The International Committee for the Development of Peoples (CISP) is a non-governmental organization (NGO), founded in 1983 and its headquarters are in Rome, Italy.
The principles and aims of the organization are summarized in the Declaration of Intent and Code of Conduct for Cooperation Programmes.
The Declaration of Intent “For rights and against poverty: Approaches and Operational Priorities of CISP”, formulated with the contribution of all the professionals working at the Rome headquarters as well as at our offices located in third countries, establishes the organization action plan priorities, which are built around the main objectives of the fight against poverty and social exclusion.
Main activities and priority action areas
CISP, through its cooperation with many local actors, both governmental and private, has been implementing humanitarian aid, rehabilitation and development projects in over 30 countries: Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and Eastern Europe. In the member countries of the European Union, our organization fosters initiatives centered on cultural politics, promotion of international solidarity and enhancement of the role of diasporas in the development of their countries. Our Declaration of Intent identifies the following priority sectors:
a) the right to social and economic security, meant as the progress of income opportunities, migrations, nutritional development and security;
b) the right to health, water access and environmental reclamation;
c) the right to a future envisioned in the light of the rights of children, adolescents, and youths; and of the recovery of the environment and of natural resources;
d) the right to humanitarian aid, that is to say emergency and early reconstruction interventions;
e) our support to public policies promoting social cohesion and the civil society.
CISP projects are always intended not only to respond to priority needs and solve real problems in the countries and areas of action, but also as means to identify, formulate or strengthen specific sectoral policies. These are two interdependent functions, because the possibility that a project may inspire or strengthen a policy orientation depends on its impact, on its effectiveness and the credibility of the implementing party.
In 1997 CISP founded the Cooperation and Development Network (CDN) in Pavia, Italy, in cooperation with the University of Pavia, the University Institute for Secondary Education IUSS, and two more NGOs.
CISP formulates and produces publications and audiovisual materials. It also promotes all occasions for meetings and in-depth analyses in order to disseminate and inform the public on the most significant cooperation experiences.
Funding and resources
CISP projects are implemented thanks to funding and contributions from private individuals, associations, foundations, companies, Italian and international governmental institutions such as the European Union, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, local Italian authorities, agencies of the United Nations, governmental agencies of member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), national governments and local administrations of the countries wherein it operates.
CISP, International Committee for the Development of Peoples is an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) that is eligible within the meaning of Law No. 49/1987, engaged in international cooperation and in the fight against social exclusion, and it enjoys the status of ONLUS (Non-profit Organization of Social Utility) within the meaning of the Legislative Decree No. 460/97