Coopera - National Conference on Development Cooperation
The major public event for Italian development cooperation, held in the heart of Rome
About Coopera
What is Coopera
Coopera is the National Conference on Development Cooperation, the primary public forum for the Italian international cooperation system. It is neither a trade fair nor a simple technical convention: it is the event where the Italy that cooperates shares its story with citizens. The Conference is mandated by Law 125 of 2014, which, in Article 16, requires the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to convene a national public conference every three years to encourage citizen participation in defining development cooperation policies.
The organization is entrusted to the MAECI (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation) in collaboration with AICS, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. The event is held in the Municipality of Rome, in the Lazio region, specifically in the Borgo district, just a short walk from St. Peter's Basilica.
The Venues: Borgo, between the Auditorium and the Corsie Sistine
Coopera takes place across two nearby and complementary venues. The Auditorium della Conciliazione, at Via della Conciliazione 4, hosts the larger plenary sessions and institutional events. The Corsie Sistine of Santo Spirito in Sassia, at Borgo Santo Spirito 2, hosts thematic sessions and working groups; this is one of the city's most evocative historical spaces, part of the ancient Santo Spirito hospital complex, which adds a setting of great heritage value to the debate.
Who participates
The strength of Coopera lies in the plurality of actors gathered in one place. Around the tables and on the stages, you will find:
- national institutions, starting with the Farnesina and AICS;
- local authorities, Regions and Municipalities engaged in decentralized cooperation;
- civil society organizations and Italian NGOs active in partner countries;
- universities and research centers, bringing the themes of education and the knowledge chain;
- businesses, financial institutions, and development finance operators;
- European agencies and international bodies, in the spirit of Team Italy and Team Europe.
Key themes of the debate
Each edition captures the priorities of the moment. Recent common threads include the relationship between Italy and the African continent, development finance, major humanitarian crises, education as an engine for growth, and the link between training, research, and innovation. An important chapter is dedicated to the Mattei Plan, the Italian partnership strategy with African countries, and the international evaluation of Italian efforts through the OECD-DAC peer review.
Why attend
Coopera is not reserved for experts. It is designed for students, volunteers, journalists, and curious citizens who want to understand how Italian cooperation works, where public resources go, and what results projects achieve on the ground. Participation is free upon registration on the official website, subject to availability. Alongside technical sessions, there are testimonials from the field, narrative moments, and contributions from personalities in the worlds of entertainment, music, and sports, who share these stories in accessible language.
A young tradition
The first edition was held in Rome in January 2018 and was dedicated to the role of youth in and for cooperation. The second took place in June 2022, again at the Auditorium della Conciliazione, focusing on themes of respect, inclusion, and multi-actor partnerships. The triennial cadence makes each edition a true mandate review for the entire Italian cooperation system.
Coopera — edition 2026
Coopera 2026: The 10th Anniversary of AICS
The third National Conference on Development Cooperation was held in Rome on May 26 and 27, 2026, four years after the 2022 edition. The chosen title, «the story of an Italy that cooperates and builds bridges for development», set the tone for two dense days, distributed between the Auditorium della Conciliazione, at Via della Conciliazione 4, and the Corsie Sistine of Santo Spirito in Sassia, at Borgo Santo Spirito 2.
The 2026 edition had a special significance: it coincided with the 10th anniversary of AICS, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation created by the 2014 reform. One of the most followed sessions, «10 years of AICS in a changing world», compared the Italian Agency with the main European cooperation agencies.
Institutional voices
The official opening saw the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani, while the closing session concluded with an interview by Rai journalist Giorgia Cardinaletti with Deputy Minister Edmondo Cirielli, delegate for development cooperation. Alongside the institutions, representatives of civil society, academia, businesses, and international organizations took turns on stage.
An edition dedicated to the Mattei Plan
The common thread of the two days was the partnership with the African continent. The final plenary, «The contribution of Italian cooperation to the Mattei Plan», occupied the entire afternoon of May 27, while previous sessions addressed development finance, major humanitarian crises, education, and the chain connecting training, research, and innovation. On the same day, the OECD-DAC peer review of Italian operations was presented.
Programme Coopera 2026
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
- 8:30 - 10:00 — Auditorium della Conciliazione: participant registration
- 10:30 - 12:00 — «Finance in development cooperation» (11 speakers, including Carlo Batori and Stefano Lo Savio)
- 12:00 - 13:00 — «Valuing experiences, imagining the future of Italian Cooperation» (7 speakers, with Deputy Minister Edmondo Cirielli)
- 13:30 - 14:45 — «10 years of AICS in a changing world» (10 speakers, with European cooperation agencies)
- 15:00 - 16:30 — Official opening: «The great Family of Italian development cooperation» (16 speakers, with Minister Antonio Tajani; moderated by Giorgia Cardinaletti, Rai)
- 16:30 - 18:00 — «Italy and major humanitarian crises» (13 speakers, including Maurizio Martina)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
- 10:00 - 11:30 — Corsie Sistine: plenary «Education and knowledge as the basis for growth and development» (12 speakers)
- 12:00 - 13:30 — Parallel sessions: «The knowledge chain», connecting training, research, and innovation, and «Presentation of the OECD-DAC peer review»
- 13:30 - 14:50 — «Team Italy and Team Europe»
- 15:00 - 17:00 — Auditorium della Conciliazione: closing plenary «The contribution of Italian cooperation to the Mattei Plan» (12 speakers), with the final interview of Deputy Minister Edmondo Cirielli by Giorgia Cardinaletti
Program derived from the official schedule published on conferenzacoopera.it. Times and speakers were subject to change.
Highlights Coopera 2026
- 1,650 participants expected, 89 speakers and 10 sessions over two days
- The 10th anniversary of AICS celebrated with a comparison between European cooperation agencies
- Official opening with Minister Antonio Tajani, moderated by Giorgia Cardinaletti (Rai)
- Final plenary on the Mattei Plan for Africa, with Deputy Minister Edmondo Cirielli
- Presentation of the OECD-DAC peer review on Italian cooperation
- The Corsie Sistine of Santo Spirito in Sassia as the venue for thematic sessions, one of the most beautiful historical spaces in Rome
Prices Coopera 2026
Practical information — Coopera
Getting there
Both venues are located in the Borgo district of Rome. By metro, take Line A to the Ottaviano - San Pietro stop (about a 10-minute walk) or Lepanto. By train, Roma San Pietro station (lines FL3 and FL5) is a few minutes' walk away; from Roma Termini, you can easily arrive via Metro A. Numerous bus lines serve Piazza Pia and Borgo Santo Spirito. The area is a limited traffic zone and parking is scarce: using public transport is strongly recommended.
Admission and registration
Participation is free, subject to registration on the official website conferenzacoopera.it. Seating is limited and plenary sessions are generally streamed online. Press accreditation is available.
Useful tips
Arrive early on the first day: participant registration opens early in the morning at the Auditorium della Conciliazione. The parallel thematic sessions across the two venues require a few minutes of walking: it is advisable to plan your route in advance using the program. The area offers numerous dining and hotel options for all budgets, but booking well in advance is recommended during high season.
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Where does it take place — Coopera
Auditorium della Conciliazione e Corsie Sistine di Santo Spirito in Sassia
Via della Conciliazione 4, 00193 Roma