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Mali: EU-funded local development project in the news
Project "Revival of the local economy and support to communities in northern Mali", financed by the EU, featured on television station ORTM:
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Sectors
- 2016
- 17 November
- By
- Senegal Office MLI/802
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- 2 November
- By
- Kosovo Office KSV/017
- Health
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A step towards the establishment of a Monitoring System for Kosovo Healthcare
Since the previous phase of “Health Support Program in Kosovo – KSV014”, the Monitoring & Evaluation Division (M&E Division) of Ministry of Health has been supported on regular basis. Technical assistance offered to the Division includes trainings on instruments for capacity building. Therefore last month, as part of activities within the “Health Support Program – Phase II - KSV/017”, the M&E training was organized. The training targeted the core of the Healthcare Institutions in Kosovo and contributed to the establishment of a monitoring system in the sector.
Setting up an M&E system for monitoring the implementation of the “Health Sector Strategy 2016-2020”is a challenge which demands the involvement of all Healthcare Institutions.
Through implementation of a Monitoring & Evaluation system, the MoH will be able to better observe the progress, stagnation or failures in the healthcare system. A functional M&E system, will facilitate the role of the MoH as policymaker and regulator of the sector. With this in mind a 5 days training on M&E has been provided by KSV/017.
Participants included staff and decision-makers from the different institutions, like directors and staff from different departments of the Ministry of Health and Kosovo Hospital and University Clinical Services (KHUCS), directors of hospitals and members of the health professional chambers.
Furthermore representatives from Accessible Quality Healthcare (AQH), a project supported by the Swiss Development Cooperation, were encouraged to participate in the LuxDev training and apply the M&E system in their project. Employing the same system would strengthen the harmonisation and coordination between donors and counterpart.
The training offered basic tools for Monitoring and Evaluation and focused on the Kosovo Health Sector Strategy 2016-2020. This document has been approved by the Ministry of Health and consists of objectives and results for the forthcoming years.
How to measure changes occurred in Healthcare as a consequence of the strategy’s implementation? During the M&E training, participants learned how to define the structure needed to monitor the sector as well as to collaborate with the M&E Division, as a leading actor in this process. At present, staff and directors of different institutions are open to respond to the changes demanded by the implementation of an M&E system
↑ To the top- 2 November
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- Senegal Office MLI/802
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Progress Report: Recovery of the local economy in northern Mali
The project MLI / 802 – Recovery of the local economy and support to communities in northern Mali –seeks to address local needs in terms of equipment and rehabilitation of communal infrastructures, including schools, community health centres, water access points, town halls and district councils. LuxDev is implementing the project with funding from the European Union’s Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace in the framework of regional efforts to address the root causes of fragility and insecurity through socioeconomic development.
The first months of implementation of the project have been dedicated to the organisation of missions and diagnostics of community workshops to collectively determine community needs and priorities. In 12 towns targeted by the project, including 6 in the region of Gao and 6 in the Timbuktu region, the workshops brought together elected officials (mayors, secretaries-general and officials representing various sectors such as education, agriculture and environment) with local populations, including village chiefs / factions, representatives of civil society including women and youth, community leaders, community health associations and school management committees, amongst others.
From 8 to 19 August 2016, 12 municipal council sessions were thus held to prioritise and validate requirements and deliberate lists. Despite being held during the winter period, which mobilises most communal councillors to work in the fields and makes access to municipal capitals difficult due to road conditions, the participation rate of local councillors was very satisfactory in each of the municipalities.
The successful sessions confirmed the relevance of the participatory and inclusive approach of the project for determining community priorities regarding material needs. Technical studies will now be conducted to quantify the extent of work and equipment required before recruiting suppliers and contractors through public tendering procedures.
↑ To the top- 26 October
- By
- Asia Office VIE/036
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Vietnam – How to identify and control crop diseasesTraining on Pest Control
In Cao Bang province, many farmers are unable to identify the symptoms when their crops such as rice, tobacco or maize show signs of diseases. Usually, it results in an inappropriate use of pesticides in terms of volume, type, time of spraying, etc. A considerable number of fields are badly affected and even destroyed by such misuse of pesticides, even more so since most of the pesticides are cheap imports from China, often unbranded and without comprehensible usage instructions. It goes without saying that such behaviour directly impacts the quality of the agriculture products, followed by a decreasing interest of consumers for locally-produced agricultural products. Via an information campaign, the provincial level requested producers to make better use of pesticides but the lack of skills to recognise the symptoms of crop diseases and using pesticides incorrectly is a real issue amongst farmers.
Therefore, trainings on techniques of identification and pest control measures provided by the Crop and Plant Protection Division (CPPD) supported by project VIE/036 were an efficient way to improve farmers’ skills in that respect.
The target beneficiary of these trainings were 125 farmers within Duc Xuan and Le Lai communes, in Thach An district, distributed among 5 villages, each class attended by 25 farmers.
Moreover, the trainings were an opportunity for the CPPD to develop their coaching approach while working with farmers in the fields. Also, those trainings were an opportunity for farmers to enjoy services provided by CPPD directly at their commune and to strengthen their confidence in proactively seeking technical support at CPPD offices when they are faced with any crop or plant issues.
Those trainings are the first batch of a series of activities in which CPPD will introduce an effective way to spray pesticides and at the same time to have a better understanding of the local situation and characteristics of farmers spraying pesticides in their field.
For seeking a suitable and relevant method to reduce the use of unbranded chemicals (mostly coming from China) while improving control over sales and purchases of Chinese pesticides, CPPD has collaborated with the Cao Bang Department of Police to undertake a study to assess the circulation and movement of unbranded chemicals.
The CPPD also wishes to elaborate, propose and help farmers to apply at least 4 kinds of pesticide solutions that are responsive to the local characteristics and needs. At the same time CPPD will build its capacity to conduct studies on agricultural cultivating techniques for enriching a shared public knowledge library on agriculture practice for universal accessibility and inheritance.
VIE/036 will certainly continue to provide support to CPPD and other agricultural departments to ultimately improve the agricultural production in the most sustainable manner.
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- 26 October
- By
- Asia Office VIE/032
- Inclusive and innovative finance
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Bridging Viet Nam and Luxembourg in Capital MarketsVIE/032 Project Launch
Friday 7 October 2016 set the mark for the official launch of the Luxembourg funded support project for capacity development in the Vietnam financial sector. VIE/032 project follows a successful first phase implemented between 2008 and 2013. This new phase will certainly build up on former achievements and will also support the Vietnam State Securities Commission (SSC) to cater more efficiently to the needs of a rapidly developing finance sector, be it via reformation of the existing legislative framework, inviting high-level experts to exchange knowledge and experience, as well as to upgrade existing IT systems.
LuxDev will be partnering with the Luxembourg training entity know as House of Training, which now includes the “Agence de Transfert de Technology Financière” (ATTF) to provide experts for training and technical assistance assignments for the development of Vietnam’s securities market. To even create a greater bond between Luxembourg and Vietnam in view of a platform for networking, exploring new ventures and business opportunities, the project has established an Alumni Association. This association assembles all graduates that have benefitted from ATTF’s trainings in the framework of the Luxembourg Development Cooperation activities in the Vietnam finance sector.
Aside from extensively working with SSC, the Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchanges, the Vietnam Securities Depository, securities firms and listed companies, the project will also seek synergies with other involved donors such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the International Finance Cooperation.
First off after the launch, the project will hire experts to support the updating of the legal framework and for derivatives training workshops to support capacity development ahead of the planned launch of the derivatives market in 2017. The project will seek to leverage Luxembourg expertise to provide these deliverables.
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L'École d'Hôtellerie et du Tourisme du Cabo Verde (EHTCV) a fêté ses 5 ans!
L'École d'Hôtellerie et du Tourisme du Cabo Verde (EHTCV)[1] a fêté le 19 juillet 2016 ses 5 années d’opérations. L’EHTCV est une entité publique entrepreneuriale dont la mission est la formation de professionnels du secteur touristique. Créée selon les standards internationaux, elle est non seulement une référence nationale mais vise à devenir une structure d’excellence internationale. C’est ainsi que l’EHTCV a obtenu la certification HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) pour assurer le plus haut niveau de maîtrise de la sécurité sanitaire des denrées alimentaires.
Le secteur du tourisme représente pour le Cabo Verde un facteur essentiel de croissance économique (environ 20% du Produit intérieur brut). Il s’agit de la principale source d’emploi des jeunes. Ce secteur est en croissance très soutenue, car le Cabo Verde constitue une alternative sûre aux destinations du Maghreb, de la Turquie et de la Mer rouge.
Créée avec un budget d’environ 12 millions d’Euros dans le cadre la Coopération entre le Cabo-Verde et le Luxembourg (Programme CVE/059), l’Ecole peut accueillir jusqu’à 300 étudiants en formation initiale et 450 en formation continue.
Elle a pour mission de promouvoir la diffusion de connaissance et le développement de compétences pour l’exercice d’activités professionnelles dans les sous-secteurs de l’hôtellerie, la restauration et le tourisme. Les jeunes formés sont amenés à devenir de réels acteurs du développement, contribuant à l’amélioration qualitatif de l’offre touristique et à la promotion d’une vraie culture de l’hospitalité avec une garantie de la qualité des services.
En 5 ans, EHTCV a formé 2 067 jeunes, dont 76% de sexe féminin. Le taux d’insertion sur le marché de l’emploi atteint les 73%. Le partenariat avec près de 60 entreprises du secteur confère aux élèves de bonnes perspectives dans leurs projets de développement professionnel.
Dans le cadre de la mise en œuvre de son plan d’affaires, l’Ecole réalise des activités génératrices de revenus comme la production d’événements et l’offre de services d’hôtellerie et restauration. Elle dispose par exemple d’une résidence estudiantine qui sert non seulement les étudiants mais peut aussi accueillir les visiteurs pour quelques nuits. Elle bénéficie aussi d’un pourcentage du Fond du tourisme de l’Etat. Entre 2011 et 2015, l’Ecole est parvenue à augmenter ses recettes propres passant de 112 mille euros à 604 mille euros.
L’appui au développement de l’EHTCV se poursuit à travers un nouveau programme lancé en juin 2016 par la Coopération luxembourgeoise, visant notamment le renouvèlement de certains équipements, mais aussi le renforcement des compétences pour la gestion de la croissance de l'École, la décentralisation de ses activités sur les îles touristiques de Sal et de Boa Vista et la formation de cadres.
[1] Site internet de l’Ecole : http://www.ehtcv.edu.cv/
↑ To the top- 22 September
- By
- Asia Office VIE/021 VIE/034
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Vietnam – Record-breaking intake at Bac Kan Vocational College 257 new students enrolled for the 2016-17 academic year on Admission Day – 5 September 2016
Bac Kan Vocational College (BKVC), previously known as Bac Kan Intermediate Vocational School, was funded by Luxembourg Development Cooperation under project VIE/021 from 2007-2011 and now continues to receive support for a second phase. Starting with only two departments, it currently offers a wide range of training programmes, including electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, automotive engineering, construction, agro-forestry, IT, as well as accounting and has seen increasing numbers of students over the years.
Since early 2016, the BKVC Recruitment Centre kicked off a multimedia blitz advertising campaign covering Bac Kan television, newspapers and banners displayed in district schools. They organised career orientation days at almost all secondary schools in the province and visited potential students’ families in villages. Prospective students were also invited to BKVC for a campus tour, from which they had a chance to see for themselves what BKVC has to offer in terms of not only training programmes but also the living and studying environment.
On 5 September, secondary school graduates and their parents from all districts in Bac Kan province gathered at BKVC campus for Admission Day. A mixed feeling of nervousness and excitement was easily discerned on those young faces who are about to part from their parents and family home for the first time in their life. Carrying backpacks or bags of various shapes and sizes, they queued in line for their turn to register. Students who already made a decision over what to study simply filled in the enrolment form, submitted and then waited to be taken to their dormitory. There are also consultation desks where dedicated faculty members gave helpful advice and guidance to still-undecided students.
After finishing the paperwork, students got together in a hall for an introduction session to BKVC. The college’s Director, Mr Trinh Tien Long, provided students with information about different policies, support and conveyed a bright outlook, further solidifying their confidence in the choices they made and ensuring the time they will be spending on campus will be a rewarding experience.
Admission procedures did not cease until the end of the day. Results showed that recruitment efforts have paid off. Total number of new enrolment was reported to have reached 257 – the highest enrolment ever recorded on an admission day and more are expected to follow. The most enrolled occupations include automotive engineering, veterinary and mechanical technology. Recruitment activities will continue until the end of 2016 with support of the VIE/034 project in order to reach the target of 440 new students.
↑ To the topCurso Taller “Fundamentos de la Norma ISO 9001:2015” en Managua
El pasado 26 y 27 de junio, se llevó a cabo en Managua un Curso sobre la nueva versión de la Norma ISO 9001, que entró en vigor el mes de septiembre de 2015. En ella, participaron los equipos de los proyectos de Educación Técnica y Formación Profesional, de Salud y parte del equipo de la Oficina regional de Managua.
El curso, organizado por el proyecto NIC/026, tuvo una duración de 16 horas y permitió a los participantes adquirir los conocimientos, y las habilidades necesarias para comprender y aplicar los cambios previstos en la Norma ISO 9001:2015 a las actividades, procesos y procedimientos de los proyectos. Estos conocimientos adquiridos, fueron puestos en práctica a través de dinámicas en grupo en la que se utilizaron casos reales.
Las sesiones del taller fueron impartidas por ICONTEC Internacional, empresa certificadora y organismo Nacional de Normalización de Colombia, que cuenta con una experiencia de más de cincuenta años en el sector. ICONTEC Internacional es miembro activo de los organismos internacionales y regionales de normalización, por lo que participa en la definición y desarrollo de normas internacionales y regionales para estar a la vanguardia en información y tecnología.
Esta formación está alineada por un lado con la Visión 2020 de LuxDev, que promueve la inversión en el desarrollo de las competencias de sus colaboradores y la capitalización de sus conocimientos y experiencias. Y por otro lado, con uno de los Resultados del proyecto NIC026 “Fortalecimiento Institucional de la Educación Técnica y Formación Profesional en Hotelería, Turismo e Industria”, cuyo objetivo es apoyar a 14 Centros de INATEC y a la Dirección General de Formación Profesional en la implementación de la Norma ISO 9001:2015. Actualmente son seis los centros de INATEC que han superado las auditorías internas y externas del organismo de certificación, y por lo tanto han obtenido la Certificación ISO.
La utilización de un Sistema de Gestión de Calidad, ha permitido mejorar y organizar la estructura de los Centros de Formación Profesional de INATEC, tanto a nivel académico como administrativo. Reglar, pautar y aunar la información necesaria para poder tomar las decisiones adecuadas. Esta nueva Norma cuenta con la recomendación de la inclusión de una batería de indicadores, que facilitarían información sobre el estado actual del sistema y sus posibles medidas correctivas, así como un apartado para la gestión de riesgos.
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- 29 June
- By
- Burkina Faso Office BKF/020
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Burkina Faso – Le sang, un lien universelCélébration de la Journée mondiale des donneurs de sang 2016 et décoration des acteurs de la transfusion sanguine
La Journée mondiale des donneurs de sang, qui est célébrée le 14 juin, est un rendez-vous annuel pour rendre hommage aux donneurs de sang volontaires et non rémunérés partout dans le monde. Cette année la célébration a été placée sous le thème « le sang, un lien universel », pour mettre l’accent sur le lien et le partage entre les donneurs et les receveurs.
A l’occasion de cette journée, une célébration nationale, parrainée par le Ministre de la Santé, a été organisée à Ouagadougou au Burkina Faso, afin de remercier tous les donneurs du pays pour leur engagement aux côtés du Centre National de Transfusion Sanguine (CNTS). Pour la première fois, des donneurs et les acteurs clé de la transfusion sanguine ont reçu des distinctions honorifiques de la part du Ministère de la Santé. 11 personnes ont été décorées cette année lors de la célébration de la Journée mondiale des donneurs de sang, dont deux chevaliers de l’Ordre national et neuf chevaliers de l’Ordre du mérite de la santé et de l’action sociale. Parmi les récipiendaires, il y avait entre autres, la Directrice Générale du CNTS et le représentant des donneurs de sang du Burkina. Le Projet BKF/020 était aussi représenté par le Dr Youssouphe Kientega, ancien coordonnateur national et actuel Assistant technique auprès du Projet et Maminata Barry, Administratrice comptable, qui tous les deux accompagnent le CNTS déjà depuis sa création en 2000. Le Dr Isa Blot, ancien CTP du Projet BKF/004 « Création du CNTS », qui était le premier appui de la coopération luxembourgeoise à la transfusion sanguine au Burkina Faso, a aussi été décorée, mais n'avait pu faire le déplacement à Ouagadougou.
Le Ministère de la Santé, Dr Smaïla Ouédraogo, lors de la remise des distinctions, a tenu à remercier ces donneurs et acteurs de la transfusion sanguine, pour les services rendus et pour toutes les vies sauvées grâce aux dons de sang. En effet, a-t-il souligné, « la transfusion sanguine joue un rôle extraordinaire pour la réduction de la mortalité maternelle et infantile, permettant la prise en charge des anémies sévères aigues, des hémorragies et bien d’autres pathologies ». Le Ministre a profité aussi de l’occasion pour exprimer sa gratitude à l’égard des tous les partenaires qui accompagnent le CNTS et surtout envers la Coopération luxembourgeoise, qui accompagne et appuie le sous-secteur de la transfusion sanguine depuis plus de 15 ans déjà. Il a néanmoins rappelé que jusqu’à présent le Burkina Faso n’est pas encore à même de couvrir tous les besoins en matière de produits sanguins. En 2015, le CNTS n’a pu subvenir à 83% des besoins en produits sanguins. C’était donc l’occasion pour lancer un appel à tous les Burkinabè pour se mobiliser, tendre leurs bras et donner un peu de leur sang afin d’atteindre la cible de collecte de 90 000 poches pour 2016.
La représentante résidente de l’OMS, Dr Alimata Diarra, a tenue, elle aussi, à remercier les récipiendaires pour leur engagement exemplaire dans le sous-secteur de la transfusion sanguine. Elle a félicité aussi les efforts du Centre National de Transfusion Sanguine, qui depuis sa création, a réalisé d’énormes progrès et a mis en œuvre toutes les axes stratégiques définies par l’OMS. Elle a relevé entre autres, l’élaboration et l’adoption de la politique nationale en matière de transfusion sanguine et la formation de personnes-ressources qualifiées.
↑ To the topWorking together in fragile states for better effectivenessA reality check and ways forward from a multi-stakeholder perspective
June 15th, 2016 | 18:00 – 19:30 | Auditorium A1 - Tour & Taxis, BrusselsThe Practitioners’ Network for European Development Cooperation, Cordaid and FERDI, in collaboration with the European Commission (DEVCO B7), host a high-level panel on June 15th, 2016 on how to work with fragile states as part of/in the framework of the European Development Days.
Bringing together high-level representatives from third countries, member states agencies, the European Commission, civil society organisations and youth representatives, the panel will foster a thought-provoking debate on the needs encountered in a context of fragility and draw recommendations for better effectiveness.
Fragility is one of the most challenging issue as regards development cooperation. The need for more effective donor coordination in situations of crisis and fragility is all the more urgent, given that the international community is faced with new security and development threats in Sahel, Central Africa and the Middle East. This common challenge is an opportunity to create a more integrated and effective European response to contexts of crisis and fragility by translating agreed general principles of aid coordination in operational solutions adapted to the local context.
Session details
Moderator: Shada Islam, Director of Policy, Friends of Europe
Speakers:
- Mohamed Omar Arteh, Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia
- Klaus Rudischhauser, Deputy Director General, Directorate General for International Cooperation and Development
- Sébastien Mosneron-Dupin, Practitioners’ Network, CEO of Expertise France
- Tertius Zongo, Special Advisor on fragility to the African Development Bank, former Prime Minister Burkina Faso
- Rita Martin, Operational Director of EVE South Sudan, CSO for Women's rights
- Reuben James Barrete, Young leader from the Philippines
About the organisers
The Practitioners' Network (PN) is an open platform for exchange, coordination and harmonisation between European organisations with a public mandate in the field of European Development Cooperation. Set up in February 2007, the PN is currently composed of 13 member state agencies1 and the European Commission as an observer. The aim of the Practitioners’ Network is to contribute to the coherence within the EU donor community and, at the same time, benefit from the wide diversity of organisations so as to have an integrated, pluralistic and innovative approach to European Development Cooperation, delivere through the highest levels of efficiency. The Practitioners’ network is the lead organiser of the high-level panel.
The Foundation for studies and research on international development (FERDI) is a French think-tank that aims at facilitating the understanding of mechanics and logics of economic development throughout the world. They work on various issues and hold a working group on “Peace, Security and Development” that gathers international high-level experts.
Cordaid is a Dutch non-profit organisation specialised in aid emergency and health. They work on sustainable development and supporting economic opportunities in post-conflict countries.
Session webpage: https://eudevdays.eu/sessions/working-together-fragile-states-better-effectiveness
For more information, please send an email to Gwenaëlle Corre, coordinator of the Practitioners’ Network gwen.corre@dev-practitioners.eu or Benjamin Hauville benjamin.hauville@expertisefrance.fr
Eudevdays on Twitter: #EDD16 @europeaid
1 ADA (Austria), AECID (Spain), AFD (France), British Council, BTC (Belgium), Czech Development Agency, Expertise France, FIIAPP (Spain), GIZ (Germany), LuxDev (Luxembourg), Slovakaid (Slovakia), SIDA (Sweden) and SNV (Netherlands). The European Commission (EuropeAid) participates in the Network as an observer.
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