International cooperation: the meeting in Milan of over 100 humanitarian workers from 26 countries to face the new global crises

MILAN – Over 100 protagonists of international cooperation from 26 countries gather in Milan to discuss experiences, approaches and perspectives for action, while the world comes to terms with poverty, hunger and instability exacerbated by wars, climate change, pandemics. The COOPI Meeting, annual international meeting of the Italian NGO founded in 1965 by Father Vincenzo Barbieri. Scheduled from 24 to 29 October, it ends on Saturday 29 with a round table open to the public and broadcast in live streaming, entitled “The next future: international cooperation in times of global crises”. “Near future” such as COOPI’s proximity to local communities in responding to crises, as well as the immediacy of reaction to the increasingly rapid succession of events, as well as the new strategy of the organization, whose projects in 33 countries support 6 million people, even in Italy in the hinterland of Milan.

The gap between need and availability. At the center of the debate are the combined effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and conflicts, the energy crisis and climate change, as well as food security and poverty in Italy and in the world, with a focus on the necessary funding to countering global crises and ensuring international cooperation. The World Food Program estimated that at least 828 million people fall asleep hungry every night, while the number of those suffering from acute food insecurity since 2019 has increased from 135 million to 345 million. And he points out that as needs grow, resources diminish: the gap between need and availability has never been wider.

Climate disasters quickly become humanitarian crises. Meanwhile, the UN Climate Conference will open on 7 November Cop27, in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt: precisely in Africa which remains the region with the least capacity for climate adaptation and with the highest percentage of people suffering from hunger. “Disasters linked to the climate crisis turn into humanitarian disasters when societies fail to address them: FAO estimates that 278 million Africans, one fifth of the population, suffered from hunger in 2021, 50 million more since 2019 and with an alarming projection of 310 million by 2030. According to UNHCR, then, of the 100 million people who fled their homes worldwide, in 2020 almost 76% were composed of climate displaced persons. 250 million “, says Claudio Ceravolo, president of COOPI.

The interventions. Engaged in the round table are Luca De Fraia, assistant general secretary of ActionAid Italy, expert on Official Development Aid; Stefano Corsi, professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Milan, expert in sustainable food systems in Africa; Marco Zupi (in video link), scientific director of CeSPI – Center for Studies of International Politics. The journalist Elio Silva, former editor-in-chief of Il Sole 24 Ore, moderates; greetings from Claudio Ceravolo, president of COOPI, are expected. At the round table (from 10 to 12) you can take part in person at the Palazzo delle Stelline in Corso Magenta 61 in Milan, in Sala Manzoni, or in live streaming (in Italian, French, English, Spanish). Participation is free but for both modalities registration is compulsory, by sending an email to the address by October 28th [email protected].

Guests from other countries. In addition to the guests, COOPI leaders and members, coordinators, managers and cooperators, took stock of in-depth analyzes and working groups. There are about 60 people from Italy, 50 from 25 other countries (Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia, Libya, Mali, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Nigeria, Senegal, Niger, Mauritania, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia).