May 16 – Doctors in Uganda, together with SPeRA (Solidarity, Projects, and Resources for Africa), is about to launch the 4th national conference on the deepening link between businesses and non-profit organizations. “In Uganda, Italian NGOs are well integrated and highly regarded by the population. They work alongside our many companies investing in the country, with concrete and lasting results for the benefit of the local population,” said Edoardo Berti Riboli, president of the SPeRA Consortium and of the association Doctors in Africa, commenting on the results of a fact-finding mission of 12 days in one of the African countries experiencing strong economic growth. “Uganda is a good example of cooperation between associations and NGOs on the one hand and private companies on the other – added Berti Riboli – It is an interesting case and it will be studied more in depth during our conference in November, which is dedicated the relationship between volunteering and businesses in the African continent. We visited a part of Uganda where the Italian NGOs had been present for about 30-40 years, highly integrated with the population – continues Berti-Riboli – The first missions were led by the Comboni Fathers, who set the basis of consideration and respect that today are expressed by the good relationship entertained with the local government. In recent years, thanks to greater political stability, Uganda has become an attractive country for our businesses.” And here the link between private and non-profit becomes evident: “From the legislative point of view, NGOs can access public funding but they cannot do business with private entities. But when public funds lack, which happens more and more often in Italy, coordinating NGO work with that of businesses allows the realization of common goals.” During the mission, prof. Berti Riboli met the Italian ambassador in Kampala, Stefano Dejak, already promoter of the ” Italian Business club” in order to ensure a systematic approach to Italian companies in the country. Dejak is now working for the creation of a consortium of Italian associations and NGOs providing them with the opportunity to team up and find an ideal working environment.
