The minister made the announcement this week on a working visit to Laos. But how many charities does the Grand Duchy support in the countries of the Sahel region, and how much funding have they received?
When it comes to cooperation aid, a distinction is made between charitable organisations working specifically in development cooperation, and those that actively focus on humanitarian aid. Some larger charities, such as the Red Cross or Handicap International, work in both areas.
Charities working in development cooperation tend to primarily support long-term sustainable projects, including the construction and management of schools, or establishing drinking water supplies. This funding is always secured through an agreement over a maximum of five years. The most recent agreements between the Luxembourg government and charities are set to expire in 2028.
Humanitarian aid focuses on delivering support directly to people suffering in acute emergency situations, for example a famine, refugee crisis, or climate event. There are no specific agreements in place for these; instead, financial aid is transferred as a lump sum.
In total, the Grand Duchy provided financial support to 21 different charities in both development and humanitarian aid, supplying a total of 47 million euros. 41 million was dedicated to supporting long-term projects in development cooperation, while the remaining 6 million euros went to humanitarian aid.
