The chairman of FK-Norway,Per Kristian Lunden, has been interviewed in the international newspaper The Guardian. Read the interview.
FK-Norway – a new approach to development
FK-Norway has developed a bold new approach to skill-sharing and human resource development in developing countries. The approach provides a platform through which institutions, organizations and private businesses can develop in an international environment through the exchange of young professionals.
For over five years, FK-Norway has facilitated the exchange of close to 2000 young professionals between Norway and developing countries and amongst professionals in developing countries. The core activity is based abroad in the least developed countries in eastern and southern Africa and in Asia.
"Our approach is different from most other aid donors. We put all our efforts into human resources. We hope to increase skills, knowledge and experience of young professionals, up to the age of 35 years," says Per Kristian Lunden, the chairman of FK-Norway.
He adds: "Most of them are potential key figures who contribute to the development efforts of their native countries. Their direct involvement ensures that both domestic funds and international aid is utilized in the best possible way".
Mr Lunden says FK offers only a modest allowance for the participants, in addition to their travel and living expenses. "Nothing else - there is no support no construction work, computers, vehicles or other hardware. The partners must therefore put a lot of efforts into the partnership to benefit,” he adds.
FK-Norway is known locally as Fredskorpset, which is a traditional Norwegian volunteer organization with roots that date back to the 1960's. The original Fredskorpset ceased to operate in 1999. It was re-established in 2000 as a governmental international development programme that is directly responsible to the Norwegian Minister of Development Cooperation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
FK-Norway is governed by a board whose members represent different sectors of the Norwegian society. The chairman of the board of FK-Norway, Mr.Per Kristian Lunden, has a media background and has worked as a journalist, editor and a media development adviser. The board is appointed by the Norwegian government. FK-Norway is managed by a director, Mr. Tor Elden and an administration that works from the main office in Oslo.
Learning from each other
“We work through partnerships, and the partners define their own objectives. A traditional aid organization will normally transfer knowledge from a developed country to a developing country. Through our 'multi-directional' exchange, Norway has the opportunity to learn from developing countries and developing nations can learn from each other," Mr Lunden says.
He adds that the program involves many organizations that are normally not involved in development aid. This way, he says, "we broaden the international development community both in Norway and in developing countries".
The FK-Norway partnerships include young professionals in the age group of 22-35 years. There is also a youth program for the 18-25 years age group, which lays emphasis on development education. A new senior program line for those over 55 years began in 2005.
A typical partnership consists of two or more partners who decide to work together. After a feasibility study, they submit a proposed partnership agreement to FK-Norway, normally through the Oslo office or through the regional offices for Africa and Asia. The Africa regional offices are based in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, while the Asian offices have their base in Bangkok, Thailand.
The young professionals normally spend one year on the exchange program. The partnership itself normally lasts 3-5 years, but most partners find ways to continue joint activities after the support from FK-Norway has ended.
Prior to the exchange, all participants attend a preparatory course that is organized by FK-Norway. FK Norway will also closely follow up the partner organizations.
Fighting poverty
Our reporter interviewed FK-Norway's chairman Per Kristian Lunden on the organization's operations.
Q: "Why is human resources development so important in the development sector?"
A: "A variety of efforts are needed to fight poverty and create development in developing countries. International donors with large budgets can support various sectors, but the core energy and strongest commitment will always be found in the developing nation. We support institutions and people who already have a solid educational background and have professional aspirations. An international experience, as in FK-Norway, will add realistic self-confidence, experience and useful networks. Our partners and participants tell us about “the power of one”. It is amazing what difference one person or a small motivated team can do in an organization”.
The pain of change
Q: “Your program brings people out of their native country. Is it not a risk, once having the taste of the 'sweet life' abroad, that they will not return home?”
A: “All participants are expected to return to their home organizations to implant the new ideas and new skills there. We only have a handful of examples of participants who do not want to return, because that have married or found opportunities for further education. On the other hand, we have seen many examples that our program might prevent brain-drain. A year as a participant can take the steam off the desire to find a future in Europe or the USA. Many participants are also strongly motivated to get home and apply their new skills.”
Q: “Your program aims at strengthening both young professionals, but even more the institutions where they work. Can the institutions really benefit from these young professionals with new international skills?”
A: “In most cases, the homecoming participants have provided tangible vitalization of the organization, institution or business, but change can sometimes be painful and demanding. The participants might also come home with a more critical approach to management and strategies. Some also have developed entrepreneurship ideas and have plans to start their own business. This can all in all be labelled as positive development, even if some stages of the process might be 'painful'.”
Q: “FK-Norway also facilitates exchanges between neighbouring countries. What are the benefits of these exchanges?”
“You can really learn a lot from your neighbour, and you can, at the same time, build a regional network that is very valuable and a lot easier to maintain that a network between continents. We have for instance some very interesting partnerships in East Africa - Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda - where both partners and participants are amazed at the potential for joint ventures in the region. Some have to work their way through a bit of prejudice and sometimes partners are happy to realize that a positive benchmarking between neighbouring institutions can bring more strength to all”.
Resources and potential
Q: “Like most other development organizations, FK-Norway wants to help eradicate poverty and fulfil the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Still one finds that a typical FK-participant is a rather well-educated, urban and well-off young professional. Are you really reaching the poorest people with your program?”
A: “Fighting poverty needs money as well as human resources. We aim at institutions and people with resources and potential to develop with their country. Fighting poverty is a joint commitment between governmental organizations and institutions and non-governmental bodies and private businesses. There is also need for a critical and ongoing debate through free media and transparent public processes. The FK-partners comes from all sectors of the society, from small private businesses to large governmental institutions. We also have many partners within important sectors as the media, human rights sectors and women’s rights groups. A typical participant is not an elite person who can easily choose between study offers and jobs around the world, but someone who see the year as a FK-participant as a chance in a lifetime.”
Broad but fragile support
Q: “FK-Norway is a part of Norwegian governmental development aid. How is your program supported in Norway?”
A: “We have enthusiastic support from our government through increased funding, and we also have more applications for partnerships than we can allow for. Support for Norwegian development aid commitments comes from a strong majority backing both in our parliament and in the general public. But, the commitment is rather sporadic and can prove to be more fragile than we tend to think. FK-Norway has therefore a widespread mobilizing campaign activity in all parts of Norway to try to increase understanding, enthusiasm and solidarity among the Norwegian public. We give prizes to internationally-oriented municipalities and encourage strong international involvement in all sectors of our society. All Norwegian FK-participants are required to work for a month as information workers in their local environment once they are back in Norway.”
Q: “How does one become participants in the FK-Norway program?”
A: “We do not accept individual participants. Every participant is recruited by, and is preferably working with, an institution, organization or enterprise, approved as a FK-partner. So it all begins with the partnership between organizations with mutual interests and aspirations