History

Our history

The association was founded in 1981 within the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Louvain, under the name "ADRI". It quickly became "ADRAI (Association for the Development of Research and integrated Action). It was under this name that new themes, such as health, have emerged and that the European Union and the DGDC (Belgian Development Cooperation) have recognised our existence.

Born in 1997 "Louvain Développement", comprises six associations close to the University of Louvain-la-Neuve (ADRAI, FOMULAC, CMT, SCMTM, Great Lakes, Medevuc). Recognized by the DGDC as a consortium, ADRAI became the NGO leader and ensures the operational administration. In the process, an initial programme consisting of seven actions is subsidized by the Belgian Cooperation for the period 1998-2002.

Two years later, coordination offices are established in West Africa (Cotonou - Benin), in Central Africa (Bukavu - DRC) and in the Andes (La Paz - Bolivia).

In 2000, ADRAI and Louvain Développement "merge". The new statutes authorize members of the consortium to serve as legal persons next to individuals composing the General Assembly of ADRAI. Following this event, the Board of Directors of the CUL recognizes LD as development NGO of the university.

In 2003 a second programme of five years, with more than 20 actions, is approved by the Belgian Cooperation, which recognizes the important role of our coordination offices. This is accompanied by a streamlining of our action areas with the closure of projects in Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Brazil (2004) and Morocco (2005).

Between 2003 and 2007, the activities of Louvain Développement and sources for project funding will greatly diversify (support of the European Union, the Belgian Survival Fund, ...). In the process, a service for communication and fundraising is established and activities in Development Education are developed, first in Louvain-la-Neuve, then extended to Woluwe. The activities and staff of the association GENAGRO are transferred to LD to create the Antenna for Distance Training, later the cell Support to Training and Development (AFD).

Today, Louvain Coopération au Développement is a medium-sized NGO, recognized within the University and by development institutions for the quality of its work for people in the South. Following some forty other Belgian NGOs and after several positive external audits, it has received a complementary approval of "program" from the Belgian Cooperation, a guarantee of the seriousness of our organisation.