Congacode renews its members representing cooperation agents

The Ministry of Presidency, Justice and Sports has arranged the dismissal and appointment of members of the Galician Council for Development Cooperation (Congacode) representing cooperation agents, through an Order of August 11, 2026 signed by the minister Diego Calvo Pouso. The resolution was published in the Official Gazette of Galicia number 156, of Wednesday, August 19, 2026, on pages 45056 to 45058, and will enter into force the day following its publication.

Regulatory Framework

Congacode is the consultation and participation body of Galician society regarding development cooperation, attached to the competent department in this matter, according to article 13 of Decree 29/2017, of March 9, on development cooperation, and article 89 of Law 10/2021, of March 9, regulating external action and development cooperation.

The third point of article 15 of Decree 29/2017 establishes that the members, except for the vice-presidency and the representatives of the ministries, are appointed and dismissed by the head of the competent ministry upon proposal by the represented entities, through an order published in the Official Gazette of Galicia, with a four-year mandate.

Dismissals

The following persons are dismissed as full and substitute members, with thanks for the services rendered:

María José López Couso, representing the public universities of Galicia, due to cessation in the position of vice-rector of Degrees and Internationalization of the University of Santiago de Compostela.
María José Cabaleiro Casal, associate professor at the University of Vigo, due to expiration of the mandate.
Esther Basanta Regodesebes (Fundación Mujeres), due to expiration of the mandate.
Débora Navarro García (Fundación Galicia Innova), due to expiration of the mandate.
Juan Redondo Abelenda (Red Cross), due to expiration of the mandate.
Joaquín Varela Rivera (Red Cross), due to expiration of the mandate.

New Appointments

Representing Galician universities:

Full member: Pablo Cabanelas Lorenzo, professor at the University of Vigo.
Substitute: Acacia Naves García-Rendueles, assistant professor (PhD) at the University of A Coruña.

Representing the entities registered in section D of the Galician Registry of Cooperation Agents:

Full member: Débora Navarro García (Fundación Galicia Innova).
Substitute: María Hervada Caamaño (Fundación Mujeres).

Representing non-governmental organizations working in the social field and/or with migrants or refugees and other similar groups:

Full member: María Isabel Vicandi Plaza (Red Cross).
Substitute: Joaquín Varela Rivera (Red Cross).

Relevance

The renewal of Congacode guarantees the representation of the different agents of Galician cooperation —universities, registered entities, and NGOs— in the main advisory body for Galicia’s cooperation policy for development. With four-year mandates, the new composition ensures continuity and plurality in the advisory provided to the Xunta on this matter.

Source: Diario Oficial de Galicia, no. 156, August 19, 2026, section II.B (Appointments), pp. 45056-45058 (official reference: CVE-DOG 3m6zsni8-0es9-nbd4-wud4-f0pyaa94of44).