Development cooperation

The DLF is engaged in development projects with teacher unions in Sub-Saharan Africa and Bolivia. The work is carried out in close coordination and cooperation with the teachers' world organisation, Education International (EI).

The DLF adheres to a long-established Danish tradition of solidarity between employees across country borders. Since 1982 the DLF has been engaged in development projects with teacher unions all over the world. 

The objectives of the DLF development assistance is to strengthen EI member organisations in the Third World in their work to provide satisfactory service to their members and to support them in playing an active, constructive and critical role as social partners in the development of society.

Presently, the DLF is involved in co-operation with Zanzibar Teachers' Union (ZATU), Teachers' Union of Malawi (TUM), National Teacher Association of Liberia (NTAL), Lesotho Association of Teachers (LAT), Lesotho Teachers Trade Union (LTTU) and the Bolivian teacher unions CTEUB and CONMERB.

The project activities are focused on leadership training at various levels within these teacher organisations. The DLF support activities with the objective to

  • build up democratic organisations
  • make the organisational structure more efficient
  • develop high quality organisational training
  • improve the internal and external communication
  • strengthen the role of the organisations in the dialogue with the government, employers and other social partners
  • strengthen the members' educational qualifications.

The development assistance of the DLF is mainly financed by Danida funds, which are government funds. Some of these funds are transferred through FH, the Danish Trade Union Confederation. Other funds are transferred through CISU, an association of small and medium-sized CSOs.