About
us
What is CONCORD?
CONCORD is the European Confederation of NGOs working on sustainable development and international cooperation. We are made up of 58 member organisations representing more than 2600 NGOs and are supported by millions of citizens across Europe.
We are the main interlocutor with the EU institutions on sustainable development policy and international cooperation. We are a member-led organisation which means that the members give the strategic direction of the Confederation.
Vision
Equal, just and inclusive societies in a sustainable world.
Purpose
To influence and challenge EU decision-makers, fostering a vibrant civil society and forging synergies and alliances across the world, so as to transform systems and power structures and build equitable and inclusive societies in a sustainable world.
How we achieve
transformative change
We work in three main ways to achieve transformative change:
Act as an advocate towards the EU and influence European international cooperation together with our members
Convene and connect European networks and national platforms to exchange expertise and learn from each other
Use collective intelligence and brainstorm with allies to explore innovative solutions and new ways of working and to strengthen the resilience of our sector.
Who we are
Rilli Lappalainen
President, CONCORD
“Let’s make the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development work for getting rid of inequalities by strengthening our collaboration with CONCORD Members and allies.”
Tanya Cox
Director, CONCORD
“The main aim of CONCORD is to influence the EU so it puts people and planet first, reforms our systems so as to fulfil people’s human rights and ensure their well-being, and ensures transparency and accountability by all those in positions of power.”
CONCORD 2022 Annual Report
Throughout 2022, CONCORD remained steadfast in its commitment to creating a more equal, just, and inclusive society, even though the world has grappled with turbulent times. For the first time in 70 years, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought war to European soil, setting off a series of far-reaching consequences both within Europe and across the globe. The war has also affected CONCORD’s work as many of its members are directly involved in providing humanitarian assistance, helping displaced populations, or advocating for their national government.
Despite the challenging context, CONCORD has successfully embraced its new four-year strategy To Get There Together. The strategy underscores the need for civil society to change the system, power relations and forge alliances around the world. To this end, CONCORD has not only fortified its community but has also intensified collaboration and strengthened connections with colleagues worldwide, which culminated in its engagement during the EU-AU Summit.
Through dedicated advocacy efforts and regular publications, in 2022 CONCORD both supported and counted accountable the EU institutions and Members States for their commitments towards human rights and planetary boundaries. It scrutinized EU pledges to equality, through reports such as the Road to Equality, and offered guidance on taking a people-centered approach to drive digital transformation. Additionally, CONCORD developed a set of 7 Good Practices to guide engagement with civil society. These are only a few examples of the ground-breaking work CONCORD did in 2022.
The 2022 Annual Report aims to provide an overview of the key achievements and highlights from our Confederation and working structures.
Contact us
CONCORD Secretariat
1000 Brussels
Belgium