What is the RDP?
The RDP is a long-term plan for the development of the seven IDF Regions. It aims to help the regions acquire all the resources they need to improve their ability to help our member associations. The RDP was developed specifically to help our member associations help people with diabetes. The member associations have many needs which they would like IDF to be aware of. The RDP is designed to help the regions communicate these needs to IDF and therefore make it possible for IDF to better serve the interests of its member associations.
Where does the RDP come from?
The IDF regions have a long history. The regionalization of IDF was approved by the General Council in 1982 at the 11th IDF Congress in Nairobi. In 1995, the Task Force on Regional Development was appointed by the Executive Board to assess the progress made by the regions since their creation and to strengthen the regional structure that was already in place. Before producing the RDP, the Task Force began by asking the seven Regional Chairmen to contact all the member associations in their region in order to ascertain what kind of assistance they required. The RDP was developed on the basis of information collected from member associations and on the outcome of several Regional Council meetings. All the members of the Executive Board approved the RDP in 1996.
The main goals of the RDP are to:
- Help the regions assist the member associations within each Region
- Help the member associations to assist people with diabetes within each country
- Strengthen communication between member associations, the regions and the central organization
- Help member associations to produce publications, particulary diabetes magazines and newsletters
- Assist the regions in developing a strong regional structure, based on collaboration with member associations
- Provide the regions with guidance on building a management structure
- Help the regions acquire the financial, technical and human resources they need
- Provide consultants who will help each of the regions make and implement their own strategic plans, based on specific regional needs.
Advantages of the RDP
The RDP ensures efficient communication between member associations and the regions, enabling them to play a more active role in IDF. Member associations are able to identify specific regional projects or programmes which they would like their Regional Chairmen to put forward. In turn, the RDP makes it possible for the regions to help member associations develop their skills, improve their public relations work and increase their contacts with the World Health Organization (WHO). Member associations must play an active role in identifying their needs, asking for assistance from their regions and developing their potential to solve their own problems. Most importantly, the RDP helps our member associations serve people with diabetes more effectively.
Use of the RDP by the Regions
The regions can use the RDP in many ways. As unpaid volunteers, the Regional Chairmen need to be able to make the most effective use of their time. This is why the RDP has secured annual funding of up to US$20,000 for three years for each of the regions. These funds will contribute to the setting up of a staffed and fully-equipped regional office. The Regional Chairmen will thereby be freed from time-consuming practical tasks and will be able to focus on serving the needs of member associations within their region. With a Regional Office and a working administrative structure, the Regional Chairmen will be able to seek extra funds from other sources for all regional activities. In addition to the financial resources available to the regions, the RDP also provides for consultants who will help each of the regions achieve the goals they have set for themselves.
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