May 06

May 2006

I N S I D E   T H I S   I S S U E

1. Integral Member Agencies: Integral Gain a New Member
2. Secretariat: Integral Leadership - the Way Forward
3. Programme Working Group: Rebuilding in Mozambique
4. Marketing Working Group: Knowing your Position!

Integral Gain a New Member

Gérard Bos and Patrick Guiborat Patrick Guiborat, General Director and Gérard Bos, Projects Director (pictured left) presented SEL at April's Board meeting, and were unanimously voted into Integral. A warm welcome to them! SEL, ('salt' in French) stands for Service d'Entraide et de Liaison (Support and Connection Service). SEL, the largest Protestant NGO in France, founded Artisanat SEL in 1983, which is now the second largest French Fairtrade craft importer. Patrick Guiborat says, "As we have been very close to the Tearfund family since the beginning of SEL in 1980, we are now very happy to become official members of the broader Integral family. We are looking forward to stronger international collaboration to fight poverty through community development projects." SEL's main focus is French speaking Africa. You can find out more about their work by clicking on the link below. To translate their website into English right-click when you are on the homepage and choose the 'Translate Page into English' option!

SEL France's website

Integral Leadership - the Way Forward

The Integral Board and Secretariat Laurie Cook, Chair of the Integral Board, explains the decision taken at April's Board meeting to affirm Fiona Wilson as the head of the Integral Secretariat.   "It was felt that there was a strong need for continuity through an understanding of history, knowledge and relationships. The important skills were co-ordination and facilitation and the person needed to have credibility with the members. For these reasons it was felt that it was not appropriate to hire a visionary CEO but someone that met the skill set and experience as outlined. The result of this discussion is that the Board heartily endorsed Fiona Wilson as the head of the Integral Secretariat with the title, International Co-ordinator, effective immediately." This leadership decision took place in the context of a focussing exercise in which each of Integral's Member Agencies stated what their agency wants to gain from being part of Integral. Read the results of this refocusing exercise, as well as Laurie's full communication about Fiona's appointment by clicking on the link below.

Integral Refocus 2006

Rebuilding in Mozambique

Joana at her market stall World Relief USA helped rebuild Xai-Xai after disasterous flooding. Today a vegetable market flourishes in the town where Joana sells her vegetables. Joana started with a $50 loan and has now reached her 28th loan cycle. Her last loan was for $1,750, and with a 100% repayment rate, Claudien Nsengimana, Director of WR's local partner - the the Fundo de Credito Comunitario, is delighted! World Relief Canada have joined with World Relief USA by supporting a Microfinance project in Xai-Xai. Working together through the FCC, many loans have been provided for people like Joana. "I have been able to open a food store for my husband and build a house with enough space for our ten children to grow up and receive an education," she says.   Rebecca Chandler, World Relief USA's International Programme Operations Officer, pays tribute to World Relief Canada's support for this project: "By improving administrative efficiency and credit operations they have enhanced the livelihoods of poor entrepreneurs, especially women, in offering quality microfinance services," says Rebecca.

Read more about WR's work in Mozambique

Knowing your Position!

Lars-Ivar Gjørv Integral’s MWG always makes room in its busy agenda for an agency to share on an area in which they show particular strength. As Strømme, Integral’s Norwegian agency, has spent time and resources creating a highly effective communication platform, they were asked to share on the subject of ‘Positioning’. Lars-Ivar showed how you have to be very clear about your organisation's vision, mission, promises and values, in order to achieve the position you require in the hearts and minds of your target group. "The position is the lasting impression that we want to leave – your vision and values summed up in a single sentence," he shared. So, what does Stromme say? "We want to be perceived as the tough development organisation that helps people get started," he continued. "The word 'tough' is distinct, people-oriented and embraces our focus. 'Development' is not ‘Aid’, and our role is help people get started, so that they are able to help themselves." Steve Tollestrup, CEO of TEAR Fund New Zealand, said "It was worth travelling half-way across the world just to hear this paper!" Read Lars-Ivar's full paper by clicking on the link below.

Communication, Platform and Position

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