Dear CIB Family,
I hope that the year is ending on positive notes for you all wherever you are. I am grateful for those who could make it last week to discuss CIB work plan for 2024, your input and support is highly appreciated. For those who couldn't attend, please know that our secretariat had shared a debrief on our last meeting and all needed information in the last CIB update for 2023.
I was particularly pleased last week with the brief participation of Pascal where we collectively shared with him a word of thanks and wished him success in his new professional adventure.
It was also the occasion to introduce our new Co- Chair Gaby, with whom the CIB leadership will have a strong allie to push the agenda of the municipal movement in the international cooperation policies.
2023 was a year where we enlarged our membership to include more voices from the global South, it is a year where useful tools and knowledge were developed and shared, a year where the city of Marrakech has been a great host for our annual meeting where our network connected with DELOG, a donor network. A year where we said good bye to Jessie and Pascal and we welcomed a new colleagues at CIB secretariat and new Co-Chair. A year of mutual understanding and solidarity through natural disasters and conflicts. All in all a year, where we can be proud of thanks to your generous involvement and thanks to the Secretariat support. I am looking forward to 2024 with all of you, committed to serve our common cause for stronger contribution of local governments to peace and resilience world wide, it will not be easy but … but it makes it all the more meaningful. Thank you all for the constructive collaboration and the nice times. May the magic of the holiday season bring you and your dear ones good cheer and health throughout the year to come.
Warm regards,
Dr. Neila Akrimi