Africa Corporate Governance Program

01.02.2014 - 30.06.2020

The regional program aims to improve corporate governance policies and practices in selected countries in Africa. By promoting good corporate governance operational efficiency and performance of companies can be improved.

Local Economic Development, Phase I

01.01.2013 - 31.12.2023

SECO is supporting a local economic development programme in selected municipalities in South Africa located in the Kwa-Zulu Natal Province.

Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises SCORE, Phase II

01.01.2013 - 31.12.2018

SCORE is a practical modular training and workplace improvement programme to increase the productivity of SMEs while promoting cleaner production and respect for workers? rights. SCORE demonstrates best international practice in manufacturing and service sectors and helps SMEs to participate in global supply chains.

The Sustainable Trade Initiative IDH

01.07.2012 - 31.12.2021

IDH is a neutral convener that brings together companies in a safe pre-competitive arena, acts as facilitator to organize cooperation between companies, NGOs, governments, knowledge institutes, banks and trade unions. IDH kick-starts sustainability programs by co-funding and de-risking private investments, and helps exploring new concepts that will help create scalable, self-sustaining solutions that deliver impact at scale on Sustainable Development Goals, with a focus on: improved livelihoods of smallholder farmers and increased, decent incomes for workers to help end poverty (SDG1), promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth (SDG 8), improve gender equality (SDG 5), nutrition (SDG 2) and help to halt deforestation (SDG 15) and reduce toxic loading.

Biotrade

28.05.2012 - 31.12.2015

The Project "Biotrade South Africa" will foster the development, branding and export of innovative cosmetics and food products based on indigenous, natural ingredients collected in the wild in an environmentally and biodiversity sustaining manner. New nature-based products have both prospects of high value (thanks to up-scale demand in developed markets) and high employment (due to labour-intensive collection methods). Hence, the sustainable collection of natural ingredients can contribute to both value addition of biodiversity, and thereby its conservation, as well as income generation for rural, disadvantaged population groups.

The Project will be implemented by PhytoTrade Africa, a not-for-profit Natural Products Trade Association in Southern Africa.

Industrial Energy Efficiency

31.10.2009 - 30.06.2016

The project is a collaboration between the UNIDO, the Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI) and of Energy (DoE) financed by SECO and DFID (UK). The project aims at a shift in industrial energy use practices in South Africa and possibly in the Southern African Region, with a view for industry to achieve a greater energy efficiency, in order to improve energy security and ensure continuity in power supply.