Global Gateway Archives - Page 2 of 4 - Karsten Weitzenegger Consulting

Critical Thinking for a Better World: Karsten Weitzenegger and GPF Europe

Multilateralism does not sustain itself. It requires informed advocates, critical analysts, and engaged citizens who hold international institutions accountable to their founding principles. Karsten Weitzenegger supports Global Policy Forum Europe (GPF Europe) — one of Germany’s most respected independent think tanks for UN policy analysis and multilateral governance. What is GPF Europe? Founded in September … Read more

Where EU Development Knowledge Lives: Karsten Weitzenegger on Capacity4dev

Working effectively in EU-funded international cooperation means staying connected to where knowledge, methodology, and institutional memory converge. Karsten Weitzenegger is an active member of Capacity4dev — the European Commission’s official online platform for international cooperation professionals and the central knowledge hub of EU development policy. What is Capacity4dev? Created in 2009 and managed by the … Read more

The Global Gateway Investment Climate Reform Facility: Linking reforms to sustainable investment

The Global Gateway (GG) Investment Climate Reform (ICR) Facility is one of the most strategically interesting instruments at the interface of investment, reform and sustainable development. It connects Global Gateway initiatives with the often underestimated institutional side of economic transformation: rules, procedures and incentives that determine whether investment actually translates into growth, jobs and local … Read more

Portfolio: Global Gateway

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. Global Gateway North Macedonia: Led the evaluation of IPA II programmes on private sector development including internal market strengthening and EBRD SME schemes as Lead Evaluator, funded … Read more

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

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

Reimagining the Future of Entrepreneurship Support in East Africa: 25 Solutions that Could Change the Game

(tl;dr) East Africa’s startup scene is booming – but many incubators and accelerators are stuck in a cycle of donor dependence, generic programmes and weak investor trust. A new William Davidson Institute study maps these system failures and, more importantly, presents 25 concrete solutions: from revenue-generating “acceleration as a service” and sector‑specific support, to venture … Read more

Empowering Resilience: Female Entrepreneurship in Ukraine Amidst Conflict

In the midst of war, Ukrainian women are not only holding the fabric of society together – they are building the future of its economy. The webinar “Female Entrepreneurship in Times of War,” hosted on December 3, 2025, by the Secretariat of the Platform for the Reconstruction of Ukraine and Germany Trade and Invest GmbH, … Read more

EU Aid for Trade to Least Developed Countries: Critical Shortfalls, Missed Targets, and the Road to Reform

(tl:dr) EU aid for trade to least developed countries (LDCs) remains a critical aspect of the bloc’s development cooperation, aiming to address barriers to trade, foster economic growth, and contribute to poverty reduction. However, European Court of Auditors Special Report 17/2025 delivers a sobering assessment: needs are recognized and support is being delivered, but EU … Read more

The Ukraine Donor Platform: A Pillar of Coordinated Support

Today, we took the opportunity of hearing from Simon O’Connor, Head of Secretariat for the Ukraine Donor Platform (UDP, https://ukrainedonorplatform.com), in a detailed discussion about the platform’s crucial role in supporting Ukraine. Simon, an official with over 25 years of experience in policy and communications, took up his role in July 2024 and provided invaluable … Read more

Evaluation Insights: Private Sector Development in North Macedonia

Series Evaluation Insights for Policy and Programming Evaluation Report: IPA II 2017 and IPA II 2019 Annual Action Programmes Policy-Oriented Synthesis for Decision-Makers, Practitioners, and Stakeholders Context The Republic of North Macedonia is a candidate country for European Union membership, and private sector competitiveness is a cornerstone of its accession agenda. The country’s economy is … Read more

Catalyzing Capital: Empowering Africa’s Entrepreneurs for a Resilient Future

A recent discussion, “Empowering Africa’s Entrepreneurs: Catalyzing Private Investment for Growth,” convened at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference, tackled the critical challenge of unlocking private capital for Africa’s burgeoning startup ecosystem. Moderated by Mr. Lucy Dempy, the session brought together key stakeholders, including Anna Sophie Herken (Managing Director, GIZ), Obiageli Ezekwesili (Founder and President, Human Capital … Read more

Empowering Global Partnerships: The Role of Consultants in Team Europe Initiatives and the Global Gateway Strategy

The European Union’s vision for sustainable global partnerships is embodied in two key frameworks: Team Europe Initiatives (TEIs) and the Global Gateway (GG) strategy. These frameworks aim to foster coordinated efforts among EU Member States, mobilize investments, and drive transformative impacts in partner countries. However, bringing this vision to life requires the expertise and innovation … Read more