Senior Experts: Key to sustainable development aid in Vienna!

Senior Experts: Key to sustainable development aid in Vienna!

Wien, Österreich - Vienna, February 04, 2025 - The importance of experienced volunteers for development cooperation is the focus of a current conference in Vienna. In the Palais Coburg, Reinhard Heierer, board member of the "Jugend a World Foundation", emphasized that senior experts are a valuable resource in the global south. These experienced specialists not only come back with extensive knowledge, but also act as an ambassador for the people with whom they work with. "Senior Experts are people who see their commitment not only as a profession, but also as a calling," said Brother Lothar Wagner, a long -time project partner in West Africa, and praised the combined use of knowledge and experience. Around 15 senior experts are currently supporting projects in Africa, Latin America and Asia, whereby the collaboration is carried out at eye level.

sustainable development through expertise

The collaboration of experienced volunteers and local partners is a central aspect for effective development work. According to the reports of "Youth a World", the Austrian development organization has increasingly relied on this model since 2016 by sending qualified volunteers into important projects. This is done as part of a strategic alliance between foundations, development organizations and other partners in order to jointly manage organizational, pedagogical and economic challenges.

This double responsibility - both in development cooperation and in the company advice - illustrates the growing relevance of senior experts in international cooperation and puts its role at the center of the discussions about future development aid.