InterAction 2010 Forum Highlights

InterAction thanks the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, International Relief and Development, Duquesne University, Garda World, Academy for Educational Development and the Millennium Challenge Corporation for their generous support of this year's Forum.

On June 2 - 4,  2010, InterAction held its 26th Annual Forum, “Moving at the Speed of Change.” More than 250 organizations in the international non-profit, government, corporate and philanthropic sectors were represented.

Forum 2010 featured thought-provoking plenary and workshop sessions with topics ranging from U.S. foreign assistance reform, the Millennium Development Goals, gender equality, to relief and development priorities in Haiti. Over 1,000 professionals engaged to evaluate and discuss significant issues related to their work.

High influence speakers, including Dr. Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator, and Robert Zoellick, President of the World Bank. convened to give valuable insight on pressing issues. The Kojo Nnamdi Show broadcast live from a plenary discussion focusing on the Millennium Development Goals. Highlights also include a video-in from former president Bill Clinton and a key note speech from Cheryl Mills, Secretary Hillary Clinton's Chief of Staff.

Key Speeches and Presentations from the Forum

Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator, USAID (watch the video part 1 part 2 part 3)

Kojo Nnamdi Show Live Broadcast: Millennium Development Goals: 2015 and Beyond (watch the video)

Kojo Nnamdi Show Live Broadcast: A New Approach to Combating Hunger (watch the video)

Robert Zoellick, World Bank President

Congratulations to the InterAction 2010 Awardees

Julia Vadala Taft Outstanding Leadership Award:
Peter Bell, Senior Research Fellow, Harvard Hauser Center

Security Advisory Group’s Distinguished Achievement Award:
Robert Painter, Senior Security Specialist UNDSS

Award for Excellence in International Reporting:
Kojo Nnamdi, Host of The Kojo Nnamdi Show and The Politics Hour on WAMU 88.5

Humanitarian Award:
Betty Makoni, Founder and Director of Girl Child Network (GCN),

Effective Assistance Photography Award:
Benjamin Rusnak, Humanitarian Photojournalist

Mildred Robbins Leet Award for the Advancement of Women:
Renée Giovarelli, Director of the Rural Development Institute’s (RDI) Global Center for Women’s Land Rights

Disability Inclusion Award:
Mercy Corps

InterAction 2010 Forum Corporate Recognitions for Humanitarian Assistance

• Hanger Orthopedics, Inc – Nominated by Physicians for Peace
• JP Morgan Chase – Nominated by CARE
• Toys “R” Us – Nominated by Save the Children
• Whole Foods Market – Nominated by Americares
• Honorable Mention – American Express, nominated by InterAction

Media Coverage of the Forum

• NASDAQ: World Bank President Developing Nations Driving Recovery
• Forbes: A New Day is Dawning for U.S. Foreign Policy
• Devex: USAID Vision Takes Shape as Shah Outlines Reforms
• National Journal: USAID Hoping To 'Think For Itself'
• The Medical News: International development forum addresses U.S. foreign aid reform
• Modernizing Foreign Assistance: USAID Administrator Shah Opens Annual InterAction Forum
• Islamic Relief USA: Islamic Relief USA Participating in 2010 InterAction Forum
• Planet Aid: InterAction Forum 2010
• US Mission: Remarks by USAID Administrator, Dr. Rajiv Shah at InterAction Forum 2010
• International Foundation for Electoral Systems: Promoting Women’s Political Participation in South Asia: Afghanistan, Nepal and India
• Fortius One's Off the Map Blog: Panel on Haiti Mapping
• Kaiser Family Foundation: International Development Forum Addresses U.S. Foreign Aid Reform
• One: A Live Taping of Kojo Nnamdi on International Development

A Sample of Plenary and Workshop Event Summaries

• Congress, USAID and The World Bank Agree: A New Day is Dawning for U.S. Foreign Assistance
• America's Ambassadors? The NGO Role in Public Diplomacy Discussed at InterAction's 2010 Forum
• Caring for NGO Staff After a Disaster
• Integrating Gender into Humanitarian Response
• The Theory and the Messy Reality of the Budget and Appropriations Process: Highlights from an InterAction Forum 2010 Workshop
• Haiti--A New Way Forward

Testimonials

“This may have been my 23rd or 24th Forum...have lost count...but the energy, relevance and diversity of topics and themes...and the same goes for participants and speakers...made this an excellent event. Such an event ought to help us continue to push the current agenda, develop a new strategic plan that will fit the upcoming quadrennial (2011-14), and attract new members and donors. You all should feel very proud.”

- William S. Reese, President & CEO, International Youth Foundation
 

Bill Sage, representing International Orthodox Christian Charities, speaks about his experience at the Forum.