Germany's top development consultancies: A primer

Germany is one of the largest donors of development aid, and it boasts an impressive number of development consultancies scattered across the country. These companies partner with the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, or BMZ, often via the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, on projects in areas such as health, infrastructure and the environment. Here are some of Germany’s largest consultancies: ABG Short for Agrarwirtschaftliche Beratung Göttingen. Handles advisory, coaching and training programs for business development, financing, regional and rural development, planning and implementation. It focuses on complex economic, social, and environmental problems in transitional economies. Mainly active in central and eastern Europe, ABG works closely with the European Union, GIZ and the Asian Development Bank. Abu Consult Berlin Founded in 1991 and based in Berlin, Abu Consult has specialized in aiding democratic and economic reform in transitional societies, especially in central and eastern European countries, newly independent states, southeast Asia and north Africa. This includes the development of social infrastructure and the reforms of political and social institutions. Adelphi Consult Specializes in developing and implementing sustainability strategies for companies, public sector institutions and international organizations with a focus on eco-efficiency, innovation and corporate social responsibility. Most clients are German companies and EU directorates. AFC Consultants International Founded in 1973 and headquartered in Bonn. The company specializes in management consulting for agribusiness and food industries, and within regional and community development cooperations. Other fields of expertise are decentralization, management consulting, the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, natural resources management, governance and decentralization. In 2007, GOPA Worldwide Consultants acquired 70 percent of the shares of AFC Consultants International. Ageg Consultants Founded in 1986 and based in Kirchheim unter Teckis. It is a cooperative of specialists in various sectors relevant to development, including economic development, conflict resolution, poverty reduction, global health, environment, and sustainable tourism. AHT Group A management and engineering consultancy in more than 25 countries. In the fields of water, waste, environment and agriculture, it provides training, management, project development, and implementation. Diwi Germany GmbH Established in 1971 and based in Essen. Diwi is a group of consulting engineers, specializing in the planning, design, and construction of roads, bridges, buildings, airports, and harbors and was established. Additional areas of expertise are water supply, sanitation projects, rural and urban development. Diwi is registered with most major national and international donor agencies and government authorities such as the World Bank, African Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank. The company employs 200 people worldwide, and its turnover is estimated to be €9 million ($11.9 million). Dorsch Gruppe More than 60 years of experience and about 1,600 staff in more than 140 countries and €1.5 billion in annual investments planned and supervised. The Dorsch Group provides consulting and engineering services, with a focus on project development and management, structural engineering, industrial construction, urban planning, water, transport, airports, architecture and environment. Eco Consulting Group Established in 1992 with headquarters in Oberaula and three branch offices in Germany. Eco’s areas of expertise include good governance, natural resources management, rural development and food security, domestic energy, basic education, sustainable tourism and disaster risk management. Its four departments: Eco Consult helps to design and implement national development and poverty reduction strategies, and assists in multilateral policy development. Eco Education offers advice to governments and organizations all over the world on the formulation, implementation and evaluation of educational policy options and identified programs and projects. Eco Nature publishes guidebooks on the conservation of protected areas worldwide. EcoTravel organizes study trip with specialists to promote lesser known areas of the world. All four departments seek to support the sustainable management of natural resources. Epos Health Consultants Based in Bad Homburg and founded in 1985 as an independent worldwide provider of consulting services in the health sector: health sector reform and health financing, primary health care, sexual and reproductive health, HIV and AIDS health facilities and services. Epos client range from health care institutions and government department, insurance funds, regional and local authorities, to primary, secondary and tertiary health care providers, and all major institutions of international development cooperation. GITEC Consult GmbH GITEC has been active in more than 160 countries since its foundation in 1954. The Düsseldorf-based company works on projects involving water supply and sanitation, irrigation systems, roads, schools, hospitals and housing, social and commercial infrastructure in combination with the conservation and management of natural resources and reforestation, agricultural productionas well as health education and family planning. GFA Consulting Group Founded in 1982 and based in Hamburg, GFA is active around the world through numerous subsidiaries and partner companies. Its strategic fields of operation are private sector development, financial systems development, public sector and fund management, labor markets and human resources, agriculture and rural development, climate change, natural resources & certification, health and HIV and AIDS, water & sanitation. GOPA Consulting Group GOPA, founded 1965 and based in Bad Homburg, is one of Germany’s most acclaimed consultancies. It was named as one of the Devex Top 40 Development Innovators in 2012. It has project offices in more than 60 countries and maintains representative offices in Belgium, Brazil, Guatemala, South Africa, Vietnam and the United States. GOPA, in English, stands for Association for Organization, Planning and Training. Icon Institute GmbH & Co. KG Established in 1975 and headquartered in Cologne, with branch offices in France and Chile, Icon Institute is a family-run company that comprises specialized institutes on education and training, the public and private sectors, engineering and communication technology. Integration Consulting Group Established in 1976 and based in Frankfurt, Integration provides technical assistance and training, and carries out a wide range of consulting assignments in emerging markets and developing countries. The group’s main fields of operation are export and investment promotion, vocational and technical training, small and micro-enterprise promotion, institutional strengthening, and monitoring and evaluation. The group has three departments: Integration environment & energy, International Management Consultants and Integration Ikesol. IP Institut für Projektplanung The Institute for Project Planning was founded in 1979 and is based in Stuttgart. It offers services for firms and public institutions in the areas of management consultancy, technology transfer, environmental protection, and rural and public sector development. MVV Decon Based in Bad Homburg, and created in 2008 after the merger of DECON Deutsche Energie-Consult Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH and MVV Consulting GmbH. Active in the fields of energy, environment protection, water supply, telecommunications, construction and vocational training. Particip Established in 1989 and based in Freiburg, with offices in Belgium and Senegal. Particip delivers monitoring and evaluation, capacity and organizational development, technical assistance, policy advice, as well as management and policy guidelines in areas such as project cycle management, environment, decentralization, rural development, human resources development and training and facilitation. Rodeco Consulting Founded in 1973 and based in Bad Homburg. The company focuses its attention on infrastructure and institutional development – particularly in the fields of solid waste, wastewater, water supply, water resource management, public utility management and training. Rodeco runs about 100 projects all over the world. Saniplan Founded in 1982 and based in Frankfurt am Main, Saniplan focuses on four sectors: health care and hygienic matters, drinking water supply, environmental sanitation and social investment funds. Sequa Based in Bonn, created in 1991 by the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry, or DIHK, and the German Confederation of Small Businesses and Skilled Crafts, or ZDH, in order to support the German economy and its development endeavors. It promotes small and medium-sized enterprises, public-private partnerships and German activities abroad, and it offers vocational training by specialists and leaders from all over Europe. Other German consultancies: - Como Consulting, founded 1993 and based in Hamburg. - Fichtner Engineering and Consulting Services, founded 1922 and based in Stuttgart. - Germax, founded 1974 and based in Aachen. - HEAT or Habitat, Energy, Application and Technology, founded 1992 and based in Glashuetten. - Iak Agrar Consulting, based in Leipzig and established 2001 after a merger by the Ace Agrar Consulting GmbH Einbeck and Integrarkooperation GmbH. - IGIP Gruppe or Ingenieur-Gesellschaft für internationale Planungsaufgaben mbH, founded 1963 and based in Darmstadt. - Lahmeyer International, founded 1890 in Frankfurt am Main. - Pohl Consulting & Associates, founded 1987 and headquartered in Berlin. - Team Consult or Technology, Automation & Management Inc., founded 1985 and based in Hamburg.