Around 600 retired experts belonging to the Swisscontact Senior Expert Corps are giving small and medium enterprises in developing countries the full benefit of their knowledge and experience. In assignments lasting between one and three months, they are assisting firms that have been experiencing difficulties, for example with production, marketing or management. These small firms cannot afford international consultants and local ones are often not available. The retired experts from Switzerland are highly motivated and, in most cases, are able to halt the slide.
Throughout their entire professional lives, these senior experts have amassed great experience in their areas of expertise, in solving problems and training staff. All of this is now being passed on to the SMEs. The most common areas in which the advice is being sought are the processing of foodstuffs, the provision of hotel services and handicraft and small industrial firms. A recent development has been to dispatch bank officials to micro finance institutions.
The aim of the advice imparted is always to maintain the existing jobs and, wherever possible, to create new ones. As the turnover und profits of the companies receiving the support increase, so they are able to contribute to the economic development of their region. In this way, they are helping to reduce poverty.
