WCCS represented at the UIA Round Table 2023 in Brussels
By WCCS
Published On: November 30, 2023
On the 24th of November 2023, upon receiving an invitation from the UIA Association, our Direcor of Public Relations attended and represented the WCCS at the UIA Associations Round Table in Brussels. Now, you may be wondering – Who or what exactly is the UIA Association?
The Union of International Associations (UIA) is an independent research institute and documentation centre located in Brussels. As a non-profit, apolitical, and non-governmental organisation, UIA has been dedicated to promoting and facilitating the work of international associations. Since 2007, the annual UIA Associations Round Tables have provided a platform for associations to learn through networking and practical experiences.
The congress, held in the picturesque city of Brussels, Belgium, spanned a single day and brought together Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) from various countries and fields of expertise. Despite the diverse attending associations, we discovered common challenges, questions, and concerns that NGOs struggle with. The Round Table facilitated the exchange of ideas and active discussions among attendees, allowing us to engage with both the speakers and each other.
The event featured numerous interesting and educational presentations. Nevertheless, our Director of Public Relations found a select few especially noteworthy and has summarised her favourite down below:
“The relations between the United Nations and Associations/ NGOs: Why? How? What? What future?” presented by Cyril Ritchie
Cyril has been the President of the UIA since 2017 and has held various roles, including President and First Vice President of the Conference of Non-Governmental Organisations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO). During the workshop, he covered the history, usage, potentialities, benefits, complications, and possible futures of the United Nations and Associations.
“Expanding the outreach and capacity of your association’s community – how to reach out to sponsors and funders” presented by Frédéric Destrebecq
Frédéric Destrebecq, as the Executive Director of the European Brain Council and European Brain Foundation, provides strategic direction and leadership while overseeing the day-to-day operations and relationships with member associations and stakeholders. In an interactive session, Frédéric delved into the theory of value creation and value capturing, elaborating on four strategic questions: WHY are we indispensable, WHO we want to serve, WHAT we offer, and HOW we create/capture value.
“Time for a Membership Strategy Health Check” presented by Chloé Menhinick
Chloé Menhinick, specialising in strategic development of associations, particularly in Strategic Legacy & Impact Planning, Membership & Network Growth, and Sustainability Strategies, emphasised the importance of membership engagement. Her presentation focused on how to nurture connections and how to create a community to enhance member engagement. She not only shared many wonderful tips and tricks for any NGO to use, but also highlighted the importance of constantly engaging with your community.