In 2019, Luxembourg continued working towards fulfilling the pledge of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), of truly Leaving no one behind when delivering humanitarian aid. In this context, Luxembourg aims to reduce the impact of humanitarian crises on vulnerable populations, and continues maintaining support for populations affected by emerging and protracted conflict and food insecurity. Rooted in this needs-based approach, Luxembourg pursuits its humanitarian engagement particularly on «forgotten» and underfunded crises. Furthermore, Luxembourg is committed to promoting the protection of vulnerable groups and discriminated communities, including women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities.
The improvement of the integration of the specific needs of these groups into the humanitarian response was deepened in 2018 as the inclusion of people with disabilities became a thematic priority of Luxembourg’s humanitarian aid, also in line with commitments taken at the World Humanitarian Summit. The government of Luxembourg supported the Interagency Standing Committee (IASC) in their development of Guidelines on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action, which is expected to be released in July 2019. Â Furthermore, by summer 2020, Luxembourg will finalize a new humanitarian strategy, with a special attention on the issue of mental health in humanitarian crises.
Luxembourg’s humanitarian action is steered by the principles of «Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD)», complying with international standards and best practices in terms of providing predictable and flexible funding. In fact, predictability lies at the heart of the commitments that the Luxembourg government made at the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016. To this regard, Luxembourg develops privileged relationships with partners and promotes multi-year funding. Effectively, Luxembourg’s allocates a considerable part of its humanitarian action budget to the four-year Strategic Partnership Agreements (SPAs), which ensure continued and timely support for key humanitarian activities.
In line with the GHD, and in a mission to save lives in emergencies, Luxembourg has long-term commitments towards flexible humanitarian funding instruments such as CERF, CBPF or DREF.
The last years have demonstrated the effectiveness of the multi-donor funds in terms of enabling international partners that humanitarian aid reaches affected people around the world with time-critical assistance. Additionally, Luxembourg’s contributions to pooled funds also fulfils its commitment to increase direct or local contributions. Effectively, supporting the localisation of the humanitarian response figures as one of Luxembourg’s priorities. The goal is to prevent of famine, while at the same time build the capacity of national actors as first responders in crisis-affected countries.
Furthermore, a sizeable part of its funding that goes to those pooled funds and to Luxembourg’s privileged partners is either completely un-earmarked or very softly earmarked. This especially underlines Luxembourg’s commitment to the humanitarian principles of impartiality and neutrality.
Finally, the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs fosters new ideas and places a big emphasis on the potential of innovative approaches to serve food insecure populations, especially in contexts of disasters, protracted conflicts and ever-growing funding challenges.
By providing a rich, supportive environment for today’s FinTech pioneers and micro-credits, Luxembourg is leading the way for tomorrow’s inclusive financial services industry, which is a key instrument for poverty alleviation and empowerment of low-income groups.
To further enhance the potential of innovation as an essential catalyst for an improved humanitarian response, Luxembourg entered into a new partnership in 2018 with the Innovation Accelerator of WFP based in Munich. The Accelerator brings together internal WFP staff with experts from across the private sector and civil society to develop high-impact, human-centered innovations for a world with Zero Hunger.
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