News
HARD: Rural Development and Food Security in Rome
Initiated by the European Commission’s DG INTPA, HARD is a principal informal mechanism for coordinating agro-food system transformation efforts among the Commission and its Member States. Since 2020, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), through its Office VI, has been an active participant in HARD to discuss DG INTPA’s work on rural development and food security.
Italy Supports the Creation of EXPO Albania in Tirana
A feasibility study for the Tirana Exhibition Center, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and conducted by the University of Verona in collaboration with Verona Fiere and the Albanian Investment Corporation (AIC), was recently presented to a broad audience. The study outlines the macroeconomic context, business model, financial plan, management and operational strategy, and offers recommendations for launching EXPO Albania.
Mission to Colombia: innovative cooperation in a country with many challenges
AICS’s work in Colombia continues to play a crucial role in improving the socio-economic conditions of local communities, promoting inclusion, equality, and sustainability. This mission reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to building innovative, sustainable, and inclusive development initiatives in Colombia, particularly through public-private partnerships, research, and Italian expertise. These key concepts were discussed in a meeting with the Colombian Presidential Agency for Cooperation, exploring future collaborative perspectives.
Italy and Colombia Strengthen Agricultural Development Cooperation through the “Agrocadenas” Project
In Colombia, Italian Cooperation is investing approximately €62 million, focusing on revitalizing the country’s economic framework, supporting major production chains to become more efficient and competitive through Italian expertise and technology, and more environmentally responsible to ensure food security
Education for Sustainable Development: National Green School Italia Seminar in Rome on October 10
The event will highlight the results from the first two years of the Green School Italia Program, a network of schools and communities dedicated to sustainable development, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).
Global Citizenship and Sustainability at the Center of the Interministerial Table for the Implementation of the National Sustainable Development Strategy
The Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), Marco Riccardo Rusconi, confirmed the Agency's commitment to promoting Global Citizenship Education, recognized as an essential element for building a sustainable, fair, and inclusive world.
Inaugurated the First Child Neuropsychiatry Unit in Niger
The pavilion was established within the framework of the project "Development of the National Mental Health Program in Niger," funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and implemented by MEDU (Doctors for Human Rights), in partnership with the National Mental Health Program (PNSM) of the Niger Ministry of Public Health and the Nigerien association Alternative Espaces Citoyens (AEC).
Italian Cooperation funds the Geosciences Laboratory at the University of El Salvador
This laboratory is the result of the three-year CASTES project, funded by AICS with 1.48 million euros and carried out in collaboration with the University of Palermo (UNIPA) and the "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti – Pescara (UNICH). The laboratory is equipped with cutting-edge instruments and technology for education and research in the geological field, particularly for the study of soils, groundwater, volcanoes, and seismic activity.
Shifting Power With Partners: The Second Toolkit on Strengthening Civil Society in Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance
This toolkit serves as a practical resource to facilitate the application of the Recommendation's provisions, aiming to strengthen local ownership and leadership and to support civil society in partner countries as independent humanitarian and development actors. It particularly promotes more equitable partnerships between and within civil society organizations (CSOs).
The award ceremony for the Bianca Pomeranzi Prize was held at the headquarters of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) in Rome. This initiative was created to honor and perpetuate the legacy of Bianca Pomeranzi’s extraordinary contributions to promoting women’s rights and freedoms at both the national and international levels. Bianca Maria Pomeranzi (1950-2023) was a prominent figure in Italian development cooperation and the feminist movement. She co-founded AIDOS (Italian Association of Women for Development) and served as Senior Gender Expert at the Directorate General for Development Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Pomeranzi also led the Local Technical Unit of Dakar for Italian Cooperation in Senegal and East Africa (2010-11), and was elected a member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The Bianca Pomeranzi Prize, now in its first edition, is awarded to graduates in Development Cooperation Studies who present theses focused on feminist and gender policies and practices in political, social, cultural, environmental, and economic fields. The award was presented to Lena Châtreaux for her thesis titled “Women’s Design of Alternative Spaces of Socio-Economic Existence. The Case Study of the Rotating, Saving and Credit Associations in the City of Louga, Senegal,” completed as part of her Master’s in Area and Global Studies for International Cooperation at the University of Turin. “It is an honor to receive the Bianca Pomeranzi Prize for both its history and the opportunities it offers,” said Châtreaux, adding that she is proud to be part of Oxfam Italy’s Gender Justice and Women’s Rights Program. Ugo Ferrero, Head of Communications and Institutional Relations at AICS, emphasized the agency’s strong support for the prize, recognizing Bianca Pomeranzi’s pivotal role in shaping Italian development cooperation’s gender equality strategies and actions. He stated, “Achieving gender equality is essential for social and economic development.” Marta Collu, AICS Gender Equality Officer, concluded the event by reaffirming the agency’s commitment to promoting gender equality in Pomeranzi’s legacy. She highlighted the importance of awareness-raising and training for AICS staff and partner organizations to improve project design and gender mainstreaming.
The Bianca Pomeranzi Prize, now in its first edition, is dedicated to graduates in Development Cooperation Studies who present theses focused on feminist and gender policies and practices in political, social, cultural, environmental, and economic fields.
Deputy Minister Edmondo Cirielli Chairs the Sixth Meeting of the Joint Committee for Development Cooperation 2024
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Edmondo Cirielli, chaired the sixth meeting of the Joint Committee for Development Cooperation in 2024, which approved a significant package of interventions totaling €531 million.
The Coffeeprint of Tomorrow: AICS Participates in the Lavazza Foundation Event
After the invitation of the Lavazza Foundation, AICS (Italian Agency for Development Cooperation) took part in "The Coffeeprint of Tomorrow" event, held at the Centrale Nuvola Lavazza in Turin on September 30th to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Giuseppe and Pericle Lavazza Foundation. Today, the Lavazza Foundation is involved in 30 projects across 20 countries on 3 continents, benefiting over 180,000 people, aligned with the SDGs.