"Releasing the capacity to create positive sustainable futures"
This past March, approximately 40 colleagues including guests from Canada, Botswana, Bangladesh, Nepal and the UK, attended a meeting to discuss potential strategies for ICA-USA's renewed involvement in global work. Though our organization has a rich history in international development, recent years have seen more of a domestic focus. Based on discussions during the meeting in March, it is obvious that now is the time for ICA-USA to once again expand its horizons and re-engage internationally. We plan to do this through cooperation with past partners and the cultivation of new relationships.
To this end, it is with great pleasure that I introduce to you a new addition our team, Seva Gandhi, as a Program Associate for International Initiatives. Seva has worked on grassroots development projects in Uganda and Central America and has supplemented her field experience with a Masters degree in internationally-focused Social Work from the University of Michigan. Seva will have an important role to play as we reintegrate ourselves into the global arena by supporting new international programs, working on local capacity building projects, and cultivating partnerships abroad.
On a related front, here is some additional news. Since March, ICA-USA has successfully responded to a "request for proposal" (RFP) with a partner organization, InDevelop, from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). ICA-USA will assist InDevelop in the creation of assessment tool for Sida to use in its civil society programs. Though this is a relatively small contract, it is a symbol of wider opportunities to come and confirmation from a major funding source that ICA-USA does indeed have a significant contribution to make.
As Rob Work so poignantly suggested at the meeting, we have just entered the most critical decade in all of human history. Though tools and technology are available to respond to the challenges, the collective will around the world is in doubt. Addressing this dimension of the human factor has always be one of ICA's strengths. We invite you to be part of our decade-long initiative and support us in our current endeavors to reintegrate our organization into international development work.
Take care,
Terry Bergdall. PhD
Chief Executive Officer
