Luxembourg's development cooperation - Annual report 2013

Support for programmes relates to operations linked to the deployment of human resources to provide cooperation. It includes the following aspects:

• Cooperation agents, aid workers, assimilated aid workers, religious workers
• Development cooperation leave
• ‘Junior Professional Officers’ (or JPOs) at the United Nations
• ‘Junior Experts’ (JEDs) in the European Commission’s delegations 
• United Nations Volunteers (UNVs)
• Junior Technical Assistants (JTAs)
• Voluntary Cooperation Service (VCS)
• Trainees at the Directorate for Development Cooperation or at ENDA-Tiers Monde

In 2013, the various operations in this sphere were given funding of 4 020 594.05 euros, of which 3 971 279.25 euros were taken from the Cooperation Fund and 49 314.80 euros were from budget item 01.7.32.020 for the reimbursement of development cooperation leave.

Cooperation officials, aid workers, assimilated aid workers and trainees

The various operators working in the sphere of Luxembourg’s development cooperation include cooperation officials, who work for a maximum of four years either in a cooperation office located in the partner countries or in the Directorate for Development Cooperation.

Aid workers and assimilated aid workers are sent by the NGOs accredited by the Ministry into the developing countries where their activities are located. 

Development cooperation leave

Development cooperation leave allows members of accredited Luxembourg NGOs to participate in missions in their partner countries.

Junior Professional Officers (JPOs) at the United Nations agencies

On the basis of a general agreement between Luxembourg and the United Nations Programme for Development (UNPD), young graduates with Luxembourg nationality or residence have the opportunity to specialise in development cooperation and to acquire substantive experience through the multilateral activities of UNPD and other UN agencies. Luxembourg provides full financing to its JPOs for a period of up to four years, which has in the past allowed a number of JPOs to become permanent employees of UN bodies.

Junior Experts (JEDs) in the European Commission’s delegations

This programme allows young graduates who are Luxembourg nationals or residents to be trained in various European Union development cooperation activities by being attached for a two-year period to the European Commission’s delegations in the Luxembourg partner countries.

United Nations Volunteers (UNVs)

Luxembourg is one of the main donors to the ‘United Nations Volunteers’ (UNVs) programme, financing volunteers from countries in the South as part of South-South cooperation. The destination and origin of the volunteers are in Luxembourg development cooperation’s partner countries.

Junior Technical Assistants (JTAs)

In partnership with Lux-Development, young Luxembourg nationals or residents are offered paid traineeships which enable them to obtain their first experience on the ground, covering the various aspects of development cooperation. JTAs are posted to cooperation projects abroad, where they are managed by Lux-Development employees, taking on mentor roles. This training may be extended for a second year.

The Voluntary Cooperation Service (VCS)

This programme, mainly run by the National Service and the Cercle of NGOs, offers young people an opportunity to volunteer with a partner in a developing country.

Trainees at the Department for Development Cooperation or at ENDA

Traineeships are offered to students wishing to deepen the knowledge they have already acquired in the field of development cooperation either at the Directorate for Development Cooperation, on tin the field in Dakar (Senegal), under an agreement concluded between the Ministry and ENDA Tiers Monde(an international NGO), or else within the context of theirhigher education or personal commitments for which documentation is provided – the latter available only on an exceptional basis and after due assessment.