In partnership with GIZ, D^2 and GFA’s Digital Learning for Impact Team designed and developed the training programme “Digital Transformation for Sustainable Economic Development for Development Practitioners.” This programme equips GIZ colleagues in internal and external structures with the skills to critically assess emerging technologies, identify the opportunities and challenges of digital transformation in partner countries’ economies, and to harness data-driven insights. It integrates best practices and real-life case studies to provide practical know-how. 

“We analysed existing training programs to see what was already available. However, we found that most existing trainings didn’t fully cover the intersection of development cooperation, sustainable economic development, and digitalization. It remained a niche topic without a direct application to our work. That’s when we decided to develop our own training program”. – Laura-Kristin Gombert, GIZ Advisor for Private Sector Development and Digitalisation

The training is structured into four modules: 

1) Introduction to Digital Transformation: Foundational knowledge about concepts, technology and data for inclusive and sustainable digital transformation. 

2) Digital Transformation of the Economy: Digital ecosystems, innovation power of start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises, data-driven business models, platforms, industry 4.0. 

3) Just Transition Using Digital Transformation: Green economy, leveraging digital technologies, green and digital skills, data-informed policymaking to leave no one behind 

4) Policies for the Digital Transformation of the Economy: Integrating economic and digital policies, digital participation, knowledge exchange, fair data markets, data security.