Economic Development & Employment

What Europe can learn from business environment reform in the Western Balkans

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The European Union and the Western Balkans are not separated by a simple divide between good and bad regulation. Across countries, governments have adopted regulatory impact assessment, public consultation, digital services and administrative simplification. The more consequential difference lies in consistent implementation across the full regulatory cycle. EU Member States generally have stronger systems for … Read more

Circular by Nature: A New Policy Agenda for Bio-Based Materials

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Circular economy and bio-based materials policies have developed in silos for too long. This joint report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the Latin America and Caribbean Circular Economy Coalition proposes a unified five-strategy framework, backed by real business cases, that could unlock USD 10 trillion in annual opportunities by 2030 and deliver a third … Read more

A Digital Bridge Between Europe and Kenya: Opportunities for Connectivity, Youth and Business

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(tl;dr) EU–Kenya Digital Partnership boosts connectivity, skills and innovation, linking youth, schools and SMEs to affordable high-speed internet, AI collaboration and new digital jobs for sustainable, shared growth. Kenya has become the first African country to establish a formal Digital Dialogue with the European Union, a milestone reached in March 2026 that positions this East … Read more

Plastic Packaging and Food Waste in Latin American Retail

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(TL;DR) A GIZ-commissioned study examines how plastic packaging practices in supermarkets across Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico intersect with food loss and waste (FLW), concluding that material substitution alone cannot solve either crisis: systemic redesign of retail models, supply chains, regulatory frameworks, and consumer engagement must be pursued simultaneously and coherently, since up to 56% of … Read more

Skills on the Move: Key Takeaways from the DC dVET BarCamp

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(TL;DR) On 6 May 2026, the DC dVET kicked off its anniversary BarCamp webinar series with “Skills on the Move: How Migration Intersects with Dual VET”. Keynote speaker Helen Dempster (CGD Europe) argued that TVET investments and labour mobility pathways must be designed together from the start, not treated as separate tracks. A panel covered … Read more

Evaluation Insights: Strengthening Ukrainian SME Competitiveness Under Wartime Conditions

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Series Evaluation Insights for Policy and Programming ReACT4UA / EU4Business — Central Project Evaluation GIZ, Commissioned by BMZ | Co-financed by the EU and Norad | Ukraine | 2020–2025 Context Ukraine’s path toward EU accession has unfolded against the backdrop of one of the most severe crises in contemporary European history. The ReACT4UA / EU4Business … Read more

Supporting Internally Displaced Businesses

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A methodology for stabilization and reconstruction, drawing on Ukraine’s experience, local economic development practice, and gender-responsive programming. Framing the Challenge When war displaces not only people but entire enterprises, the economic fabric of a country tears in ways that humanitarian aid alone cannot repair. Ukraine’s full-scale war since 2022 has produced one of the most … Read more

Climate Responsibility Meets Development Impact: Karsten Weitzenegger and the Alliance for Development and Climate

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The Foundation Development and Climate Alliance supports actors in their voluntary engagement.

Climate protection and sustainable development are two sides of the same coin. Karsten Weitzenegger Consulting is a registered supporter of the Stiftung Allianz für Entwicklung und Klima (Foundation Alliance for Development and Climate), Germany’s leading platform connecting voluntary climate action with measurable development impact in the Global South. What is the Alliance for Development and … Read more

Portfolio: Economic Development & Employment

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World map with 40+ project locations marked

The following references reflect a track record of Karsten Weitzenegger built over more than 30 years of consulting and evaluation work across Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. Economic Development & Employment Jordan: Conducted the central project evaluation of the E4DE entrepreneurship and sustainable employment programme as Senior Evaluator, funded by BMZ via GIZ. Sierra … Read more

Consulting in the EU Global Gateway Framework: Opportunities for Independent Experts

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EU Global Gateway

What Is the Global Gateway? The EU Global Gateway is Europe’s flagship external investment strategy, aiming to build smart, clean, and secure connections in digital, energy, and transport sectors while strengthening health, education, and research systems worldwide. Originally targeting EUR 300 billion in mobilised investment by 2027, the strategy has already surpassed that goal, reaching … Read more

Resilient Financing for Dual VET in Informal Economies

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Key Takeaways from the 4th DC dVET BarCamp On 24 February 2026, practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and development partners gathered at the 4th BarCamp co-hosted by DC dVET and the International Labor Organization (ILO) to address a pressing question: how can we build resilient and sustainable financing models for dual vocational education and training (VET) in … Read more

Designing for Empowerment: How Participatory Design Thinking Can Transform Economic Inclusion Programs for Women

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Economic inclusion programs are already reaching tens of millions of women, yet too many of these initiatives treat women as beneficiaries rather than co‑designers of change. The Partnership for Economic Inclusion (PEI) has mapped over 400 economic inclusion programs in 88 countries, benefiting more than 70 million people; 90 percent target women, but only about … Read more