Dear readers of the FSCA website,

I am writing these few lines from Bangkok, where I was appointed as the Senior Field Programme Officer just a few months back, and I take this opportunity to wish all of you and your families a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.

I remember last year, more or less at the same time, I was planning my activities for the upcoming 2011 and I was sure that in 2011 many important things would have happened: the midterm review of all or most of the projects, the extension of the project in Guinea Bissau, the increase of funds -at least for Liberia-, the finalization of the Beneficiaries’ Assessment of the programme and a few other, equally important activities.

I look back and I feel at the same time proud and sorry. Proud for those things we were able to deliver, and sorry, very sorry for the ones that we were not able to solve.

I know that a new Inter Country Coordinator has been appointed and that he’s already in Dakar. Given his long experience and very friendly character, I am sure he will be able to succeed with the remaining missing points, namely the additional funds for Liberia -very much needed - the finalization of the projects activities and the subsequent programme final evaluation (maybe a bit too expensive….) etc.

I am also sure that with the support and collaboration of the NPCs and the rest of the project staff the overall goal of the programme will be achieved at the end of December 2012 and that all those involved in its implementation will remember for a long time all the challenges and the very good results achieved during the past few years.

I will certainly not forget anything.

Ciao to all of you from Bangkok

Daniele Salvini