Sector-specific Promotion

Economic reforms and improved competitiveness have brought forth dynamic growth markets in many parts of our neighbouring continent. African countries increasingly offer attractive prospects for companies and investors: a young population, growing availability of labour and skilled workers, rising purchasing power, new sales markets and integration into global value chains. With annual growth rates of five per cent and higher, countries like Ethiopia, Ghana, Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire are among the world's fastest growing economies. At the same time, about 20 million jobs are needed each year to provide future prospects for Africa's youth.

Under the Invest for Jobs brand, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has therefore put together a package of measures to support German, European and African companies engaging in Africa. The Special Initiative "Decent Work for a Just Transition" – the official title – offers comprehensive advice, contacts and financial support through its implementing organisations to overcome investment barriers. The Special Initiative’s development objective is to team up with companies to create up to 100,000 jobs and 30,000 apprenticeships and to improve working conditions in its partner countries. 
Programmes are currently in place in the Special Initiative’s eight partner countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt (in preparation), Ethiopia, Ghana, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal and Tunisia.
Invest for Jobs sets great store in cooperation between the participating companies and investors, the German chambers of commerce abroad and other relevant actors in the partner countries – from the project idea to its implementation.

International Hospital Partnerships promote collegial exchange, enable joint learning and improve the quality of medical care in health facilities and universities in developing and emerging countries. With the promotional programme Hospital Partnerships - Partners Strengthen Health, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, together with the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation, supports hospital partnerships between health care facilities in Germany and those in low- and middle-income countries.

The promotional programme supports and accompanies the transfer of knowledge between medical and technical specialists: doctors, midwives and obstetricians, health and nursing staff, microbiologists, technicians, but also hospital managers and administrative staff. In the process, the hospital partners jointly develop scientifically sound and practicable solutions for different specialties and learn together from their cooperation and the experience gained.

The promotional programme supports the actors in the administrative application and implementation of their projects. It offers them platforms for increased networking within international cooperation and advises them on project management and communication.

The aim of the Hospital Partnerships promotional programme is to create improved local health services through the partners' joint projects with a focus on training and education. This can strengthen health systems in emerging and developing countries.

When deciding on project promotion, the needs of the partner countries are at the forefront. The promotional programme is thematically open and strengthens both existing partnerships and new cooperations.

The promotional programme University and Hospital Partnerships in Africa (HKP) supports partnerships between public and non-profit health organisations in Germany and Africa.

Cooperation with the HKP promotional programme offers numerous advantages for companies. The cooperation opens up additional funds for project support, as up to 49 percent of the total project budget is borne by HKP. In addition, the initiative has valuable experience in managing hospital partnerships and partnerships with the private sector. Further advantages of cooperation are the involvement of key global health actors in Africa and Germany as well as the connection to local networks in the project countries, including access to government institutions such as ministries of health and technology.

In principle, the programme funds different medical areas, which are advertised in successive promotion rounds. In the 2019 call, the focus was on eHealth: 13 digital projects in twelve countries in sub-Saharan Africa were funded following a competitive process. They have different thematic focuses and digital solution approaches, such as cancer or digital laboratory information systems.

HKP also promotes integrated development partnerships together with German and African companies by supporting jointly designed projects with technical advice as well as through pro-rata promotion. These grants are available for a wide range of medical topics, should have a focus on training and capacity development of health personnel and involve a university or university hospital in Germany and Sub-Saharan Africa.