The Interview | Yannick Roulin
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FIPOI is a key component of the framework established by Switzerland to support stakeholders in International Geneva, providing them with workspaces (buildings, offices) and conference facilities (including the Geneva International Conference Centre – CICG) on very favourable terms, and by assisting international organisations with their own building construction or renovation projects or with securing their premises, whilst managing the funds provided by the authorities for this purpose. This support, provided for over 60 years, has helped to develop Geneva as the world’s leading centre of governance and a unique global ecosystem.
Internally, FIPOI is also a model organisation and a pleasant place to work. Since 2021, it has held the ‘Great Place to Work’ certification and was recognised this year as the 15th best company in Switzerland in the ‘50–100 employees’ category, something of which I am particularly pleased and proud.
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Having all the UN human rights programmes and agencies in one city allows us to easily access UN staff, states representatives, NGOs, and experts, facilitating connections and collaboration. The human rights community is strongest when it comes together, and this concentration of actors in a relatively small space fosters cooperation. This level of accessibility and density is unique worldwide. It leads to stronger information flows and better and more effective synergies.
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FIPOI is constantly striving to innovate and remain at the cutting edge of technology, so that it can provide high-quality services that best meet the needs of its clients. This applies to the buildings and workspaces it provides – some of which will see significant investment over the coming years to ensure they meet current requirements – but above all to its numerous conference centres, which must offer world-class facilities and services.
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The resilience of this international Geneva. Despite the difficult situation faced by many of its stakeholders for over a year now, and despite budget cuts, job losses and reduced activity, it is adapting to continue working towards a better world and in support of international cooperation, which is more essential than ever. Geneva remains the world’s leading platform for discussing and regulating a wide range of issues that affect the well-being of all the world’s citizens.
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An ecosystem that is unique in the world in terms of the number and variety of international stakeholders, the expertise on offer and the topics discussed, all working to make the world a better place.