Strengthening suppliers. Implementing due diligence obligations along the supply chain
Training programme for exporters in developing countries and emerging economies to improve supply chain management
Partners in Transformation supports German companies and their suppliers in developing countries and emerging economies in meeting their due diligence obligations and introducing environmental and social standards. In collaboration with the Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services (BGA), Partners in Transformation has developed a training programme that specifically targets supply chain management. The training courses, which are financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), are aimed at producers in BMZ partner countries.
Fit for the European market: training kick-off in South America
In cooperation with international partners, we have developed a series of practical training courses that prepare suppliers from developing countries and emerging economies specifically for the growing demands of European markets. Early action creates clarity and trust on both sides.
The training courses are aimed at companies from the South America region and starts on April 30, 2025.
Why this training is important
Many suppliers are not yet familiar with the current requirements relating to human rights and environmental due diligence. This is where the training program comes in:
- Suppliers receive practical support in order to establish due diligence processes at an early stage, thereby making themselves more competitive.
- German companies benefit from the fact that their business partners are informed about legal regulations and market requirements – an important basis for stable, sustainable business relationships.
The training modules at a glance
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Introduction to the main requirements of sustainability legislation in Europe (in particular the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, CSDDD, and the EU Deforestation Regulation, EUDR) and their practical significance
Speakers: Helpdesk on Business and Human Rights
Location: Online
Participants: Open to all interested companies
Knowledge and practical assistance
The modular training programme is designed to familiarise exporters from developing countries and emerging economies with the relevant European laws and internationally applicable standards of the UN and the OECD, and the impact these have at all stages of the supply chain. Given the growing demand from both investors and consumers for compliance with laws and regulations that ensure a sustainable and fair supply chain, the programme provides companies with comprehensive practical support. It also helps suppliers to introduce environmental, social and management standards to match the increasing demands of their customers.
Prerequisites for good export relations
Achieving environmental and social standards is an important aspect of business relationships within global supply chains. The following statutory regulations apply to German and European enterprises: any companies above a defined size must implement human rights and environmental due diligence processes; they must observe sustainable procurement practices and work with suppliers in an effective and appropriate manner. These obligations do not apply to companies from the Global South. In practice, however, larger companies evidently do pass on some of the demands placed upon them to their suppliers – including non-European companies. It is therefore important for suppliers to find a way of dealing effectively with such demands from their customers.
