A new world out there: new people, new languages, broader horizons. Living and working in another country for a year does something to you.
Updated June 26 2007.
Meetings between people
FK Norway (Fredskorpset) arranges reciprocal exchanges of personnel between organisations in Norway and developing countries. Our objective is to contribute to lasting improvements in economic, social and political conditions in the world.
When people from different countries meet and get to know each other, this gives rise to knowledge, understanding and empathy… and the world gets smaller. That is why we give ordinary people the possibility to work for longer periods in a foreign country.
The exchange occurs in a partnership between two or more organisations or companies, with support from FK Norway. The aim is to promote the mutual exchange of knowledge, experiences and skills. This goes both ways: the organisation or company both sends and receives participants.
FK Norway is a public body answerable to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and financed totally over the State Budget. For the year 2007, Fredskorpset has been allocated NOK 165 million. Over the past five years, about 2500 participants have been exchanged.
How can I contribute?
FK Norway supports personnel exchange between companies and organisations (partners). Employees or others affiliated with these organisations swap jobs for an extended period.
FK Norway does not recruit participants: this is done by the involved organisations, called ‘partners’. Most partners recruit among their own employees. But some also search for participants externally. You yourself must inquire about the possibilities of participating in an exchange programme with our partners.
Programme lines
FK Norway has divided its exchange activity into four programme lines.
The Primary Programme is our biggest programme line and focuses on transfer of expertise and skills. Participants are young people between the ages of 22 and 35 and the exchange is between Norway and developing countries.
Our South-South programme is similar to the Primary programme, except that the exchange is between countries in the south.
Our Youth Programme differs from the others because the participants travel in larger groups and their stay abroad is somewhat shorter. The focus here is more on individual learning. The age range is 18 to 25 years.
Additionally FK has a Health related programme called the Esther-programme.
FK Norway and sometimes the prospective partner organise preparatory courses for participants.
FK partners around the world
By the end of year 2006 FK Norway had 320 partners in developing countries. FK Norway has exchange projects in 55 developing countries, with main focus on Norway’s developing partner countries. In 2006, the five major FK countries were Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Kenya and South Africa.
FK partners in Norway
By the end of year 2006 FK Norway had 148 partners in Norway. Many of our partners have their main offices in Oslo, but participants come from all over Norway.
Involvement in Norway
FK Norway works to include a wide range of people in North-South topics and international solidarity.
We gather our networks of partners, participants and other contacts to organise one week of international activity Bringing People Together, in municipalities through out Norway.
In the course of a few hectic days, FK Norway and local groups carry out international and cultural arrangements. FK Norway works to stimulate the local municipalities through workshops on future international improvements in the community. In addition, we are involved in school visits where the UN millennium Goals are presented in an informative way.
FK Norway distributes the honorary award ‘International Municipality’ in collaboration with the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS). This award is given to the municipality that distinguishes itself through international involvement, and is meant as an inspirational to continue the good work.
In the course of 2006, we carried out around 30 such arrangements together with local organisers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Companies and Organisations
What companies and organisations can get support?
Various types of organisations and companies can get support for developing projects through FK Norway. We seek to achieve diversity in both professional and geographical spread. FK Norway follows the main lines of Norwegian official development policy.
We are looking for projects with original and good objectives which can foster greater collaboration between companies’s in many countries.
How can my company or organisation get support?
First of all, FK Norway provides support to a feasibility study. Here the aim is to look into the possibility for exchange between partners and to establish a goal for the exchange.
If the feasibility study is positive a partnership is established between two or more organisations or companies. This partnership can then receive financial support from FK Norway for reciprocal exchange of personnel.
FK Norway finances feasibility studies, courses, exchange, living cost, travelling, follow-up activities and salary to participants.
Contact FK Norway and we will be happy to show you how to proceed.
Participants
How can I participate?
FK Norway does not recruit individual participants: this is done by the organisations and companies that get support for the exchange. Apart from the Youth Programme, most organisations recruit internally from within their own staff. It is up to you to get in touch with relevant companies and organisations for more information.
Does it cost anything to participate?
No, it will not cost you anything, except in the case of certain Youth Programmes. In all programmes participants get a reasonable local salary, depending on their qualifications. In addition, expenses related to travelling, insurance, housing etc. are covered.
Who can participate?
Most projects demand specific skills and experience. In addition, each programme has an age limit: for the Youth Programme 18 to 25 years; for the Primary Programme 22 to 35.
A brief history - Establishment of the Norwegian Fredskorpset
The original Fredskorpset (Volunteer Service) was created on 4 April 1963 as a result of the political and ideological currents that dominated the end of the 1950s and the early 1960s: for example pacifism and non-violence, humanism and Christian traditions. Norwegian youth organisations passed resolutions and proposals for a peace corps.
Two committees were appointed, and their proposals and ideas resulted in the establishment of the Norwegian Peace Corps (see Storting Report No. 23 (1961-62)). This followed hard on the heels of the founding of Norwegian Development Aid (which later became NORAD) in 1962; in fact, the Peace Corps was created as a sub-division of Norwegian Development Aid. Ideologically speaking, there was quite heavy emphasis on the Peace Corps being a young person’s expression of solidarity with the world poor, with a focus on developing countries and their needs.
They faced major society-building tasks and Peace Corps participants were recruited from agronomists, health workers and teachers so as to meet the needs of the partner countries. The Peace Corps had three goals: · To contribute to the economic and technical progress of the developing countries· To promote human contact and understanding across national boundaries · To allow idealistic and strongly-motivated young people work for what they believed in. Over 1,500 Norwegians served in the original Peace Corps in the period 1963-2000.
The new Fredskorpset - Background
In Storting Proposition No. 1 (1998-99) the Government concluded that the Peace Corps in its present form had outlived its usefulness. In Storting Proposition No. 67 (1998-99) the Government presented the overarching goals and principles on which it would base a restructuring of the Peace Corps.
As part of its consideration of the “Development Policy Report from the Minister for Development and Human Rights”, see Storting Recommendation No. 28 (1999-2000), on 18 November 1999 the Storting gave its approval to the Government’s restructuring of the Peace Corps. In the light of this, on 10 December 1999 the Storting passed the appropriations for Fredskorpset for 2000, in accordance with Storting Budgetary Recommendation No. 3 (1999-2000) of 3 December 1999. The Norwegian name is now Fredskorpset and the English name is FK Norway.
Objectives
FK Norway shall help to implement the overarching objectives for Norway’s cooperation with the developing countries: to contribute to permanent improvements in economic, social and political conditions for the people of developing countries, with special emphasis on aid benefiting the poorest of the poor. To this end, FK Norway shall work particularly to realise the objective of a more just world order based on fundamental human rights. With a view to this, FK Norway shall contribute to the creation of contact and cooperation between individuals, organisations and institutions in Norway and in the developing countries, based on solidarity, equality and reciprocity. The funds of FK Norway shall go to measures directed to countries that are classified by the OECD as potential recipients of official development aid (the ODA countries). Of this, at least half shall go to measures that include the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
Tasks
As part of its objectives FK Norway shall:
* promote reciprocal learning;
* help participants to integrate their know-how and experience into their own societies;
* help to develop and strengthen civil society in developing countries;
* strengthen local organisation and democratic structures in developing countries;
* enhance the ability of the people to set and achieve their own development goals;
* promote greater participation by developing countries in international cooperation.
To perform these tasks FK Norway shall support organisations and institutions in Norway and in developing countries (partners) who collaborate through their own personnel (participants).
To this end FK Norway shall organise the recruitment and training of participants as well as various forms of collaboration among a diverse group of private and public organisations and institutions.
* in the developing countries, between Norwegian organisations and institutions and organisations and institutions in the developing countries, as well as between organisations and institutions in the developing countries which have established co-operation with Norwegian organisations and institutions (South-South co-operation),
* in Norway, between Norwegian organisations and institutions and organisations and institutions in the developing countries.
Furthermore FK Norway shall assist its collaborating partners in exchanging experience, guidance, quality assurance and development in connection with such collaboration.
Structure
FK Norway is a public body with special powers, answering to the Foreign Ministry. It shall perform its mission in an independent fashion. Important questions of principle that arise in the course of the work of FK Norway shall be laid before the Foreign Ministry for decision. FK Norway is led by a Board and a Director. Day-to-day operations are managed by a secretariat led by the Director. FK Norway has a volunteer service executive committee consisting of representatives of its partners, which advises the Board on FK Norway's operations.
Funding
FK Norway receives its appropriations via a separate chapter of the state budget.