Core Competences

Intercooperation has three principal working domains:

Natural resource management
which for Intercooperation includes land, soil, water, climate, plant and animal resources. These constitute the basis of often precarious livelihoods for people and communities in developing countries. Well-managed resources hold the promise of a gradual increase of assets and the generation of additional income and employment. The work of Intercooperation in natural resources management aims at a balance between production and protection for the benefit of the poor. The themes covered under this domain range from agricultural production and tropical forestry to climate change and biodiversity.

		Rural economy
		encompasses production, exchange of goods and services, assets and human resources. Intercooperation aims to improve access for poor and disadvantaged people to services, knowledge and information. Intercooperation's emphasis is on stimulating production and processing of agricultural and forestry products, as well as on identifying and creating linkages to markets and industries. Intercooperation strives to support the economy by improving financial and non financial services. Their activities cover the promotion of small and medium enterprises, business development services, access of poor to markets, financial services, promotion of local organisations and networking.

Local governance and civil society
is about the ways and means by which people and communities organise themselves and are politically represented. Intercooperation's role in local governance programmes is to promote the development of municipalities, villages and other local bodies, with emphasis on accountability, participation and effectiveness for the benefit of the poor and marginal groups. Further strengthening of ties between civil society and public and private sectors also supports local economic development.