Cooperation with the private sector
Project description
Title: Private Sector Cooperation Sector Project
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Global
Lead executing agency: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Overall term: 2016 to 2020
Context
In 2015, all member states of the United Nations signed the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 2030 Agenda contains 17 goals for sustainable economic, social and environmental development (Sustainable Development Goals – SDGs).
The SDGs are at the heart of German development cooperation and determine the content of programmes and projects. In order to achieve the 17 SDGs, development cooperation needs funding and engagement from the German, European, international and local private sector. Only in this way can we lay the foundations for socially equitable and environmentally sustainable growth that helps to increase employment and reduce poverty.
Objective
German and other European companies are able to make an even greater contribution towards implementing the goals of the 2030 Agenda.
Approach
To achieve this aim, the project works in close collaboration with the private sector, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and other organisations. The project is divided into five thematic fields of action:
—BMZ Advisory Services provides BMZ with support on the topic of corporate contributions to the 2030 Agenda. To this end, the advisors observe cooperation between the private sector, researchers and policy-makers to develop new topic areas and methodologies for BMZ.
—Product Development develops innovative approaches for cooperation with companies. One example of this is the digital platform leverist.de. Companies are informed of business opportunities in developing countries and emerging economies that contribute towards sustainable local development. Cooperation arrangements can thus be initiated together with development cooperation experts.
—Sustainable Development through Tourism aims to reinforce tourism’s position as a development policy instrument in Germany and the BMZ partner countries. This is achieved, for instance, by organising events, providing specialist advice to BMZ and implementing GIZ projects abroad that have a tourism component. In addition, the sector dialogue on tourism for sustainable development promotes cooperation with the tourist industry and the joint engagement of the sector towards fulfilling the SDGs.
—The Strategic Partnership for a Digital Africa (SPDA) is a network connecting German development cooperation and around 180 European companies. The aim is to develop public-private cooperation projects relating to digitalisation in Africa. The partners work in six thematic expert groups: education, energy, health care, good governance, agriculture and mobility. It was Günter Nooke, the Federal Chancellor’s Personal Representative for Africa in BMZ, who initiated the SPDA.
—The lab of tomorrow (lot) encourages an entrepreneurial spirit in order to solve challenges in developing countries and emerging economies. lot accompanies European and local companies as they develop innovations – from the initial idea right through to establishing a business model on the market. Together with local companies and other stakeholders, it develops business ideas to solve specific development problems. One example of this is reducing plastic waste in Thailand.
Results
The Cooperation with the Private Sector Project creates opportunities in developing countries and emerging economies. The Sustainable development through tourism thematic area, for instance, is able to reach micro enterprises and disadvantaged population groups as in this sector there is often no need to have substantial start-up capital or specialised knowledge. Projects implemented in the context of the SPDA illustrate that cooperation is a key to success. In future, Kenyan pharmacists will be able to manage their stocks of medicines online, while Ugandan small farmers will receive information about new purchase prices by mobile phone.