We attended meeting of the core group of the learn4dev network that links donor organizations with the aim to contribute to more effective and harmonized development cooperation. Jana Repanšek, CEF deputy director was elected for the new chair of the network at the annual meeting in Rome in June 2016. CEF also jointly with the Belgium Technical Cooperation covers communication activities of the network and is active in a number of expert groups.

The meeting was held at the premises of the Belgium Technical Cooperation (BTC) in Brussels, Belgium on September 28-29. BTC will together with the World Bank organize 2017 annual meeting of the network that will take place in Brussels.  Planning and preparations of the 2017 annual meeting were one the main focuses of discussions of the core group. Representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) shared their experience and advice on the organization of the annual meeting as organizers of the 2016 meeting. Expert groups’ coordinator from the EC EuropeAid shared overview of the work of the learn4dev expert groups. New learning opportunities the groups are offering will be announced via learn4dev newsletter. We also reviewed communication activities of the network and how they could be further improved to support sharing of relevant information as efficiently as possible.

Additionally the BTC showed us their premises including the venue of the 2017 annual meeting and prepared presentation of their work by their staff.