Acevo’s international programme has brought together the chief executive of the British DEC Brendan Gormley, with Manuela Rossbach, the chief executive of the German DEC known as Aktion Deutschland Hilft, and 11 Italian aid agencies to discuss the shape and the role of the committee.

“This meeting has shown me that Italian NGOs want to work together for more effective humanitarian action,” Gormley said. “This project is not only about fundraising, it’s about empowering the aid agencies. I’m very positive about what I have seen today in terms of the ideas, passion and commitment of all the people involved.”

Marco De Ponte, chief executive of ActionAid International Italia, which is one of the agencies leading the creation of the committee, said the meeting was a critical step forward.

Participants discussed the possible size, functions, logistics and membership criteria for the committee. A further meeting will be held in Rome next month at which formal commitments to the project will be made.