Business know-how in action
Collaborations between chambers of commerce and business associations in Germany and their counterparts in developing countries and emerging economies are designed to deliver lasting results. The goal is to forge partnerships that make a real difference by transferring knowledge and creating a more enabling business environment.
With their expertise, the partner institutions are well placed to effectively represent the interests of the local business community. They can provide targeted support for businesses, local people, trainees and employees. German chambers of commerce and business associations – and their members with an international presence – also stand to benefit from progress towards a more investment- and project-friendly landscape based on viable structures, more efficient processes, new services and a more favourable operating environment in the partner countries.
Working in partnership – chambers of commerce, business associations and financial institutions of the Sparkassen Finance Group
The goal of the Chamber and Association Partnerships (KVP) programme is to help the German business community offer its expertise in support of the private sector in our partner countries. To this end, chamber and association partnerships act as business service providers and represent the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Chamber and association partnerships are implemented by sequa gGmbH, a development organisation representing the German business community, and by the German Sparkassenstiftung for International Cooperation (DSIK). To help them perform this role, sequa and DSIK receive funding from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
sequa gGmbH – partnering the German business community
sequa gGmbH is a non-profit development organisation with a global presence. It has been implementing international cooperation programmes and projects in collaboration with the German business sector since 1991.
Its remit includes helping business organisations in our partner countries to develop new services for promoting trade fairs, organising vocational training and advising start-ups, for example. This, in turn, allows local chambers of commerce to generate the revenue they need to become well established and to provide targeted support for their members.
sequa gGmbH’s shareholders include the four leading German business federations: the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA), the Federation of German Industries (BDI), the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) and the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH). The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH also became a shareholder in 2010. As a result, sequa combines the expertise and networks of the German business community and German development cooperation. Its programmes are designed and implemented in close collaboration with its shareholders and their members.
Top priorities for the sequa Chambers and Associations Programme
- Develop local partner organisations
- Expand the provision of business services
- Support the work of local organisations advocating for a more favourable business environment
German Sparkassenstiftung for International Cooperation (DSIK)
Through its Chambers and Associations Programme, the German Sparkassenstiftung for International Cooperation (DSIK) shares the Sparkassen Finance Group’s knowledge and expertise in the area of financial inclusion with organisations in partner countries. In this way, it promotes local economic development based on sustainable change and responsible business activity, thereby driving progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The support provided by DSIK helps local partners introduce or improve environmental and social standards, organise vocational training and professional development courses, and launch initiatives to educate and advise people on financial inclusion. Financial sector institutions in the countries of the Global South benefit as it means they can offer their members access to larger networks, better advice and new market access opportunities – all of which can ultimately improve the lives of local people, too.
DSIK has been pursuing its goal of enabling people in partner countries to access financial services as a way of escaping poverty since 1992. This partnership-based approach in Germany is shaped by the organisation’s members. DSIK is funded by well over half of all the German Sparkassen, Landesbanken (public-sector banks of Germany’s federal states), regional associations and other partners within the Sparkassen Finance Group.
Worldwide, DSIK employs over 300 staff, including 45 at its head office in Bonn.
Top priorities for DSIK’s Chambers and Associations Programme
- Promote sustainable economic development and responsible business as a contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Develop local partner organisations
- Promote financial inclusion through advice and training
- Support financial institutions offering services to SMEs – through partnerships with German Sparkassen
TVET partnerships: practical training based on the German model
The goal of TVET partnerships is to advance technical and vocational education and training in our partner countries. Practical training programmes tailored to the needs of local businesses are designed to boost economic development.
TVET partnerships draw on the expertise of German chambers of commerce and business associations, and of their TVET institutions. Their role is to help vocational schools, chambers of commerce and business associations in partner countries to introduce needs-based vocational training programmes – based on the German ‘dual’ training system – in collaboration with local businesses.
Top priorities for TVET partnerships
- Improve the organisational structure of TVET institutions
- Strengthen training content and methods
- Improve the qualifications and skills of trainers and instructors
- Introduce pilot training programmes with a strong practical focus for emerging occupations
- Advise on standards for qualification and assessment
TVET partnerships are implemented by sequa gGmbH with funding from BMZ.
Find out more about TVET partnershipsTrade union partnerships
German trade unions can also receive funding through sequa gGmbH for their own partnership projects with local trade union organisations.
The goal of trade union partnerships is to make a measurable contribution to job security, job creation and economic performance in partner countries through better working conditions, effective worker representation and stronger organisations.
Find out more about trade union partnershipsPartnerAfrica – fair jobs for a brighter future
The goal of the Special Initiative ‘Decent Work for a Just Transition’ is to create a better environment for private investment and improve employment opportunities for the rapidly growing young populations of eight African countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal and Tunisia.
BMZ launched the PartnerAfrica programme as a way of opening up the special initiative to chambers of commerce and business associations. The intention is for their projects to support vocational training focused on the needs of business, remove barriers to private sector investment and improve the advisory services offered by local chambers of commerce to the business community – with the aim of consistently creating more and better local jobs. Importantly, all such projects must be aligned with the special initiative’s priority sectors and designated business locations, and should be implemented in close collaboration with the private sector.
sequa gGmbH manages applications and oversees the implementation of PartnerAfrica projects.
Find out more about PartnerAfrica
