I have always enjoyed working with Rikolto, from the first time a few years ago while reviewing regional programmes in the Andes and Latin America. The first email that I received said: "here are all the documents that you need, and here is a list of all the things that have gone wrong. Start there!". I found that very refreshing; all the other institutes and NGOs that I usually work with are often only focused on showing all the good things that are happening.
One of the things that I very much respect and value about Rikolto, is the fact that you are willing to try new things. There seems to be a greater appetite or willingness to fail, with a strong genuine desire to learn about what is going on. The other element that I like is Rikolto's capacity to bridge practice from the field to influence policies. I think this remains a big challenge, not only for Rikolto, but for most organisations that try to do this. Furthermore Rikolto’s people and underlying values very much appeal to me: the notion of interdependence and dialogue, and the idea of working with various different kinds of partners that may not seem obvious from the outside.
That is what has moved me to support Rikolto's work as part of its international board of directors. I want to provide support in the areas in which I am knowledgeable and in which I have useful skills, strengthening Rikolto's capacity as it transitions towards a network organisation.
