FK is development cooperation for the future

Per Kristian Lunden from Risør, Norway, is re-appointed as chair of the FK Board

Per Kristian Lunden

– I look forward to another two years as chair of the board. The more I have worked with FK, the more I understand that this is the future form of cooperation with and between developing countries, says Lunden.

 

The board of FK consists of seven members who are set to govern the organization for the next two years. Per Kristian Lunden has chaired the board also the two last years, and has seen that the effort makes a difference.

 

- FK has recently undergone a comprehensive, independent evaluation. The main conclusion is that our way of working creates good results and we are cost effective. We invest in people and institutions, both in developing countries and in Norway, says Lunden.

 

The new FK, which started in 2001, builds upon experiences from a previous FK that has been a pillar in Norwegian development cooperation since the 1960ies. Today’s FK, under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with its own chapter in the national budget, supports institutions that exchange personnel. During almost six years FK has had over 2500 participants and activities in about 60 countries.

 

- The equality and the ability to learn from each other are decisive for FK. That means exchanges are not just from Norway to developing countries, but also between developing countries and from developing countries to Norway. I am particularly proud of the results we have gained from the cooperation between developing countries. Often ambitious young people in Africa and Asia can learn more from a neighboring country than from us in Norway, says Lunden.

 

FK is first and foremost a program for young people. The age limit to participate was 35 years until a Senior program was introduced a couple of years ago. For the board it is still important that FK is a program for younger people, but we propose to the MFA that a small part of the participants could be above the age limit of 35 years, says Per Kristian Lunden.

 

All the UN member countries are now working together to reach the millennium development goals to eradicate poverty within the year 2015. FK is also contributing in this international effort. – The FK participants are not among the poorest in their home countries. They are normally ambitious and creative young people with great goals both for themselves and the country they live in. These people will be key persons in the development of many poor countries in the coming years, says chair of the FK board Per Kristian Lunden.