Developing the economy worldwide – the ExperTS programme

Project description

Title: ExperTS programme
Commisioned by: Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Worldwide in around 30 countries
Overall term: 2011 to 2022

Context

Economic activity plays an important role in the development of every country, as companies create jobs and drive innovation. As a result, companies have the potential to solve global problems and help achieve development-policy objectives – such as climate protection or improved social standards. Linking foreign trade promotion and development cooperation allows the potential of companies to promote development to be harnessed in an optimal manner. Until now, however, not all developing countries and emerging economies have a local contact that can advise them on the advantages and opportunities associated with sustainable economic activity and on the services available from development cooperation. 

Objective

The ExperTS programme promotes sustainable business practices around the world and helps create better conditions under which companies can become involved in development policy activities in partner countries.

Approach

ExperTS work in German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs) and advise German, European and local companies worldwide on development policy issues in around 30 developing countries and emerging economies. They work at the interface between development cooperation and foreign trade promotion. As local contacts, ExperTS support small and medium-sized enterprises in particular in tapping into new markets and setting up innovative cooperation arrangements, as well as ensuring that their involvement benefits all sides. In this way, they create the basis for sustainable development.

The ExperTS programme, which is funded by BMZ, is implemented by GIZ in cooperation with the AHKs and the Delegations of German Industry and Commerce. As ‘Integrated Experts’, the specialists of the ExperTS Programme are placed by the Centre for International Migration and Development (CIM). They are employed by the local AHKs and receive a salary subsidy from the ExperTS programme.

ExperTS are active in four priority areas, depending on the conditions and requirements of the particular country: 

Sustainable economic development: The objective of this component is to advance the sustainable development of the local economy by promoting the export industry and innovation. For example, dates that have been locally grown and processed in Algeria can now be found in European supermarkets thanks to the assistance of the ExperTS programme. This in turn helps to strengthen Algerian agriculture in the long term.
  
Energy and environment: ExperTS support climate change mitigation by providing advice on the issues of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency. The transfer of knowledge and technology between local and German companies plays an important role here. This can be achieved by establishing competence centres for energy and environment or by training energy managers, for example. Energy managers are local experts who develop specific energy-saving measures for their company that will directly help to reduce CO2 emissions.

Vocational education and training: Well-trained personnel is a key prerequisite for a country’s economic development. However, efficient training systems have not yet been established everywhere. For this reason, vocational education and training is a priority area of the ExperTS programme. Germany’s dual vocational training system serves as a guiding model here and is being adapted to meet regional requirements. As an example, young people in Mexico have been able to start a dual vocational training programme in 19 different occupations since 2013.  

Digitalisation and start-ups: Economic success feeds off innovative ideas. With this in mind, the ExperTS programme has had a new priority area since 2018, and the first expert is already at work in this new field: she is establishing a department for digitalisation and start-ups at the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria.

Results

Since 2011, ExperTS have been helping to achieve the following results:

• Around 31,500 individuals have benefited from technical, vocational and advanced training, giving them better access to the labour market.
• More than 15,000 individuals have found jobs.
• More than 9,300 individuals have improved their working conditions and more than 11,600 people have increased their income.
• Training energy managers has cut greenhouse gas emissions by over 2.5 million tonnes
• 50 million people will have access to a better waste management