🌏 IFS Members Participate in International Community Development Conference
Several members and staff of the International Federation of Settlements and Neighbourhood Centres (IFS) recently attended the International Community Development Conference, joining practitioners and leaders from around the world to explore approaches to strengthening communities, social inclusion, and community-led development.
A key outcome of the conference was the formalisation of a Reciprocal Organisational Affiliation Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IFS and the International Association for Community Development (IACD). The agreement establishes a non-voting, non-governing organisational partnership focused on collaboration, knowledge exchange, professional learning, and international networking.
The partnership creates a framework for the two organisations to work together through joint learning activities, conferences, webinars, practice exchanges, research opportunities, and the sharing of expertise and resources.
In addition, IFS and IACD have begun exploring practical opportunities to strengthen their collective voice at key international and multilateral forums, helping to promote the value and impact of community development globally.
Michael Mackenzie Shreenan, IFS Operations Manager (LCSA), said:
“This agreement establishes an important organisational relationship between IFS and IACD and creates a framework for collaboration, learning, and knowledge exchange between our networks. We look forward to working closely with IACD over the coming months to identify practical opportunities for partnership and to strengthen the voice of community development internationally.”
Anna Clarke, IACD Strategic Director, said:
“Both our organisations have been in discussion about formalising this arrangement for some time. We are all delighted to have this now in place and excited about our plans for partnership and collaboration that will benefit our work and strengthen recognition of community development globally.”
While this organisational affiliation creates new opportunities for collaboration between the two organisations, it does not replace direct membership of either organisation. Members of both IFS and IACD are encouraged to consider direct membership where they wish to access the full range of services, resources, governance participation, and member benefits offered by each organisation.
The conference demonstrated the value of building partnerships across sectors and countries, and IFS looks forward to working alongside IACD to strengthen community development practice and create new opportunities for engagement across both networks.
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🤝 Organisational Affiliation
📄 Memorandum of Understanding
🌍 International Learning & Collaboration
🎓 Knowledge Exchange
🌐 International Partnership
#IFS #IACD #CommunityDevelopment #GlobalPartnerships #InternationalCollaboration #KnowledgeExchange #StrongerTogether
