Consequently,
International geneva: wilsdorf foundation comes:
ThoseInternational Geneva
“When the money is missing. In addition, either we lower our arms, or we go to the essentials!”
Martine Brunschwig Graf takes the reins of a foundation to help the sector in difficulty. However, The former magistrate sees it as a rebound rather than a decline.
Martine Brunschwig Graf at the Maison de la Paix.
Laurent Guiraud/Tamedia
- The new foundation for the adaptation of International Geneva has been operational since early July.
- Its advice, made up of five volunteer members, will reveal its help criteria in August.
- The organization aims to support the reorganization of international activities in the international geneva: wilsdorf foundation comes face of budgetary restrictions.
- The Foundation seeks to preserve the attractiveness of Geneva as a global diplomatic center.
The Crisis of International Geneva can also be the occasion for an adaptation and a rebound. However, This is the ambition of the foundation created by the canton. Therefore, the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation at the end of May, but operational for a few days. Meanwhile, Its president, the former cantonal magistrate and national councilor Martine Brunschwig Graf, unveils her action plan.
Mrs. In addition, Brunschwig Graf. Nevertheless, the Council of State appointed you at the end of May to the presidency of the Foundation for the adaptation of International Geneva (FAGI). Nevertheless, Who composes it? However, How are you going to work? For example,
The Foundation Council, made up of five volunteer members, has been operational since July 8. international geneva: wilsdorf foundation comes In addition to myself. Moreover, he includes two representatives of the founders: Isabelle Harsch, president of the Chamber of Commerce and director of an international transport company for the canton and Laurence Brenner, manager within her the culture and humanitarian pole, for the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation. Similarly, Deputy Secretary of State Thomas Gürber, head of the UN division, represents the Confederation. Consequently, Finally, the director of the research institute applied in economics and management, Mr. Therefore, Giovanni Ferro Luzzi, who carried out a very interesting study on international Geneva in 2023, joined us.
The Council will be based on an advisory committee of seven members called upon to give notice on projects. Therefore, which has just been appointed. Furthermore, At the beginning of August. Moreover, the FAGI will communicate to interested persons and environments all the practical information for the submission of projects: conditions, criteria, procedure to follow; The international geneva: wilsdorf foundation comes Foundation can then get to the heart of the matter: choose projects and finance them.
For the canton. Similarly, your foundation has the task of “supporting a crucial sector for Geneva by helping it define new models of cooperation, while strengthening its universality”. How do you understand this mission order?
The financial cuts suffered by various international organizations. non -governmental organizations provoke a painful restructuring for their employees and the final beneficiaries of their activities. Our goal is to help pass this CAP by supporting projects aimed at reorganizing the activities of actors. promoting new models of cooperation, work and financing, with a view to gaining more efficiency.
Our goal is obviously to work in synergy with initiatives also launched by other actors. such as the Confederation, the City of Geneva, the Foundation for Geneva, the Portal of Nations, the Institute of international geneva: wilsdorf foundation comes Advanced International Studies and Development (IHEID), etc. The FAGI will not fill the missing money but support the projects that meet the identified needs of the final beneficiaries. which will correspond to our global strategy. Projects will have to come from the field. The DFAE will be consulted for each project upstream to ensure the consistency and convergence of actions. Indicators will be set to measure the objectives achieved.
Universality is the third engine of our action. These include taking support measures to make the activities of International Geneva accessible to delegates from all countries (training. internships, various facilitations).
The current crisis is linked to the budget cuts decided by the United States. Do we manage to measure their current effects today?
No, because the consequences of the cuts are being deployed. Some are direct. others indirect with the ground effects international geneva: wilsdorf foundation comes which result in abandoned or not filled missions and the human cost which results from it. In addition. many initiatives aim to limit the consequences of the cuts, as we have recently seen with the 270 million advanced by the Confederation. But obviously, the weakening of International Geneva can weigh on all those who live it, directly or more locally.
Faced with the challenges, the millions unlocked by Geneva and the Confederation do not seem derisory to you?
Neither Geneva with 50 million nor Switzerland with 270 million will be able to replace the donors. It is not the local actors who will solve the overall problems alone. Our action aims to cause a lever effect in order to facilitate the adaptation of the multilateral system. which the world needs and which was born in Geneva in 1920.
Some Genevans have a mixed relationship to International Geneva. They don’t see why we are making so much effort for her …
The link between our standard of living and international Geneva is narrow. Its economic role is important that it is the positions offered on the job market. orders related to its operation for retail, hotel and restaurant, services, private security, construction, etc. It is one of the pillars of the economy that often played a stabilizer role during crises. for example that of the 90s.
States have long fought to attract international organizations to their homes. Is this always the case?
Competition to welcome international organizations or NGOs is obviously continued with all kinds of actors. It does not date from today. In 1995, reunified Germany offered its premises in Bonn for free to the World Trade Organization. The international geneva: wilsdorf foundation comes risk is not so much the collapse of International Geneva as its stretching. This is a key element of our dynamism.
Since 1995, International Geneva has developed strongly, in particular by strengthening the presence of NGOs. But the reverse movement is possible if we do nothing. We obviously live a crucial moment when our action can be decisive. International Geneva is undergoing a crisis of means, but it can also be the occasion for a rebound, a reinvention. When the money is missing, either we lower our arms, or we go to the essentials.
Given the crisis. the director of the Chamber of Commerce offers measures to allow the most qualified to continue a lucrative activity in Switzerland? Good ideas?
These proposals are part of a broader vision of international Geneva. which is teeming with talent and brains and which must be international geneva: wilsdorf foundation comes kept as much as possible, in particular because they correspond to the needs of companies and support their competitiveness.
International organizations are victims of a legitimacy crisis. The policy of the fait accompli is in season, including on the part of democracies. Is it possible to fight against such a heavy trend?
We can fight against everything! Success is never guaranteed, but which attempts nothing has nothing. In addition, our action goes beyond economic considerations. It participates in the defense of democracy. which brings in it the participation of all in decisions, the refusal of the policy of the blocks where one triumph of the other and some remain in a state of dependence. Switzerland has experience, democratic know-how to assert, based on the education of citizens and free and non-monopolistic information. This is one of the assets.
Martine Brunschwig Graf, at 75, you are still at the heart of the fray. What is your engine?
International Geneva. the importance it takes for the life of all the inhabitants of Geneva are close to my heart. Even if I did not seek this mandate. I accepted after being asked, when I understood that my somewhat special profile corresponded to the needs. I was lucky during my life to hold exciting. diversified functions and I have always considered that a volunteer and civic commitment was a way of restoring a little what I had benefited.
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