The National Council for Development Cooperation (CNCS) is a body composed of the main public and private actors of the Italian development cooperation system. It is provided for by Article 16 of Law No. 125/2014 as a permanent instrument of participation, consultation and proposal and it is governed by Ministerial Decree No. 1002/714/BIS of 28 November 2014 and subsequent amendments.
The CNCS is chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation or the Deputy Foreign Minister. It meets at least once a year to express opinions on matters concerning development cooperation, particularly on the consistency of policy choices, strategies, guidelines, programming, forms of intervention, as well as their effectiveness and evaluation. The CNCS is also convened to express its opinion on the three-year programming and policy Document for development cooperation policy, following its examination by the Interministerial Committee for Development Cooperation (CICS).
The CNCS Secretariat is provided by the Directorate General for Development Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Pursuant to Decree No. 1002/714/bis of 28 November 2014 and subsequent amendments, the CNCS is composed of three categories of members:
- members by right for the duration of the office held: Minister, Deputy Minister, Director General of DGCS, Director AICS;
- Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Ministries, other Bodies and Networks of civil society organisations, who designate their representatives;
- representatives of private non-profit and profit making actors, and representatives of other actors active in development cooperation or chosen for their proven and recognised experience, who are appointed by Ministerial Decree.
Currently, the CNCS work is divided into five thematic Working Groups, which meet several times during the year and have the task of facilitating and preparing the National Council’s work. The Working Groups contribute to the CNCS work by carrying out thematic investigations, drafting documents, opinions and proposals, sharing experiences and best practices, and possible joint initiatives in their field of competence. Participation in the Working Groups is open to all full and alternate members of the CNCS. The group coordinators, appointed within the groups, may also invite other individuals and experts on individual subjects to participate.
Following the recent renewal of the CNCS membership (MD No. 4600/686 bis and MD No. 4600/687 bis, both dated 27 October 2023), the five Working Groups were re-established and their Coordinators appointed.
- Working Group No. 1 “Follow-up of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Policy Consistency, Effectiveness and Evaluation”.
Dr. Luca De Fraia (CNCS Alternate Member for the National Forum of the Third Sector Associations) - Working Group No. 2 “Strategies and Guidelines for Italian Development Cooperation”.
Dott.ssa Maria Egizia Petroccione(CNCS Full Member for CINI) - Working Group No. 3 “The Role of the Private Sector in Development Cooperation”.
Dr. Roberto Ridolfi(CNCS Full Member for LINK 2007) - Working Group No. 4 “Migration and Development”
Dr. Giovanni Lattanzi(CNCS Full Member for AOI) - Working Group No. 5 “Territorial Partnership
Dr. Antonio Ragonesi(CNCS Alternate Member for ANCI)
Working Group No. 2 has also appointed Councillor Vincenzo Ercole (full representative for ANCE) as Deputy Coordinator.