On 18 September 2010, the University of Warsaw library building hosted the Fourth Forum of Polish Development Cooperation, organized by the MFA's development cooperation unit. The aim of the Forum was to familiarize Polish public opinion with the scope and forms of Polish activities to benefit developing countries. The entire Forum was open to the public.

The Forum began with the screening of a movie commissioned by the MFA, "Fencers for Palestine", which showcases a project to train the Palestinian national fencing team and its positive implications for the local community. After that, Under-Secretary of State Henryk Litwin - representing the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Forum - outlined the 2010 Polish development assistance programme and discussed the 2009 annual report on Poland's development cooperation, which contains a detailed review of the aid activities implemented during the previous year. He also awarded the laureate of the 2009 prize for the best aid project conducted in a Polish foreign aid beneficiary country (this was the first edition of the competition). The 2009 laureate was the Stare Pole branch of the Pomeranian Agricultural Advisory Centre, with the prize-winning project entitled "Local government and economic reform in rural areas in Crimea with the implementation of European standards".            

During the conference part of the Forum, the Zagranica Group presented its own report, entitled "Poland Foreign Aid 2009", complete with conclusions and recommendations.             

Two public debates were held. The first was devoted to the effectiveness of development aid from the point of views of NGOs, while the next covered aid to Belarus as a challenge for European development policy. Both the briefing and the debate were met with large audience interest.

The conference part was accompanied by a series of sideline events dealing with information and education. The so-called partner zone hosted meetings and a development cooperation-themed book fair. Volunteers shared their experiences with people interested in this form of social activity. An information post facilitated direct contacts between forum participants, encouraging them to engage in activities aimed at providing equal civilizational chances.  Amateur film workshops were organized for development project participants, along with art workshops for young people and educational games for children. A photo exhibition and film screenings devoted to developing countries were also staged. Fair trade products and ethnic dishes were available for tasting, with ethnic music from around the world contributing to the positive atmosphere.           

The following photographs illustrate the organization and ambiance of the Fourth Forum of Polish Development Cooperation. Photo gallery