Making an impact – consulting tailored to company needs

To meet the specific needs of its clients, DEG offers comprehensive advisory services and promotional programmes in addition to long-term financing. Its objective is to enable successful development on a permanent basis.

DEG's Business Support Services (BSS) serve to further improve project performance and developmental impacts. One new BSS offering is people management. Many companies face major challenges when it comes to their employees' qualifications and skills. People management gives clients a focussed HR and organisational development plan in line with corporate goals and developed on the basis of an on-site input analysis and an online self-assessment performed at the start of a project.

DEG offers the opportunity of financing pioneer investments, especially for new innovative companies, through its Upscaling programme. DEG makes a maximum of EUR 500,000 available to this end, to be repaid if the project is successful. This enables companies to expand innovative business models that generate positive development effects. In 2017, for example, DEG supported Hamburg-based BIO-LUTIONS, which developed a new procedure fur using plant waste as packaging material, in establishing and expanding production of biologically degradable packaging.

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The develoPPP.de programme enabling German and other European companies to realise developmental measures is co-financed from funds of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Belgian clothing manufacturer Van der Erve, which operates two modern production facilities in Ethopia, is setting up a vocational training centre for skilled workers there, for example.

The “Climate Partnerships with the Private Sector” programme on behalf of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) aims to promote environmentally-friendly technologies in developing countries and emerging economies.

Environmentally and socially responsible planning and action are important prerequisites for sustainable development. All companies whose projects receive DEG financing commitment must agree to comply with international environmental and social standards as well as national requirements. These include the environmental, social and human rights Performance Standards of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in their current form as revised in a broad-based process involving DEG, and the core labour standards of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

By agreeing environmental and social action plans, DEG helps to further improve conditions in the co-financed companies. DEG supports the businesses closely for the duration of the project, and ensures that action plans are implemented.

An evaluation of environmental and social management at DEG-financed banks and funds published in 2017 demonstrates the positive impact of DEG's support. The study shows that these DEG clients continuously intensify and streamline the management of environmental and social risks.

Legal notice:
The information contained in this online Annual Report 2017 is based on KfW’s Financial Report 2017, which you can download here. Should this online Annual Report 2017, despite the great care taken in preparation of its content, contain any contradictions or errors compared to the Financial Report, the KfW Financial Report 2017 takes priority.