MONTHLY DEVELOPMENTS Forum 2012: Engage, Learn, Build July 2012The InterAction Forum has become the leading

gathering of nonprofit professionals and our partners, providing a space for strategic thinking on the wide spectrum of issues in the fields of development and humanitarian relief. In order for InterAction and the broader development community to create sustainable, long-term solutions that will serve vulnerable populations, we need to harness the strength of multiple sectors, each with different perspectives and mandates. The InterAction Forum provides a compelling venue for these actors to engage, learn and build. The past year has presented great challenges for our community, from the threat of devastating cuts in foreign assistance, to the food crisis in the Horn of Africa, to the alarming attacks on civil society in Egypt and other countries around the world. As we work to address the array of issues both immediate and on the horizon, the Forum is a space for InterAction members and partners to be on the cutting edge of international development thinkingto hear and contribute to discussions on how to meet these challenges most effectively.

Samuel A. Worthington Picture | Bio

Forum 2012 was our largest to date, with over 1,000 attendees from over 350 organizations. InterAction members and partners from NGOs, corporations, foundations, government, the private sector and international organizations joined together for a productive, high-energy gathering. It was exciting to welcome the people who work with the InterAction community on a daily basis around the world. The Forum provided participants with access to some of the brightest and most forward-thinking minds in the development and humanitarian spheres. Attendees had the chance to hear from speakers such as Robert Zoellick, president of the World Bank; Maria Otero, under secretary of state for civilian security, democracy, and human rights; Judith Rodin, president of the Rockefeller Foundation; Rebeca Grynspan, associate administrator of the UN Development Programme; Nemat Shafik, deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund; Daniel Brutto, president of UPS International; and Geoff Lamb, president of global policy and advocacy at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to name a few. One of the most exciting sessions featured three young women from Afghanistan, Egypt and El Salvador discussing gender and political change in their countries. Senior USAID staff participated extensively, including Donald Steinberg, deputy administrator; Susan Reichle, assistant to the administrator in the Bureau of Policy, Planning and Learning; Lisa Gomer,

general counsel; and Paul Weisenfeld, assistant to the administrator in the Bureau of Food Security. The Forum featured closed-door events for InterAction member CEOs, providing a space for dialogue with leaders from the U.S. government, foundations and the private sector. There were workshops on topics as diverse as knowledge management and learning, peacebuilding and development, information-power gaps in slums, building resilience in coastal cities, and uniting democracy and development. From the opening session, The Role of Development in U.S. Global Engagement, to the closing panel, The Evolution of Multilateral Institutions in a Globalizing World, the Forum showcased the breadth of our communitys collective work, and was a learning opportunity for those interested in saving lives and improving the well-being of the worlds most vulnerable people. I hope the summaries of workshops and plenary sessions in Monthly Developments will provide food for thought as you think about your work and the issues and challenges confronting our community. Next years Forum will be held April 29 to May 1 in the Crystal Gateway Marriott. We hope you will be able to join us for what is sure to be another powerful gathering. I look forward to seeing you there.