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Closing Address. Going Global: Ideas for Action
Bruce Wilkinson, Vice-president for International Programs, World Vision

Bruce examines major shifts in how PVOs / NGOs are responding to the transformative changes that globalization demands, based on the latest comprehensive study of Northern NGOs (Going Global, by Lindeberg and Bryant). This is impacting on infrastructure with new challenges of accountability, evaluation and organizational learning. Also there is a growing significance of complex emergencies, peace-building and advocacy--- all new contexts compared with traditional development work. Discussion will follow on how CORE and its members can leave the meeting to address these new challenges.

Bruce Wilkinson is senior vice president for International Programs of the United States arm of World Vision, the largest privately funded, Christian relief and development organization in the world. Bruce brings to the position 15 years of work in West Africa and experience in relief and development efforts, quality and impact in program development, and cross-cultural team management.

In his current role since January 1999, Bruce is responsible for allocating US$400 million a year and supporting program quality in cooperation with World Vision offices around the world. His 120-member staff acquires U.S. government grants and in corporate gifts-in-kind ($125 million of donated goods), and manages these resources together with funds contributed by private donors ($155 million). He also oversees the World Vision United States Office of Public Policy and Advocacy.

Bruce has spent most of his career abroad in Africa and Europe. Most recently, he served seven years as World Vision's regional director for West Africa, based in Senegal, where he oversaw relief and development efforts in eight countries. He also has served with the Peace Corps and the Summer Institute of Linguistics. He holds a bachelor of economics degree from Gordon College in Massachusetts and an MBA in international management from the University of Cambridge. In addition, he pursued graduate studies in French and international development at the University of Geneva.