The Business Partnership Facility celebrates 10 years of partnership for development

On 19 October 2026, representatives from the private sector, public institutions, development cooperation and Luxembourg’s wider business and innovation ecosystem gathered to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Business Partnership Facility (BPF). The event marked a significant milestone for an initiative that has become a key instrument for supporting innovative partnerships between EU-based companies and local actors in developing countries.

Since its launch in 2016, the BPF has supported close to 60 projects, mobilised more than EUR 15 million in public and private investment, contributed to the creation of over 2,200 jobs and reached more than 100,000 people across partner countries.

Created to encourage the private sector's contribution to sustainable development, the BPF provides co-financing to projects that combine business opportunities with positive social, economic and environmental outcomes.

Over the years, supported initiatives have addressed a wide range of challenges, from improving agricultural productivity and expanding financial inclusion to creating decent jobs. Together, these projects demonstrate how entrepreneurial innovation, combined with strong local partnerships, can deliver tangible development results.

A dedicated anniversary exhibition showcased a selection of BPF-supported initiatives, offering participants concrete examples of partnerships that have generated lasting benefits for local communities and economies.

The discussions provided an opportunity to reflect on ten years of experience and identify key lessons for the future. Several common messages emerged.

First, successful projects are built on genuine partnerships. Experience over the past decade has highlighted the importance of combining entrepreneurial drive and expertise of European companies with the local knowledge, networks and commitment of partners in the countries where the projects are implemented.

Second, a strong ecosystem is essential for success. Luxembourg’s network of public institutions, business support organisations, innovation actors and development partners helps companies identify opportunities, build the right connections and develop projects capable of delivering sustainable results.

Third, the BPF has evolved alongside the projects it supports. Over the past decade, the Facility has progressively strengthened its approach to project selection, implementation and impact monitoring, while projects are setting increasingly ambitious objectives in terms of both business development and development impact.

Finally, participants reaffirmed that impact remains at the heart of every initiative. Innovation is not an end in itself. Success is ultimately measured by the programme’s ability to address real-world challenges and improve people’s lives. Over the years, greater emphasis has therefore been placed on defining, monitoring and measuring these results.

The anniversary event was opened by Xavier BETTEL, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, and brought together companies, partner organisations, public institutions and development actors who have contributed to the BPF’s journey over the past decade.

The exchanges throughout the event highlighted the value of continued collaboration between businesses, public authorities and development stakeholders in addressing complex challenges and creating new opportunities for sustainable and inclusive growth.

As the BPF enters its second decade, its mission remains unchanged: harnessing the power of entrepreneurship, innovation and collaboration to generate lasting impact.

The Business Partnership Facility is initiated and funded by the Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs of Luxembourg’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade. It is implemented by LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency, in partnership with the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, Luxinnovation and the Ministry of the Economy.