency.
The international DEVNET Association is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization that enjoys Consultative Status (Category 1) with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). This status was granted through ECOSOC Resolution 1296 (XLIV) in 1995. As such, DEVNET is entitled to propose agenda items for consideration by ECOSOC and its subsidiaries as well as submit written statements and be granted hearing on agenda items of the Council. It may also designate its official representative to the United Nations headquarters in New York and UN offices in Geneva, Vienna and Rome.
DEVNET has implemented TIPS (Technological Information Promotion System), an interregional programme sponsored by the UNDP, to foster technical and economic cooperation among developing countries. It also implemented WINNER (Women into the New Network for Entrepreneurial Reinforcement) to promote women economic empowerment under the auspices of UNDP/Unifem (now UN Women).
