The challenges facing Italian development cooperation in the context of the Mattei Plan, strengthened partnerships and field operations are at the heart of The Directors’ Days, the annual meeting of the Heads of Overseas Offices of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), opening in Rome. Over three days, from 18 to 20 December, the meeting will provide an opportunity to reflect on the results achieved over the past year and on ways to enhance the effectiveness and impact of cooperation initiatives, in line with the policy guidelines set out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The event brings together the 20 Directors of AICS Offices worldwide, including 10 based in Africa, and features contributions from the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for International Cooperation, Edmondo Cirielli; the Director General for Development Cooperation at MAECI, Stefano Gatti; the Deputy Coordinator of the Structure for the implementation of the Mattei Plan, Lorenzo Ortona; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ Special Envoy for the Mattei Plan, Massimo Riccardo.
The meeting also includes the participation of Guido Zolezzi (University of Trento) and Emanuela Colombo (Politecnico di Milano), representing the University Coordination for Development Cooperation. Space will also be given to dialogue with other cooperation models, with an address by Thorsten Schäfer-Gümbel, Chair of the Executive Board of the German agency GIZ, the largest European development cooperation agency, with which AICS is strengthening its partnership, including within the framework of EU-funded programmes.
“In an increasingly interconnected global context, development cooperation is an essential instrument also for Italy’s stability and prosperity. Within this framework, AICS plays a key role in translating the political guidelines of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs into concrete action—a role that undoubtedly requires strengthening its presence abroad and its human resources. For this reason, this year’s meeting will have an even stronger operational focus, with particular attention to new and innovative cooperation tools,” explained Deputy Minister Edmondo Cirielli.
“2025 has been a year marked by major international challenges, from Africa to the Middle East and Ukraine, in which the Agency has been at the forefront as an implementing body of development cooperation policies. Within the framework of the Mattei Plan, we have established two new project offices in Mauritania and Eritrea, while strengthening the Agency’s presence in Brussels and within international organizations such as FAO. The Directors’ Days will provide an opportunity to analyse perspectives and priorities for 2026, enhancing synergies with all actors of the Italian development cooperation system,” emphasized the Director of AICS, Marco Riccardo Rusconi.
As part of The Directors’ Days, the logo marking the tenth anniversary of the Agency—operational since 1 January 2016 following the adoption of Law No. 125/2014—will also be unveiled.
