ESTDEV Steps Up as the Newest Member of the Practitioners’ Network

The Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV) celebrates a step further with our EU partners as we become an associate member of the Practitioners’ Network for European Development Cooperation. The Practitioners’ Network (PN) is a collaborative of 24 European development organisations aimed at coming together in order to act as one efficient and effective team. ESTDEV has become the PN’s 23rd member.

“Joining the PN has given ESTDEV an excellent opportunity to interact with other European development cooperation organisations while providing us a platform to share our knowledge and experience in the field,” stated Katrin Winter, Regional Head of Africa at ESTDEV. “The PN is a truly valuable network for smaller organisations – such as ESTDEV – and we are looking forward to both connecting with organisations with whom we have not yet worked and strengthening bonds with our European partners.”

Founded in 2007, the PN has served as a platform for exchange, coordination, and harmonisation between European development cooperation organisations and the European Commission. All members and associate members are pillar-assessed or are in the process of being pillar-assessed by the European Commision, and support actions such as Team Europe initiatives and the Green Deal.

“We believe that ESTDEV can lead the network with its digital and e-governance experience,” affirmed our partners SNV and FIIAPP, who have co-Presidency of the network during 2022-2023.

Under the motto “Stronger Together”, the PN has been a catalyst for nearly 80 jointly implemented projects over the past 15 years.

“Our team at ESTDEV is excited to draw inspiration and knowledge from our fellow practitioners, and to offer innovative solutions from the people of Estonia. Estonia’s own reform experience is an asset for transitioning partner countries, and we are confident it will be an added strength as we collaborate on projects within the network,” Winter said.

Likewise, the wide-ranging expertise of the PN, brought together by collaborative learning exchanges and working in coherence, will increase the effectiveness of Estonian development cooperation: as Perez explained, “The greatest value of the PN is the possibility to explore how other implementing agencies work, and to learn from peers and colleagues.” By aligning our strategies, we discover what is possible and expand our reach in implementing sustainable solutions with both our partners and PN members, because our impact truly is stronger together.