Introduction
At the subregional level, in 2023 Luxembourg’s Development Cooperation continued to support the Mekong River Commission (MRC), as it has done since 2011.
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The MRC’s mandate is to ensure that the river and natural resources are properly managed, to provide a favourable economic environment and socially just development, while protecting the environment.
Luxembourg, in cooperation with Switzerland and Germany, has also continued to implement the third phase of the Mekong Region Land Governance (MRLG) subregional project. Through support for the development of laws and legal remedies, the project aims to enable small-scale farmers, especially those from ethnic minorities, to have sustainable and equitable access to and control over their agricultural and forest lands. The project thus contributes to improved policies and practices implemented in Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam, supported by regional platforms.
In 2013, Luxembourg’s Development Cooperation co-founded the Universe Health Coverage Partnership (UHC-P), and is one of the nine donors to the body.
Its secretariat is hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO). UHC-P’s aim is to support beneficiary countries to achieve universal health coverage, i.e. access to high-quality health services that are affordable for all.
Since 2017, Luxembourg has supported the promotion of inclusive finance. Thus, through the Responsible Inclusive Finance Facility (RIFF-SEA), the Social Performance Task Force (SPTF) continues to support microfinance institutions in Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam in managing their social and environmental performance. RIFF-SEA offers co-financing and training in social performance management, with the aim of raising awareness among regulators, investors and microfinance institutions to ensure that financial services in the region protect and benefit low-income clients.
In Myanmar, in view of the ongoing political crisis, support for multilateral humanitarian projects continued in 2023. Thus, Luxembourg’s Development Cooperation is assisting the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to support Myanmar’s civil society in preventing human rights violations and strengthening accountability measures.
Luxembourg is also positioning itself as a key partner in the “Building Federal Democracy in Myanmar” programme (2023-2024), which seeks to establish a new constitutional framework in Myanmar, by establishing effective and accountable institutions and by promoting inclusive and participatory governance at all levels. Since 1 December 2023, Luxembourg has held the annual Presidency of International IDEA’s Council of Member States.