Representatives of ADRA from 31 European countries met in Fribourg, Switzerland, to discuss joint strategies, the coordination of humanitarian aid, and opportunities for further cooperation. Representatives from ADRA Slovakia were also in attendance at the ADRA European Forum, which took place from September 21 to 24, 2026.

The ADRA 2026 European Forum brought together directors and representatives of ADRA’s national offices from 31 European countries, along with the organization’s international leadership, including ADRA International President Paul Lopez. The event also included a session of the ADRA EU General Assembly.

The main goal of the meeting was to strengthen cooperation among European offices, seek common solutions to current humanitarian challenges, and set the organization’s future direction. Discussions focused on joint strategies, ways to align funding with the needs of the private sector, expanding humanitarian aid, and establishing joint project consortia.

Cooperation That Brings Aid to Specific Countries

An important part of the forum was the in-person meetings with ADRA’s partner offices, with which ADRA Slovakia collaborates on the implementation of development and humanitarian projects.

In Uganda, ADRA Slovakia collaborates with the offices of ADRA Finland, ADRA Croatia, and ADRA Denmark. It also carries out joint projects in Lebanon in collaboration with ADRA Germany and in Kenya with ADRA Czech Republic.

The meetings in Fribourg provided an opportunity to share experiences, coordinate ongoing activities, and discuss further opportunities for cooperation. In joint projects, it is important for individual offices to be able to pool their expertise, experience, and financial resources and respond effectively to the needs of local communities.

A Joint Response to Humanitarian Crises

A key topic was the coordination of humanitarian aid in areas affected by conflicts and natural disasters. Representatives from ADRA Ukraine also attended the meeting, and discussions were held with them regarding aid coordination and current needs in the region.

ADRA’s international leadership highlighted the cooperation among European offices in humanitarian response efforts in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as their ability to respond quickly to natural disasters. Examples included the earthquakes in Venezuela and Colombia and the flash floods in Nepal.

ADRA’s European offices are actively involved in coordinating international aid through the Emergency Response Team (ERT), which supports the organization’s unified response to emergencies. This coordinated approach makes it possible to combine the local knowledge, expertise, and available resources of individual offices.

The common goal is to provide more effective assistance

The ADRA European Forum in Fribourg reaffirmed the importance of international cooperation in addressing humanitarian and development challenges. Regular meetings and joint planning help individual offices better coordinate their activities, respond to changing needs, and develop partnerships that have a tangible impact on people in crisis-affected areas.

For ADRA Slovakia, cooperation with European and international partners is an important part of implementing projects and providing assistance to people in need.