Dedicated to international cooperation for more than 30 years. He has been director of Oxfam Intermón and executive director of Oxfam International. He previously worked at the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB) and was director of campaigns and studies at Oxfam Intermón receiving global recognition for his contribution. He has been a visiting professor at Georgetown and Loyola Andalucía Universities. Graduate in Industrial Chemistry and Master in International Cooperation. He is currently the executive director of Unicef Spain
What do you think are the current challenges in the cooperation sector?
I believe that the core issue is the «license to operate», which is linked to its own sense of mission. Two decades ago, it was obvious that it was necessary to provide aid for development. Today it is not, at least not in the way it is done at the moment. This moment of change, doubt and uncertainty is seized upon by those who believe that the international development community should be cancelled, silenced and even expelled from their countries because they are witnesses. The wave of authoritarianism is the biggest challenge.
Then there is decolonization, and all that it implies, the risks of disconnection with the «social and institutional base in the global north»; the imperative need to achieve and show impact at scale, and the poly-crisis that puts impossible demands on a fragile and self-doubting sector.
How do you consider they should be faced?
As always, it was done with determination, courage and intelligence, despite the risks and uncertainties. As indeed I believe is being done in many places and organizations. And without being averse to the risk (but not excessively so…) of transforming ourselves and ceding power in the sector to other places, not only in the south but also within the organizations.
