Communication is key! Report on the annual ISG Meeting

The International Secretariat (IS) at UNOY Peacebuilders is looking back on a very fruitful and intense meeting of its International Steering Group (ISG), which took place February 1 and 2 in UNOY’s office in The Hague. We locked ourselves in a meeting room for two long days with tea, coffee, local sweets and a long list of topics to be discussed. Talking about strategies, activities, the network and membership issues, there was one main recurrent message: communication is key for the network to revive and stay alive.

UNOY Peacebuilders’ coordinators Matilda Flemming and Imke van der Velde were delighted with the presence of ISG-members Nikki Delfin (Philippines), Paula Ramirez (Colombia), Hovhannes Grigoryan (Armenia) and Rahel Weldeab (Eritrea). We started off with a round of introduction – since most of us did not know each other yet – and presentations of the current situations in our members’ regions to get acquainted with the realities that the network has to contend with.

We then quickly moved on to discuss the points on the agenda. A brief assessment of 2011 in accordance to the strategy 2011-2015 showed us that mainly communication through and with the network could be improved. To develop the network, UNOY will start working on increasing the visibility of UNOY and will update its online communication channels and interactive means. Many ideas have been put forward to engage members more and to have them give more input in UNOY’s communication.

As the membership call for new members is coming out in the end of february, the ISG has also considered the selection criteria and the peace token system that is in place, and how these both can be employed to create a lively network. Other topics that have been reviewed are the development of a network strategy, a monitoring & evaluation strategy, fundraising issues, as well as the setting up of a gender working group and an advocacy working group.

The year plan has been approved, and UNOY has yet another busy year ahead of itself. But with fresh energy and loads of commitment, both the IS and the ISG are confident we will make the most of it. The ISG meeting proved to be very valuable to get more focus on strategies under development, the development of the network and commitment of the members. We are looking forward to strengthening the ties among members and to make the network flourish.

Written by Imke van der Velde