being a fredskorpset participant

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concerning fredskorpset (fk)

Fredskorpset’s overall objective is to promote lasting improvements in the economic, social and political con-ditions in developing countries. This will be achieved by facilitating partnerships and the exchange of personnel between organisations and institutions in Norway and countries in the South, as well as among organisations and institutions in the South. Such collaboration and partnerships aim at promoting the transfer of expertise, at measures to reduce poverty, and at creating invol-vement and awareness raising with respect to develop-mental issues in Norway and in the South. Both FK and the partnerships established are based on the values of equality, reciprocity, solidarity, diversity and transparency among all parties.

FK is a governmental body under the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and is part of official Norwegian development policy which finances and sup-ports exchange programmes between organisations and institutions in Norway, Africa, Asia and Latin America. FK refers to these organisations and institutions as partners and the collaboration between the partners as partnerships.

FK signs a collaboration agreement with one of the partners within the partnership. The partner that signs the agreement with FK (primary partner) represents all those involved in the partnership, as a partnership agre-ement has been signed between the respective partners. The collaboration agreement lays down the rights and duties obtaining between FK and the primary partner on behalf of the partnership, and provides funding from FK for the partners’ exchange projects.

Contact with the FK secretariat on behalf of the partnership is principally handled by the primary partner (usually a Norwegian partner in a North-South exchange programme, and one selected partner in south-south exchange).

the partnershipThe relationship between the home partner which re-cruited you and the host partner where you are going to work, is regulated by the partnership agreement in which the partners have agreed upon the aims of their collabo-

ration, and decided upon what type of per-sonnel to exchange. They have also defined work tasks for you which are stated in this agreement. The partnership agreement is an agreement between the partners involved in the exchange, and is available to the partners at management level. It simultaneously forms the basis of your participant agreement.

the relationship between the part-nership and yourself as participantAs a participant, you are employed by the partners through a participant agreement

with which your partners will provide you. Participants exchanged between Norway and its partners are under normal circumstances and for practical and legal purposes formally employed by the Norwegian partner. South-South partici-pants are under normal circumstances formally employed by their sending partner.

The labour legislation in the partner country with which you sign the participant agreement, will provide the legal basis for the participant agreement (labour legis-lation, holiday legislation, etc.).

The participant agreement should contain a description of your work tasks in the preparation phase, during your stay in the host country, and for follow-up activities after coming home, as well as your benefits and allowances. We advise you and your host partner to develop your work plan upon arrival in the host country, and we expect you and your host partner to be in dialogue about necessary adjustments to plans along the way.

Your line of reporting is to the host partner (normally contact person or immediate superior), where you have your daily workplace. The host partner should have contact with your home partner on a regular basis. Your home partner will most likely also expect you to share your experiences while you are engaged in an exchange. However, you are expected to submit written reports to both home and host partner on a regular basis.

the fk secretariat and the participantAs a participant, you are employed by a partner institu-tion. There is no direct legal connection between FK and you as a participant. Your rights and duties are regulated by the participant agreement that you have entered into with your partner institution.

You will have meetings with the FK-organisation on a number of occasions: You will take part in a preparatory course arranged by FK, and you will have the possibility of taking part in a home-coming seminar. You can also

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participate in FK network activities during your stay in the host country and after returning home.

the three phases of the exchange programmeAs participant, you will take part in the three phases of an exchange programme:1. preparation: You will attend FK’s preparatory course,

in addition to participating in other preparations by yourself and your partners

2. the working period in the host country: You’ll be wor-king with your host partner in a foreign country

3. follow up: Upon returning home you will perform fol-low-up activities together with your home partner so as to share your experiences while living and working abroad

What is expected of you as a participant?As a participant, you are expected to:• work for the partner organisation in line with the aims

and objectives of the exchange and with the partici-pant agreement that you have signed

• share experiences with your counterpart and be open to learning during the period of exchange as well as upon your return to your home

• work in harmony with the values of FK; equality, reci-procity, solidarity, diversity and transparency

• act in conformity with FK’s Code of Conduct

some practical informationAs part of the agreement with FK, your partners will provide you with the following (at a modest level):

• Daily living allowance (for participants from the South, the allowance consists of two parts : one is for living in the host country, and another for maintai-ning the level of salary in the home country. This is normally paid through the home partner). The partner, in collaboration with FK, sets the level of allowance,

based on the level of education and experience needed on the part of the participants, the costs of living in the respective countries, and what the partners re-gard as an appropriate level of allowance within their partnership. Allowances may vary from partnership to partnership.

• Housing• Insurance• Some expenses related to leaving one’s home country

and establishing oneself in a new country, including passport, visa and work permit

• Transport to/from host country, to/from work, as well as some official journeys

• Some expenses related to follow-up activities to be conducted after your home-coming

tax You will normally pay tax, either to your home country, your host country, or both. What is applicable to you must be deter-mined by yourself and/or the partners, by contacting the local tax authorities. FK is not responsible for taxation.

VacationsYour rights with respect to vacation will be regulated in your participant agreement, and be in conformity with legislation in the country of your formal employer or the host country, in ac-cordance with the terms of the participant agreement. FK does not provide any additional vacation pay.

Health careYour partners will provide you with health insurance for the duration of your stay in the host country, and will be able to give you information regarding doctors, hospitals etc.

emergenciesYour partners have developed a plan for the management of crises, containing important contact information (medical doctors, hospitals, embassies and so forth). If you haven’t been provided with such information, ask your partners to provide this.

More information: www.fredskorpset.noInformation regarding practical issues are available on our website: www.fredskorpset.no, under the link documents: ser-vice manual (this information is mainly directed towards your partners, but may be of interest to you as well).

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• If you have children, it is possible for your partner institution to apply for a small grant for a family visit (application to FK from primary partner)

As a participant you will be directly responsible for as-pects of the budget such as the allowance, and some parts of the expenditures your partners will usually be respon-sible for, such as transport and housing.

Conflict of interestLiving in a new environment provides you with lifelong impressions and impulses. You will be living and wor-king together with new friends, colleagues and neigh-bours. The concept of “living” is more complex than the concept of “visiting” a place as a tourist. You will have to cope with a new working culture, new knowledge, and perhaps opinions that differ from you own. Though most of the experiences are purely to the good, you should also be prepared for the opposite. Your well-being is dependent on how you adapt to the new environment and everyday life.

Prior to the exchange, it is recommended that you discuss potential misunderstandings with both your home partner and your host partner, and to clarify expectations. Try to get a picture of what your work will be like. At the same time, be flexible. Reality will seldom correspond with expectations, you will hardly ever find precisely what you expect to find, as it is difficult to imagine what it will be like before you have tried it!

If your work situation proves to be problematic, you should first try to solve the problems with your host part-ner. You have a personal responsibility to approach any problem with sensitivity and care. If your initial efforts are not successful, you may contact your home partner for further assistance in resolving any difficulties. If home- and host partners are different from the primary partner in the programme which you are part of, a further step should be to contact the primary partner.

code of personal conduct

These guidelines apply to all activities related to Fredskorpset, whether implemented by participants, partners, staff or board members of Fredskorpset.

1. respect for human dignity Respect is to be shown to every individual, regardless of gender, age, religion, sex, ethnicity or political affiliation. Any and every form of mental or physical violence is not tolerated. Likewise, the purchase of sexual services, the use of illegal drugs, and the misuse of alcohol, are unacceptable.

2. cultural sensitivityAll those working under the auspices of Fredskorpset are expected to familiarise themselves with the local culture, including local religions and their observance, and to be fully respectful through their behaviour and their manner of attire.

3. security aspects Those working under the auspices of Fredskorpset are ex-pected to familiarise themselves with the local and national security situation, and to follow their employer’s crisis plan in the event of crisis or accident. Further, they are to obey the laws of the country in which they are working, including its traffic regulations and security measures.

4. environmental considerations Consideration is to be given to the environmental consequ-ences of all activities. Wherever possible, environmentally sustainable solutions are to be applied.

5. corruptionCorruption is never to be encouraged – whether through accepting personal services or favours, or offering these to suppliers, civil servants, or others. Project finances are to be correctly employed; misuse will not be tolerated.

6. Confidence and good willAll participants, partners and staff of Fredskorpset are re-sponsible, through their work, for maintaining and promoting confidence and good will towards the organisation. It is their responsibility to ensure that the methods employed, and the activities implemented, are in accordance with the values and principles of Fredskorpset.

As a last resort, there is the possibility of contacting the FK secretariat in Norway (for South-South program-mes, the regional offices). FK, normally through the officer in charge of the project of which you are part, may enter into a dialogue with the partners in order to help solving the problem. Be aware that there is no solution for you as a participant without involvement of the part-ners. Most conflicts are solved without FK involvement.

We wish you all the best as an fk participant!

FredskorpsetStortorvet 10

P.O. Box 8055 DepN-0031 OSLO

NORWAY

www.fredskorpset.noPhone +47 24 14 57 00