The second plenary meeting of the ICRC Corporate Support Group took place on 17 October 2007 in Zurich, at the Headquarters of one of the founding members of the group, Zurich Financial Services. The event was attended by board members and executives of the ICRC Corporate Partners, members of the ICRC Assembly (the supreme governing body), and of the Board for the Foundation for the ICRC.
The meeting was hosted by James Schiro, the Chief Executive Officer of Zurich Financial Services. In his address the President of the ICRC, Jakob Kellenberger, presented the highlights of the year for the ICRC. Then the guests had a constructive discussion on issues of common interest. In the course of the evening, a film made during a workshop for experts conducted a month earlier was shown to the guests.
Governments: 79.8%
European Commission: 9.0%
Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies: 8.6%
Private Sources*: 2.0%
Other: 0.6%
In September, 14 experts from the ICRC's partner corporations tackled the scenario of a conflict-related emergency. Coached by ICRC facilitators, the participants were asked to assess the needs of a war-affected population to allow their organization to define a strategy and a plan of action. The exercise, which was held partly outdoors, on the grounds of the ICRC's training centre in the outskirts of Geneva, was inspired by the institution's training programme for its own staff. The exercise focused on the following skills: negotiation, stress management, intercultural approach and communication in a crisis situation.
* Corporations contributed 7,4% of the donations from private sources.