Economic policy and private sector development are currently at the center stage of German development cooperation. Many initiatives such as the Compacts with Africa or the Marshall Plan highlight the importance of sustainable economic growth, a supportive business environment and employment creation. At the same time, the nexus between economic policy and private sector development and other areas such as environment and climate change, access to finance, vocational training and labor market, agricultural development and sustainable infrastructure development is becoming more and more important. Furthermore, different perspectives have to be taken into consideration when implementing economic policy and private sector development approaches in contexts of digitalization, climate change or fragile environments. 

Based on this background, the Digital Training Program on “Economic Policy and Growth" and "Private Sector Development” was developed and provides an overview to practitioners on actual topics, approaches and instruments. Participants will be informed on concepts and guiding sector strategies of German development cooperation. In addition, numerous guidelines and instruments from GIZ and international networks such as the Poverty Reduction, Equity and Growth Network (PEGneT), the Donor Committee for Enterprise Development (DCED) and the Aspen Network for Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) will be introduced and discussed. 

Through funding of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (Sustainable Economic Policy; Private Sector Cooperation Unit 110) and of Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) this online training program was developed. It has been developed jointly by the Sector Project Sustainable Economic Development, the GIZ Competence Center Economic Policy and Private Sector Development and the Academy for International Cooperation (AIZ). 

We wish you a lot of success!