Rural Transport and Development

A message from IFRTD's new Executive Secretary

Dear members and friends of IFRTD,

It is often said that time flies when you are having fun. Almost two months in the post I feel that there is not a single day that has been the same. My understanding of the essence of IFRTD and its work has been increasing by the day and I have been lucky to meet many of the faithful IFRTD members and supporters.

It is a truly exciting time for IFRTD. Changing from being an informal network to an independent organisation brings on board a whole range of issues and responsibilities that we need to address in the most effective and efficient manner. In the short term, ensuring that our internal operational set up responds to our new status should allow us to function as a small but effective organisation. In this context it is important to take a good and honest look at ourselves and identify where there may be need for changes to increase our impact and outreach. While IFRTD has built up a good reputation and is respected for its good work, we cannot afford to be complacent and need to address our weaknesses and build up our strengths.

We all know that working effectively with and through networks are satisfactory experiences. A lot can be achieved through the power of the group and collaboration. However impact can be hard to measure and networking could be limited to a comfortable few. IFRTD, as any other global network, has to constantly assess its work, its impact, its added value and vis á vis the challenging and constantly evolving development agenda ensure to maintain its relevance and its substantial contributions.

IFRTD members are our main asset and therefore I am determined to place considerable emphasis on understanding our members’ needs and capacities better to ensure our programmes and activities respond to your interests and capacities. At the same time I am committed to building our capacities and awareness on emerging issues and I hope we can play a proactive role in influencing the development agenda at all levels of our operation.

The way ahead is thrilling but I am conscious that it also brings many challenges and difficult questions. I, in close collaboration with the Secretariat team, will be willing to take each of these challenges on board but we will need the active support of our members, the Board and the Executive Committee to achieve success.

Finally let me thank you for the warm welcome I have received from members and partners alike. The human warmth present in IFRTD can only motivate me to do my best and to continue learning from your vast experience to represent and promote our issues in the most appropriate and powerful manner.

Maria Arce Moreira
Executive Secretary
IFRTD