GLOBUS Fund

Who they are

The GLOBUS Fund (formerly known as Genbrug til Syd Fund) is a Danish funding instrument financed by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Danida) and administered by a consortium made up of the Center for Kirkeligt Udviklingssamarbejde (CKU) and the Ulandssekretariatet. Udenrigsministeriet+2Globus+2
Originally, Genbrug til Syd was created to support the collection, renovation and shipment of used but quality equipment (school furniture, hospital devices, IT, production tools) from Denmark to developing countries. UFF.dk+1
In 2022 it was formally replaced/merged into the GLOBUS Fund, which now has a broader mandate: engaging Danish students and educational institutions in partnerships with the Global South, including both exchange/learning and circular economy projects such as shipment of used equipment. Udenrigsministeriet+1

What they support

GLOBUS supports two main types of projects:

• Educational collaboration / exchange: Danish schools, vocational institutions or students work in partnership with institutions in the Global South, with learning, mobility or co-learning as a core feature. Globus+1
• Circular projects (equipment reuse): The reuse of quality equipment — e.g., medical devices, school furniture, IT gear — from Denmark for use in developing countries; the projects must include an educational engagement component for Danish students (for example collection, refurbishment, packaging, logistics). Globus+1

GLOBUS explicitly mentions the circular projects as part of its mandate: “circular projects … can include collection, renovation and shipment of used quality equipment” for partners in the Global South. Globus

Why our collaboration matters

For Rebuild Aid, being a recipient of GLOBUS support (through the equipment-reuse track) has been strategically significant. Through this partnership we have been able to dispatch vital equipment—from Denmark to Afghanistan—for use in hospitals, schools and by persons with disabilities, across provinces including Ghor Province, Badghis Province, Herat Province, Farah Province and Ghazni Province.
This supports several of our organisational goals:

• Leveraging Danish-Afghan partnership for tangible impact (schools/hospitals)
• Applying a circular-economy approach (reuse of equipment rather than purchasing new)
• Engaging Danish educational partners and students in real-world international development
• Strengthening linkages to the Global Goals (especially quality education, good health-care, inclusive infrastructure)

What we have achieved together

While specific project names and full budgets may vary, our engagement through GLOBUS has produced the following observable results:

• We have arranged for hospital equipment (e.g., refurbished diagnostic devices, hospital beds, medical furniture) to be transported from Denmark to provincial hospitals in Afghanistan, improving capacity in underserved regions.
• We have provided school furniture and equipment (desks, chairs, IT equipment) to educational institutions in remote provinces, helping address infrastructural bottlenecks so that children—including those with disabilities—can access a more conducive learning environment.
• We have supplied assistive devices and equipment for persons with disabilities, contributing to more inclusive access to education and health services for marginalized groups.
• We have facilitated the logistics, refurbishment, shipping and partner hand-over (in Denmark and in Afghanistan) of donated items, under the circular framework encouraged by GLOBUS.
• We have built an engagement component in Denmark: Danish donors/partners/students have participated in collection drives, refurbishment workshops, packaging, and have been exposed to global development issues—an important part of the GLOBUS requirement.

Reflections, limitations and next steps

While the partnership has delivered meaningful benefits, several aspects merit critical reflection:

• Logistics and context risk: Shipping equipment into fragile contexts such as parts of Afghanistan presents high logistical, security and customs / clearing risks. Delays or additional costs occur frequently.
• Sustainability and local capacity: Donated equipment must be matched by local capacity (maintenance, spare parts, technical skills) else the value decays rapidly. Without long-term planning and local anchor institutions the reuse potential may be undermined.
• Fit for purpose: Used equipment must comply with local standards, be relevant and not simply “dumped.” The GLOBUS criteria stress that donated equipment must support capacity building, not just be surplus. Find Fonden+1
• Engagement requirement focus: The need for Danish educational engagement (students, schools) adds value but also administrative overhead. The model is somewhat skewed toward Danish institutions rather than solely focusing on the Southern partner’s agenda.
• Measuring downstream impact: While equipment dispatch is tangible, less systematic data may exist about how it translates into improved health outcomes, school completion rates, disability inclusion etc. More robust follow-through and monitoring would strengthen the evidence of impact.

Looking ahead

To deepen and maximize our collaboration with GLOBUS we suggest the following strategic priorities:

1. Strengthen partner capacity in Afghanistan: Ensure that recipient institutions (schools, hospitals, disability centres) have maintenance plans, trained technicians, and spare-part procurement avenues so that donated equipment remains operational long-term.
2. Document impact more systematically: Collect and present case studies in provinces such as Ghor, Badghis, Herat, Farah and Ghazni about how the equipment has changed service delivery, attendance, inclusion and outcomes. This will improve accountability and storytelling for donors.
3. Embed local student and partner involvement: While Danish student engagement is a requirement, ensure Afghan partner institutions as well have active roles in refurbishment, packaging, logistics or local workshops—so the benefit is mutual and bidirectional.
4. Surface stories of inclusion: For instance highlight how assistive equipment reached persons with disabilities, or how school furniture enabled girls (especially those with disabilities or in remote areas) to attend class more safely and comfortably.
5. Align with the broader development strategy: Link equipment donations with wider programmes (training, teacher development, health-worker capacity) rather than isolated dispatches. This will enhance the sustainability and relevance of the intervention.
6. Communicate both successes and constraints: Be transparent about what has worked and what remains challenging (e.g., customs delays, technical breakdowns, infrastructure gaps). Donors appreciate realism and adaptive learning.

Summary

The collaboration between Rebuild Aid and the GLOBUS Fund (formerly Genbrug til Syd) represents a valuable synergy: Denmark’s circular economy and educational engagement mandate meeting Afghanistan’s acute need for infrastructure and equipment in health, education and disability inclusion. While the model delivers clear benefits, its success depends equally on implementation quality, local capacity, relevance, monitoring and sustainability. As we continue this partnership, we will maintain a balance between ambition and realism, always seeking to convert donated equipment into meaningful and measurable improvements in the lives of Afghan children, women, persons with disabilities and remote communities.