Top global development employers in Brussels

While modest in size and population in comparison to its neighbors, Brussels remains a hub for European and international relations. Among the many regional, national and international institutions based in Belgium’s capital, the city is home to the European Union, European Commission and the NATO headquarters. With hundreds of embassies, thousands of international diplomats, and hundreds of thousands of jobs linked to global institutions, Brussels is also home to a diverse, multilingual and multicultural population. French, Dutch and German are the official languages of Belgium, and English is used on a daily basis in Brussels, along with more than 100 other languages. Many funding agencies and development consultancy groups are based in the city and some international NGOs have their advocacy offices based there to allow them to network with EU lawmakers. Here is our guide to the top organizations working in international development that have their headquarters and advocacy offices based in Brussels. Check out the Devex Job Board to find out about vacancies with these and other organizations in the sector. ACP Secretariat Type: Regional organization Founded: 1965 Secretary-General: Dr. Patrick I. Gomes The ACP Secretariat is the administrative arm of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group — an organization comprising of 79 states and signatories of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement binding them to the European Union. The main objectives of the organization are sustainable development and the unity and solidarity of its member states and people. Charged with monitoring the implementation of the ACP-EU Partnership and contributing to the implementation of decisions, the ACP Secretariat works closely with the ACP policymakers. Representatives meet twice a year for the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly. The ACP also offers a small number of grants. AGRER Type: Consultancy Founded: 1959 Director: Robert Couturier AGRER provides consultancy services in the design and implementation of projects across Asia, Latin America and Africa with a focus on agriculture and rural development, environmental impact and management, and institutional strengthening and capacity building. The company receives financing from the European Union, the World Bank, U.N. agencies and the Asian Development Bank. The team based in Brussels — which includes engineers, economists and experts in logistics and management — work to coordinate and support studies and project implementation. Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries Type: Financing institution Founded: 2001 CEO: Luuk Zonneveld By supporting a strong private sector in developing countries, BIO aims to enable access to growth and sustainable development. Through financial sector investment, direct investment and infrastructure projects, BIO strives to make a structural contribution to the socio-economic growth of host countries. BIO currently operates directly and indirectly in 52 countries with Africa accounting for 34 percent of its funding. Belgian Technical Cooperation Type: Government agency and bilateral donor Founded: 1998 Minister for Development Cooperation: Alexander De Croo BTC is the Belgian development agency, it provides resources and expertise to support projects across the globe in pursuit of the eradication of poverty. BCT works for the Belgian government and also carries out missions on behalf of other clients such as the European Commission and the World Bank. Its operations are often co-financed with other donors. BTC focuses on fragile states and the least developed countries, primarily across Africa. It currently has over 1,400 employees, including many expats and local staff overseas, working on projects relating to health, agriculture, infrastructure, governance and education. B&S Europe Type: Consultancy Founded: 1991 Managing director: Rafael Comenge B&S Europe provides technical assistance to companies, public organizations and institutions with expertise in the areas of justice, European integration, democracy and governance, employment and social affairs, economic development, and communication. With regional offices in Romania, Kosovo and Senegal, the group has extensive experience working on development projects in Europe and Africa and has in recent years also started to expand its work across Asia and Latin America. Its clients include private organizations, bilateral agencies, the European Commission and the World Bank. Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development Type: Funding agency Founded: 2011 Director general: Stefano Manservisi DG DEVCO is responsible for the design and implementation of the EU’s international cooperation policy. It works to formulate development policy in line with the EU’s objectives to reduce poverty, ensure sustainable economies, foster social and environmental development, and promote democracy, good governance and human rights. DG DEVCO also plays an important role in implementing the European Commission’s assistance instruments and ensuring transparency and accountability in delivering the EU’s aid budget to support projects and programs around the world. Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) Type: Donor agency Founded: 1992 EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management: Christos Stylianides Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations: Monique Pariat ECHO is the branch of the EU that focuses on providing emergency humanitarian assistance and civil protection to victims of natural disasters and armed conflicts. Through its partners and with a global network of field offices, ECHO has funded humanitarian aid in crisis zones in over 85 countries. It also conducts feasibility studies for its humanitarian operations, monitors humanitarian initiatives, coordinates disaster prevention measures, provides technical assistance to its partners, and funds network and training schemes on humanitarian aid. One of the biggest players in emergency humanitarian aid, the initial EU budget for ECHO — as outlined in the EU’s multiannual financial framework for 2014-2020 — amounts to approximately 1 billion euros per year. Additional funding was announced last year, in light of the ongoing refugee crisis across Europe, to allow the EU to provide emergency support to exceptional crises or disasters within the EU. European Consultants Organisation Type: Consultancy Founded: 1992 Managing Director: Christian Linck ECO provides consultancy services and technical assistance in the areas of civil society, governance, justice, program and facility management, public administration reform, public financial management, and trade and economic development. Having worked on over 700 projects across 100 countries, ECO has experience with a variety of private and public sector organizations, including the European Commission, World Bank and the U.K. Department for International Development. With regional offices throughout Europe and Africa, ECO provides its services in 19 different languages. European NGO Confederation for Relief and Development (Concord) Type: NGO confederation Founded: 2003 Director: Seamus Jeffreson This member-led, nonprofit organization serves as the voice of over 2,600 European NGOs in discussions with the EU institutions on development policy. The group aims to strengthen the impact of European development NGOs through influencing policy. Concord also plays a role in the coordination of NGO activities by combining expertise, competencies and capacities and by promoting information sharing. Oxfam International's European Union office Type: Implementing/advocacy NGO Founded: 1942 Director: Stefaan Declercq While Oxfam International’s headquarters are based in the U.K., their Brussels’ based EU office is the focus of the organization's advocacy efforts. This arm of the organization works to influence decision-makers and ensure EU policies have a positive impact on the poor communities Oxfam works with. Policy areas include food security, climate change, development policy and finance, and humanitarian assistance. The EU office works together with Oxfam’s eight European branches in France, Germany, Ireland, the U.K., Italy, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. Plan International, EU office Type: Implementing NGO Founded: 1937 EU Representative: Alexandra Makaroff This office acts as a coordination and liaison point for Plan International’s European national offices. It works with EU institutions to ensure that the promotion of children’s rights are a priority in the EU’s policies and practices. Plan International works in 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas with a strong focus on gender equality and child protection. Transtec Type: Consultancy Founded: 1983 Managing Director: Marie-Astrid Corbisier Transtec is a leading European development consulting firm dedicated to delivering technical cooperation services for public, private and third sector organizations in emerging economies. With a focus on good governance as a requirement of sustainable development, Transtec works across 120 countries with an annual turnover in the region of 25 million euros. World Vision, European Union Type: Implementing NGO Founded: 1950 Executive Director & EU Representative: Justin Byworth World Vision’s Brussels office supports engagement with EU institutions, as well as civil society actors and other NGOs. This arm of the organization works on influencing key EU decision-makers and political processes to impact positively on the communities World Vision helps and to promote access for its regional offices around the world to the funding opportunities provided by the EU. Other notable organizations with offices in Brussels include: • ActionAid Belgium • AEDES • Agriconsulting • APRODEV • Association of European Development Finance Institutions • Association of Voluntary Service Organizations • Baastel • Belgian Bankers Academy • BIEF • Cardno Emerging Markets, Belgium • Caritas Belgium • Centre for the Development of Enterprise • Centre national de coopération au développement • CIDSE • Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung (DSW) • Ecorem • EU Civil Society Contact Group • EU-CORD • European Association of Development Agencies • European Federation of Engineering Consultancy Associations • European Network on Debt and Development • International Association of Professionals in Humanitarian Assistance and Protection • International Organization for Migration Belgium • International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network • International Rescue Committee • KEA European Affairs • King Baudouin Foundation • Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung European Office • Médecins du Monde Belgium • Médecins Sans Frontières Belgique • Open Society Foundations Brussels • Plan International Belgium • Research and Independent Non-governmental Organizations to the United Nations• Framework Convention on Climate Change • Sifra Microfinance Networking Facilitators • Solidarité Socialiste • TAS Europrojects • Transparency International Belgium • Trias • United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe • Voluntary Organizations in Cooperation in Emergencies • Women in Development Europe Did we forget any major organization based in Brussels? 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