Foreword by the Minister

Dear friends of Luxembourg’s Development Cooperation,

It is my great pleasure to present to you the Luxembourg’s Development Cooperation annual report for 2023. This is my first time presenting the annual report since taking office as Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs. In view of the key role played by development cooperation and humanitarian aid in Luxembourg’s foreign policy, as well as the recognition accorded to the Grand Duchy on the international stage as a result, I am honoured to be leading this department.

We were once again reminded of the importance of international cooperation and solidarity in 2023, a year that unfortunately saw persistent and emerging conflicts, the effects of climate change and various natural disasters. The consequences have been catastrophic: in 2023, humanitarian crises pushed more than 350 million people into situations of vulnerability and dependence on humanitarian aid.

In the face of these multiple crises, Luxembourg has endeavoured to provide immediate emergency aid, including financial aid and in-kind contributions. In addition to supporting people affected by natural disasters, such as the earthquakes in Turkey, Syria and Morocco, as well as fatal floods in Libya, we continued our support to Ukraine in the ongoing Russian war of aggression. Luxembourg has also contributed to the humanitarian response to the escalation of existing conflicts that has placed civilian populations in increasingly precarious and alarming situations, particularly in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and in Sudan. In total, nearly EUR 99.78 million was devoted to humanitarian action, representing more than 15% of official development assistance in 2023, which is in line with the target set in Luxembourg’s humanitarian strategy.

Bilateral cooperation activities continued to be the bedrock of our work, although 2023 was an eventful year in that regard. On the one hand, existing and new cooperation relations have been further strengthened, notably by the signing of the fifth Indicative Cooperation Programme with Senegal and the opening of new embassies in Costa Rica and Benin. In contrast, after the coup d’état of 26 July 2023, Luxembourg suspended its bilateral cooperation relations with Niger, one of the Grand Duchy’s long-standing partner countries. Unfortunately, that putsch was only one of many in the region, putting our bilateral cooperation in the central Sahel to the test. I have also decided not to sign any new bilateral commitments with regimes that have emerged from coups d’état. In that context, it is therefore doubly important that in that region we can continue to rely on numerous Luxembourg and international NGOs as well as on multilateral and humanitarian partners which make an important contribution to our bilateral interventions.

I would also like to stress the key role that our multilateral partners play in our work and in the attainment of our goals. About 30% of official development assistance is earmarked each year to support the programmes and projects of multilateral organisations in order to contribute to the implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set out in the United Nations Agenda 2030. Collaboration with a large number of multilateral agencies is based on multiannual partnership agreements, and through these we commit to providing predictable, long-term support to facilitate the efficiency and impact of our partners’ actions.

As for NGOs, their proximity to local communities, their in-depth knowledge of the contexts and needs of the beneficiary populations and their sectoral expertise are important assets in the implementation of Luxembourg Development Cooperation’s general strategy. In 2023, 24 multiannual development framework agreements were co-financed, while 29 new development projects were supported following two calls for proposals launched by the Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs.

In addition to our partners, one of the strengths of Luxembourg’s Development Cooperation is undoubtedly the continuity we are able to maintain in our actions. Luxembourg has distinguished itself for years through its consistent efforts to combat poverty and promote more sustainable development, and I am pleased to say that 2023 was no exception. With a record total of EUR 536.47 million, Luxembourg continued to allocate nearly 1% of gross national income to official development assistance in 2023, an undertaking that we have adhered to since 2009 and which places the Grand Duchy among the countries with the greatest commitment to assisting the most vulnerable individuals.

Although we are right to be proud of this accomplishment, it is certainly true that there is still a long way to go to achieve the global development goals. Given this situation, it is essential that we, as a country, continue to uphold our international responsibilities. That is why the Luxembourg government has clearly reaffirmed, in the coalition agreement, its commitment to devoting 1% of gross national income to official development assistance in the coming years.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those forming part of Luxembourg’s Development Cooperation, and to express my respect for what they do. It is thanks to their hard work and unstinting determination that we are able to achieve real and positive change through our interventions. I look forward to our future collaboration and am convinced that, together, we will be able to meet the key challenges of the future.