On 3 March 2020, the Chair of the IGC Global Board – Martin Chungong – and Ambassador Christian Dussey of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalise their collaboration in the context of the International Gender Champions.
Since September 2019, the GCSP has been incubating the initiative within its Creative Spark, and with the support of donors, dedicated staff and resources to the IGC Secretariat. “The Creative Spark is a project incubator and accelerator”, Ambassador Dussey said, “the level that the IGC has reached is already excellent as the initiative is having a real impact. We hope to take it even further – expanding the network within hubs and to new hubs, and deepening impact. Achieving gender equality demands collaboration, creativity and innovation across sectors, and the Creative Spark provides a unique environment for that, with the benefits of organisational support”.
Martin Chungong, Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and a Gender Champion since 2015, has taken over the role of Chair of the IGC Global Board in February 2020.
“As we approach the IGC’s fifth anniversary this June, we have seen its rapid expansion to six hubs and the number of Champions is continuing to grow, with incredible and tangible impact”, Martin Chungong stated. “We are delighted that the initiative has a home and are also conscious of the need to ensure its sustainability by broadening the donor base and in-kind contributions so that the Secretariat can adequately support the network and realise its potential in future years.”
The GCSP’s Mission is to foster peace, security and international cooperation by providing the knowledge, skills and network for inclusive and effective decision making. Housed in the Maison de la Paix in Geneva, it is an independent, impartial and inclusive foundation bringing together governments, international organisations and civil society actors. A number of innovative projects have already been incubated in the Creative Spark, including the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund, Media and Arts for Peace, Cyber Aid, and most recently the Geneva Cities Hub