Ricerca e Cooperazione (RC) is a non-profit Italian NGO, founded in 1985 and based in Rome, that promotes and implements development, research and information programs in developing and less developed countries.

Ricerca e Cooperazione is accredited upon the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1986 and is dealing with development  bilateral  initiatives  and  private  ones and it is registered upon UNFA and IFAD. Concerning EC co-funded projects, RC is working with several budget lines, such as Food Security, Demography, Environment.

Within the activities carried out in the area of sensitisation on development issues, RC has established a partnership with several Italian Municipalities. Connected to some Italian, European and developing Countries NGOs’ networks, RC is an active member of the Italian NGOs Association.

Ricerca e Cooperazione organizes development projects in the following sectors: rural development, regional planning, natural resources management, protection of environment; social promotion and strengthening of local organization; income generating activities and vocational training; microcredit scheme implementation; sexual and reproductive health; cultural heritage rehabilitation and enhancement; productive activities and professional training; cultural heritage rehabilitation and valorization; fight against desertification.

In Egypt, RC is implementing, in cooperation with the Governorate of Marsa Matrouh, the “Shali Project” that aims at improving the capacity of the local cultural heritage to provide stable income opportunities for the local community, through the three components of the project: restoration, eco-tourism and handicraft.  

The beneficiary of the intervention is the community of Siwa, which is targeted by the activities (and directly involved in the implementation), and has access to the credit funds, made available for them to start new income generating activities.

At the same time, being the action conceived as a tool to enhance the institutional capacities of the local Institutions, which is directly involved in the Project implementation (People’s Council of the Siwa Oasis, People’s Council of the Siwa City , Department of Antiquities, Tourist Office, Siwa House), they must be considered either as beneficiaries and as partners.

Since October 2008, RC is implementing in Cairo a new project: “Words and Notes – a visual travel between music and literature”. This project turns around the idea of travel in all its numerous meanings. With the objective of incrementing and improving the cultural opportunities of Egyptian citizens, RC will organize 6 concerts with foreign and Egyptian music bands, 3 lectures on the travel literature and travellers of the past and the present, 2 photo exhibitions which aim to let the participants free to represent their idea of travel.  The project aims at involving a great number of cultural actors of Cairo. This will transform each event itself in an important moment of cultural exchange and a reason for sharing different experiences.

RC CONTACTS IN EGYPT: 

Ricerca e Cooperazione (www.ongrc.org)

Person in charge: Mr. Matteo Valli

Cairo - 2, Taha Hussein - Zamalek C/O COSPE Egypt office

Mobile: 0020 (0)16 28 22 216

Email: egypt@ongrc.org

Project Shali – Promotion and Conservation of Cultural Heritage and Development of Eco-Tourism Activities in the Oasis of Siwa

Ramla el Haddadden – Siwa (Marsa Matrouh)

Tel.: 0020 (0)46 9210100

Fax.: 0020 (0)46 4601329

Email: shali_project@yahoo.com