MS needs to focus for the future

Members of MS debate two burning issues for the future of the organisation: How to give the work focus, and how to develop the personnel programme

By Jan Kjær, MS Denmark

Both from North and South it has been aired that MS should be clearer in its messages. The Organisation has a scope of operation so broad a scope of operations that non-members can find it difficult to determine what MS actually does. To put it short: The organisation needs to focus.

At a meeting in Copenhagen in November, active members discussed the future and the future options of the organisation.

The MS vision – a more just distribution of the world’s resources – is not being questioned. But regarding the core areas of intervention, i.e. the mission, a number of bids were presented.

The overall impression is that MS will be heading for a focus on poverty, democracy and multiplicity.

At the meeting in Copenhagen, Berit Asmussen from international department said:

“MS should be known as an organisation that not only talks a lot but also acts a lot. The centre should be popular influence and democracy”.

Also, Berit Asmussen stressed that although MS should continue to be a Danish organisation, people from the South should also be able to sign up as members.

So far, the suggested future focuses are:

Poverty: MS should focus on basic welfare and giving people the competence needed for fulfilling basic needs. It’s about self-confidence and political power. The contribution from private businesses and individuals should play a bigger role for MS in the future.
Multiplicity: MS should work according to the idea of one plus one making three. It’s about understanding and co-operation across cultures.
Partnership: Focus should be on the partnerships in the South and the strive for democracy, development by people and poverty eradication.

Ole Møs, member of the board, found it important that the South gets a good start on the process:

“They should not start with a document that we in the North already chewed on. We should give them a blank sheet”, he said.

The discussion about the future of MS continues. The issue is part of the annual meetings in South early 2004 and will be finally debated on the general assembly in April.

MS evaluation: Debating the personnel support

Danida’s evaluation of MSiS will be published in January 2004. Already at this point the main conclusions are clear: MS is praised for the partnership approach and for the use of policy advisory boards (PAB). Also, the coming report challenges MS with regard to the personnel support.

MS has explored other European personnel organisations and their methods and strategies. For example, the Norwegian Peace Corps was closed down in 1998, and now the work is carried out in partnerships between Norwegian municipalities and Southern organisations. After just a couple of years, more than 200 organisations wish to be part of the work. Another trend among European organisations is the use of Southern development workers. MS Uganda is currently exploring that option.