News

2020
- 29 May
- By Nita Shala
- Kosovo Office KSV/020
- Education, vocationnal training and employment
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Kosovo - Business Model Offices lead to an international partnership agreement between the CoC Ferizaj and SEDU Vet School in Finland
An important component of the Project is the establishment of the Business Model Offices (BMO) and the advancement of a new management concept in all the supported Vocational Education Training (VET) schools. Through this component, the Project aims at increasing the relevance of the supported schools by intervening in the following aspects: advancing the qualification sets based on the Industry needs, identification and conclusion of agreements aiming at income generation opportunities, mapping and development of potential partnerships with the external stakeholders, and the development of the students skills and knowledge by conducting relevant practical work and professional practice.

The Project has piloted the implementation of the Business Model concept in the Center of Competencies (CoC) Ferizaj enhancing its capacity of conducting industrial liaison and partnership building activities. The full dedication of the management of the CoC and the Project team has enabled the school to transform this innovative experience into a real success story through the signature of many partnership agreements with the national and international partners. Recently, the CoC Ferizaj has signed a long-term multi-purpose agreement with the SEDU VET School in Finland. Through this agreement, the graduates of the Professional Nurse profile in the CoC Ferizaj will be able to visit SEDU and attend an additional year of studies. The complementary education received from SEDU will equip the graduates with additional language skills and practical training leading to the receival of a Finnish diploma upon their graduation. Additionally, the CoC Ferizaj will receive support from the SEDU in the provision of the teaching and learning materials, and the professional development of the teachers of the pharmacy profile in the next three years.

The CoC has selected the first cohort of 20 graduates following a strict selection process as per the same admission criteria applied in Finland. The selection process revealed that the student had the required level of knowledge reassuring the CoC on the quality of education it provides. The graduates have started their studies at SEDU in January 2020 and the initial impression on the quality of the educational experience received by them is very positive. The completion of this working experience will directly increase their value in the labour market by increasing their chances for immediate employment upon their return and provision of additional contribution to the field in Kosovo. A successful experience of the graduates will further promote the overall objective of the Project to support the creation of a technical workforce that is relevant to the social and economic development of Kosovo. At the same time, a successful agreement with SEDU will allow the CoC Ferizaj to ensure its long-term sustainability by the provision of quality education that will promote it as a future reference point for the local and European labour market.

The selected students at SEDU in Finland (13 February 2020)
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- 26 May
- By Vjosa Morina
- Kosovo Office KSV/019
- Governance
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Kosovo - Gaining best practices from Croatia on credible financial reporting systems.
During March, the main Kosovo bodies that work on drafting the legislation on financial reporting, accounting and auditing, were part of a study visit in Croatia, with the objective of gaining best practices on creating a credible financial reporting system and empowering public oversight structures of financial reporting and auditing. This activity falls under the “Company Law” Chapter of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) of Kosovo.

Meeting with the Croatian Ministry of Finance

Participants were able to learn more about Croatia’s practices in terms of organisation, implementation of international standards, capacity building in monitoring, regulating, licensing and drafting the annual register of financial reports and their use as a source of information for macro analysis at the national level. The information on the importance of financial statement in the investment sector will affect the orientation of state policies for investments in certain sectors. Furthermore, on the legal side, the participants will be able to contribute to the development of a methodology for quality supervision and control of audit firms and legal auditors, good practices and results of quality control, annual register and their publication.

Meeting with the Croatian Financial Agency

Meeting with the Croatian Ministry of Economy
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- 21 May
- By Project MYA/002
- Asia Office MYA/002
- Socio-economic development
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MYANMAR - No one will be left behind
Luxembourg development cooperation promotes cultural diversity to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development through the Eastern Shan State Rural Development and Inclusion Project-MYA/002, in a region where the majority of the population is facing many cultural, political, economic, and environmental challenges. The project adopts a direct financing modality, empowering local management structures such as village development committees via training and the application of appropriate technology, technical expertise and facilitation among targeted communities.

One of the main hypotheses of the project's strategy suggests that the phased cooperation and necessary interdependence for new activities will gradually improve attitudes and practices in social organisation, which is to be based on mutual respect, resource sharing, community development and informed governance.

See the project in action here:

Benefits and impact to date:
- More than 7,200 people currently have access to clean water in their homes;
- 256 households have a sustainable supply of electricity for household lightening and small electric appliances through a pico-hydropower system;
- 44 community tea farms and 171 individual coffee farms were established with a survival rate of 95% of seedling production;
- Implementation of 5 model pig farms with selected farmers, resulting in spontaneous replication of household pig farming in 5 of the poorest villages;
- 3,935 people trained in operation and maintenance of village water and electricity systems, safe drinking water production, solid waste management, basic animal healthcare, livestock breeding, agricultural production, village development, and vocational training (sewing course).
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- 8 May
- By María del Rocío VÁZQUEZ LAMELA
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Practitioners’ Network - LuxDev and Enabel take over the Presidency to face new ambitious challenges
The Practitioners’ Network is an open exchange, coordination and harmonisation platform created in 2017. It is composed of 17 European Development Agencies which share and learn from their experience, capitalise on knowledge and expertise, and analyse and reflect on joint efforts at the implementation level. As the European Commission is an observer in the platform, the PN indirectly contributes to the development policies.

Four specialised working groups within the Network are led by the different European Development Agencies to share ideas, experience and knowledge in order to improve the synergies between them.

The following objectives are developed in different working groups:
- to promote mutual knowledge, effective coordination and enhance partnerships not only between Network’s members and the European Commission but also among members themselves;
- to promote knowledge sharing, effective coordination and mutualisation of capacity for analysis and implementation in order to strengthen the collective EU response towards resilience in situations of crisis and fragility, by combining the comparative advantages of European aid actors;
- to consider the private sector as an important partner in the achievement of development programmes; and
- to exchange information with European Commission to simplify and create viable contractual and financial frameworks, in order to facilitate the joint implementation of programmes.
Every year, a new Presidency coordinates the platform and in 2020-2021 LuxDev will be leading the group together with Enabel.

For this Co-Presidency, a set of priorities has been established:
- promote and raise awareness of the activities of the Practitioners’ Network and provide information of our achievement to the EC and to the society;
- define and implement ambitious joint programs with other European Development Agencies, and the European Commission;
- prioritise efforts to support the health system to face the outbreak of the Covid-19, and climate change by setting up the “Green Deal” in Africa;
- simplify and facilitate partnerships with the European Commission.
This new Presidency is on board to face new ambitious challenges, through Digital for Development and communication and applying the “Better Working Together” principle to achieve the Sustainable Developments Goals and implement projects at the highest level of quality, impact and visibility.

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- 2 May
- By Marie-Françoise BOISSY
- Senegal Office SEN/801
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SÉNÉGAL - 4000 masques réalisés par le Centre de Formation professionnelle de Tambacounda
Dans le cadre du Programme « Développer l’Emploi au Sénégal », L’Union européenne, au travers de son partenaire de mise en oeuvre, LuxDev, participe à l’effort national de lutte contre la propagation du Covid-19 en appuyant la production locale, par les acteurs et partenaires, de masques de protection et de lave-mains à l’eau et au savon, dans les régions de Tambacounda et Ziguinchor. 4000 masques ont déjà été réalisés par le Centre de Formation professionnelle de Tambacounda au bénéfice des populations et remis le 28 avril 2020 au Gouverneur de Tambacounda et au Préfet de Goudiry .

Remis des masques au Gouverneur de Tambacounda

Vidéo du Centre de Formation professionnelle de Tambacounda sur l'utilisation des masques

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- 29 April
- By LAO/029
- LAO/029
- Education, vocationnal training and employment
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LAOS - Learning is a never-ending journey like Oudone journey.Capacity building
Oudone Thangsombath is a teacher at Champasack Technical and Vocational Education College. “Because I did not graduate from a teacher training college, I lacked pedagogical skills. It made my teaching really hard in the past. Until I joined the ASEAN National Trainers and Assessors Programme supported by Skills and Tourism Project - LAO/029 to further develop my teaching skills, now I have more hands-on and practical experiences. I am confident to pass this knowledge and skills to my students”.

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- 28 April
- By Claude Mauret
- Niger Office NIG/027
- Governance
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NIGER – En route vers une amélioration de l’efficacité de l’utilisation des crédits budgétaires.
Au Niger, une dépense de l’état, avant d’être exécutée/payée, est soumise à une « chaîne de la dépense » qui implique plusieurs « contrôles a priori » conduits par différents services.

Pour améliorer l’efficacité de l’utilisation des crédits budgétaires, il est donc important que les délais de traitement de chaque service soient les plus courts possible et que les cas de rejet de dossiers soient les moins fréquents possible également.

Aussi, dans cette optique, le renforcement des capacités à la fois des agents de cette chaîne et des demandeurs (services bénéficiaires des dépenses tels que l’ administration centrale ou déconcentrée, collectivités, établissements publics etc.) est un levier essentiel.

En jouant sur ces deux tableaux, le renforcement des capacités des agents de la chaîne engendre une meilleure maîtrise des procédures et donc une accélération du traitement des dossiers tandis que le renforcement des capacités des demandeurs leur permet de présenter des dossiers plus complets et de meilleure qualité, diminuant ainsi le nombre de rejets de dossiers.

C’est précisément ce qu’ambitionne le Projet d’appui au renforcement des capacités de la chaîne des dépenses publiques des régions de Agadez, Diffa, Tahoua et Zinder, NIG/027,

Par ailleurs, le projet vise également à renforcer la communication entre les acteurs de la chaîne de la dépense, d’une part, et entre ces mêmes acteurs et les administrateurs de crédits, d’autre part.

À la fin du projet, il est attendu que le fonctionnement et les processus de la chaîne de la dépense au niveau des régions d’Agadez, Diffa, Tahoua et Zinder ainsi que les conditions de travail des acteurs soient améliorés.

La première réunion du comité de pilotage du projet s’est tenue le 24 janvier 2020 et a constitué le lancement officiel du projet. Depuis, les actions de recrutement d’un bureau pour effectuer un diagnostic des besoins en renforcement des acteurs de la chaîne de la dépense des quatre régions ont été lancées. De plus, actuellement, des architectes préparent un projet détaillé et des plans pour un futur complexe abritant l’ensemble des services financiers régionaux de la chaîne de la dépense au niveau de la ville de Zinder.

Le Projet d’appui au renforcement des capacités de la chaîne des dépenses publiques des régions de Agadez, Diffa, Tahoua et Zinder, NIG/027, d’une durée de 24 mois bénéficie d’une contribution du Luxembourg à hauteur de 1 467 179 EUR et prévoit un appui aux services techniques déconcentrés du Ministère des finances, à savoir les Directions régionales du budget (DRB), les Trésoreries régionales (TR) et les Services régionaux de contrôle des marchés publics et des engagements financiers (SR/CMP/EF).

Maquette du bâtiment qui sera construit pour abriter les services régionaux de la chaine des dépenses publiques à Zinder
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- 28 April
- By Michel Maricaux
- Niger Office NIG/025
- Agriculture, forestry and fishery
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NIGER - Mieux conserver pour mieux vendre
L'oignon est la première culture maraîchère au Niger. La production annuelle est estimée à 500 000 tonnes, classant le Niger au deuxième rang des producteurs ouest-africains. L’oignon est cependant un produit semi-périssable. Sa bonne conservation est une opération rentable car son prix de vente peut facilement doubler entre le moment de la récolte et les mois de saison de pluies (juillet, août, septembre).

Dans le cadre du programme NIG/025 qui appuie le suivi du parcours des jeunes agriculteurs vers une installation réussie, des infrastructures communales ont été construites, parmi lesquelles 11 magasins de conservation d’oignons.

Ces magasins ont été conçus de façon innovante, permettant une conservation de longue durée dans des conditions climatiques difficiles. Ces infrastructures sont conçues avec une toiture en chaume et des quantités importantes de trous d’aération au niveau des quatre murs, permettant d’adoucir considérablement la température à l’intérieur du bâtiment et d’assurer une ventilation adéquate. Cette conception s’est inspirée du modèle mise au point par la Fédération des coopératives maraîchère du Niger dont le modèle est cependant de taille plus réduite.

Magasin de conservation d'oignons dans la région de Dosso © Zouloukalleyni Dourfaye

Les magasins sont munis de claies (ou étagères) qui permettent un stockage des oignons sur plusieurs étages sur des grillages du type poulailler. Dans ces conditions, les pertes peuvent se limiter à 10 % environ.

Un producteur de la localité d’Angoual Toudou témoigne d’une meilleure valorisation de sa production agricole : en 2018, il avait perdu près de 25 % de sa récolte en quatre mois. En 2019, ayant bénéficié des conditions de conservation du nouveau magasin, il n’a perdu qu’un seul seau, pour la même quantité stockée et la même durée de stockage.

Cinq producteurs de la même localité ont témoigné de l’évolution du prix de l’oignon au cours du stockage : la valeur du sac en avril 2019 était de 9 000 FCFA contre 25 000 FCFA en août.

En cohérence avec les objectifs du programme NIG/025, l’accès à ces nouvelles infrastructures permet donc aux jeunes agriculteurs de tirer le meilleur profit de leur récolte.

Stockage des oignons sur claies (étagères) grillagées à l’intérieur des magasins © Zouloukalleyni Dourfaye
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- 27 April
- By Ben Wandivinit
- Asia Office LAO/029
- Education, vocationnal training and employment
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LAOS - Making change happen in BolikhamxayThe stories of Phailana Mounjampy and Phouvilay Thadavong, the teachers from Bolikhamxay province
Phailana is standing in front of her class, smiling and confident. The students are looking up to her and listen as she is explaining the difference between white wine and red wine and how they accompany various dishes.

Seeing her interact with her students and hearing her talk about the service sector with such passion, you would not have guessed that there was a time she did not feel so comfortable teaching.

"In the beginning, I was much more nervous," says the 22-year-old, "but through practice I have become more and more confident." Phailana Mounjampy, The young teacher is giving classes to students of the diploma in Food and Beverage Services at Bolikhamxay Technical School in Paksan. The school also offers a diploma in Food Production which is taught by teacher, Phouvilay.

Phailana (left) and Phouvilay (right). Credit Phoonsab Thevongsa

Both of them were recruited after they respectively completed the diplomas in Food and Beverage Service Operations and Food and Beverage Production Operations at the Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (LANITH). They were recipients of a full scholarship for their studies provided by the LAO/029 - Skills for Tourism Project.

Telling us about their experiences, the young women fondly recollect what they liked most about their time at LANITH.

“I learned the real art behind the service sector, from setting up tables to greeting guests” explains Phailana. “And I started to approach things in a more structured way,” she says. “They were also very strict,” exclaims Phouvilay, adding, “but in a good way. And they treated all students equally, which I really appreciated.”

While Phailana had a clear vision of her future from the start and applied for the scholarship the moment she heard of it, Phouvilay’s path was not as straightforward. Unsure about working in the service sector, Phouvilay submitted her application with some hesitation. Yet, in spite of the programme’s competitiveness and high number of applicants, she made the cut!

With a cheeky smile she recalls the moment she received the offer. "I almost dropped my papaya salad," she chuckles. Much to her own surprise, Phouvilay came to like the course and it sparked a real interest in her for the hospitality sector.

Both teachers hope to kindle the same enthusiasm among their students. Phouvilay goes on to clarify: "Before I started at LANITH, I had no idea about European or international food, I never even tried it before. It really opened my eyes!” It is that kind of passion and curiosity she now wants to instill in her students. “I see myself in them,” she says. “That’s why I want to keep them motivated and show them all the different opportunities that the sector has to offer.” Phailana nods in agreement, “I get so happy when I see my students progressing. That’s the best part of being a teacher!”

The diplomas in Food and Beverage Service Operations and Food and Beverage Production Operations at the Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (LANITH) were supported by the Skills for Tourism Project (LAO/029), to provide people from disadvantaged backgrounds with the knowledge and skills to find their first job in the tourism and hospitality sector.

The Skills for Tourism Project is co-financed by the Governments of Lao PDR, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Switzerland, and implemented by the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) of Lao PDR and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.
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- 22 April
- By Undraa BAYANAA
- LAO/027
- Health
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LAOS – Luxembourg Cooperation supports Lao PDR’s efforts to tackle COVID-19Solidarity does not stop at our borders!
Luxembourg Cooperation, through its Lao-Luxembourg Health Sector Support Programme - Phase II (LAO/027) implemented by LuxDev, is supporting the Government of Lao PDR in its response to COVID-19 pandemic.

The Government of Lao PDR together with its international counterparts have reacted rapidly to the COVID-19 pandemic and have launched a national COVID-19 procurement list to facilitate the coordination of support and to deliver a strong and coordinated response at national and subnational levels.

LAO/027 is providing supplies and technical support in areas where gaps in capacity and resources have been identified. More specifically, LAO/027 Provincial Health Planning Management Advisors (HPMA) and Nurse-Midwife Trainers Advisors (NMTA) are closely supporting the COVID-19 preparedness in the three Provinces of Vientiane, Bolikhamxay and Khammouane that Luxembourg supports.

New In Patient Department at Bolikhamxay hospital

To ensure the efficiency and efficacy of its contribution, LAO/027 is:
- coordinating its support with national counterparts and other international development partners in Lao PDR;
- following the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines as well as international literature on COVID-19 emergency preparedness.
Sample taking

The LuxDev team is communicating on a daily basis with the National and Provincial Health Departments (PHDs), District Health Offices (DHOs) as well as with Provincial and District Hospitals to address the identified gaps and needs.

At the provincial level, LAO/027 is:
- providing support in the establishment of temporary provincial isolation and treatment centers to protect patients from infections and to separate COVID-19 patients from other ongoing essential non-COVID care (e.g. deliveries, surgeries, MNCH);
- working with PHDs and DHOs on regulating patient flows in the designated facilities (adequate first line clinical management, separate registration of suspected patients, sample taking and transportation to laboratories, hospitalization of confirmed patients, referral systems for critically ill patients);
- promoting the elaboration and dissemination of management and clinical procedures;
- supporting facility mapping and the Health Information System (HIS)
Training school

Moreover, LAO/027 is providing urgent logistics support. The Program is assisting the provincial authorities in operationalizing their provincial response by purchasing specialized medical devices and other supplies (i.e. acquisition of personal protective equipment, beds, fans, refrigerators, oxygen, disinfectant hydrogels, alcohol, pulse oximeters, among others).

Emergency equipment and medical supplies

So far equipment worth 107.000 EUR has been purchased and dispatched to the Provinces of Vientiane, Bolikhamxay and Khammouane.

The procurement needs and gaps will be continuously updated by the PHDs/ DHOs and will be shared in the coming weeks.

In these unprecedented times, besides the LAO/027 support, Luxembourg will continue to provide every support to its partner countries including Lao PDR. The proposed Luxembourg intervention engages at the national and provincial levels. The current budget proposal of Luxembourg for COVID-19 Health Response is 2 million EUR.
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