International Development Institutions and Programmes

Course summary (International Development Institutions and Programmes)

Objectives

The objectives of this learning unit are to:

• Acquire sufficient knowledge of the structure activities of the main International institutions, their programs and procurements of products, services and works.
• Become acquainted with the websites of these institutions, their procurement notices, loans and technical assistance programs, project databases, and the main portals announcing tenders and grants, databases of experts, etc.

In this module we will study the advantages and disadvantages of working in projects with funding from the main European and international institutions. We will analyze the business opportunities offered by these institutions.

Moreover, we will become acquainted with the websites of the different Institutions and with the main bilateral agencies working with developing or transition countries.

Various Financial and non-financial institutions have appeared in the last decades in the international community, with purposes varying from one another, but generally trying to promote economic and social development and fight poverty. These institutions can be classified into various types according to the nature of their key activities. Sometimes these organisations are known as "multilateral financial institutions" (or "Multilateral Development Banks"), but formally this term refers to the Group of banks (the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, EBRD, etc.) of a multilateral structure, that is, they belong to a series of countries which own their capital, and enjoy the benefit of having a number of different instruments to promote development in the target region.

Example of the course International Development Institutions and Programmes:

But some of the international institutions tendering projects are not of a financial nature, but rather provide technical assistance, International trade-related or research activities.

Both the financial and the non-financial institutions are an important source of business and employment opportunities for companies, individual experts and Non-Government Organisations (NGO's).

Business opportunities with International institutions represent approximately 60 billion UDS per year. Funds provided by the countries of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development), whether disbursed as grants, loans or credits for emerging and developing countries are used for financing programs and projects which contribute to the development and improvement of quality of life of beneficiary countries, these programs and projects in turn buy services and goods according to strict procedures, such as national or international tenders and calls for proposals.

The international institutions fund programs the following sectors:

- Rural development and agriculture
- transport
- Environment
- Health and medical equipment
- Energy
- Education and training
- Competitiveness, International trade and SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises)
- Infrastructure
- Water and sanitation
- Financial sector
- Modernization of the government
- Macroeconomic support
- Urban development
- Tourism and local development

INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL institutions (IFIs)

World Bank Group

The bank works worldwide to fight poverty through 5 agencies or units, in virtually all countries of the world and all areas of development, with loans, other financial instruments, grants, technical assistance, research and training.

African Development Bank (AfDB)

This bank works in African countries and grants and loans mainly. It grants loans and delivers technical assistance to public borrowers, but can also lend to private companies or banks.

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

This bank works in Pacific- Asian countries (it does not work in the Middle Eastern countries that geographically belong to Asian Continent). Among its most active customers we can find (according to the amount of loans received): China, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and India.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

Created in 1990 to support the economic transition towards the market economy in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, with headquarters located in London. It focuses on both the private and public sector and works in infrastructure, energy, SMEs, etc, and promoting the market economy.

Interamerican Development Bank (IABD)

It is the main multilateral Bank channeling funds to Latin America and the Caribbean. The main activity of the Bank is granting loans for carrying out projects and technical assistance for reforming the government structures; develop infrastructure, social development, etc.

EUROPEAN UNION PROGRAMS:
The European Union (EU) has a series of cooperation programs with 3th countries which offer important business opportunities: in consulting, supplies, works and infrastructure projects.

THE EUROPEAN UNION EXTERNAL AID PROGRAMMES (EUROPEAID):
The EU has a series of cooperation programmes with third countries which offer important business opportunities: in consulting, supplies, works and infrastructure projects. The main programmes are describe and how to spot tender and grant opportunities.

OTHER INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTIONS

The United Nations agencies and funds, Regional Development Banks, sub-regional banks, international aid agencies, both from countries –called bilateral agencies- and private-public partnerships for development, foundations, international NGOs, etc., all constitute a very interesting market for tenders, grants and individual contracts for experts. All will be reviewed briefly, their websites and procurement portals analysed and the type of announcements for tenders, grants and experts described.

Additionally, the websites of public and private portals announcing tenders, jobs and loans/projects, news, etc., will also be reviewed and described (Devbusiness.com, Devex.com; assortis.com; developmentaid.com, etc.)