Sustainable Development with an Entrepreneurial Approach!

Following its spin-off from the Bern University of Applied Sciences
in 2022, the CDC has become an agile relay station in the field of international development cooperation.

Thanks to its close links with education and research
institutions as well as private sector partners,

the CDC can reliably mobilise high-quality research, training and consultancy expertise as well as the necessary implementation capacities.

After its spin-off from Bern University of Applied Sciences in 2022, the CDC has become an agile relay station in the field of international development cooperation. Thanks to its close ties with educational and research institutions, as well as partners from the private sector, the CDC can reliably mobilize high-quality research, training, and consulting expertise, as well as the necessary implementation capacities.

years proven track record

research, implementation and funding partners

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Why we get involved

«In many countries of the global South, there is a significant issue of youth unemployment and emigration of young people. A high-quality vocational education and training system plays a crucial role in finding a solution. Switzerland has a wealth of experience in this area that can be adapted and utilised.»

Why we get involved

«Climate change is happening and increasingly affecting our lives. Decisive global action is needed to meet the agreed net-zero CO2 targets on time!»

Why we get involved

«Protecting against natural hazards and rebuilding after natural disasters and conflicts requires in-depth expertise and enormous resources. Global solidarity is needed!»

Why we get involved

«The role of educational institutions is to develop individuals. This includes looking beyond one's own discipline and cultural background. At the CDC, we offer interesting opportunities for personal and professional development.»

Why we get involved

«Every year, hundreds of thousands of young men and women leave their home countries due to a lack of prospects. Their lives as migrant workers are often precarious.»

Why we get involved

«Migration and the resulting remittance flows have an enormous impact on development. Given their importance for households in low-income countries, migration processes, transaction costs and the use of remittances should be optimised.»

Why we get involved

«The construction sector is one of the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases.»
«It would be fatal for the achievement of climate goals if sustainable building materials and construction processes were not consistently favored worldwide in the future.»

Why we get involved

«The fair structuring of the value chains of numerous forestry and agricultural products such as timber, cocoa, coffee and cashew nuts can unlock enormous development potential.»

Why we get involved

«Despite global progress, 700 million people still live in extreme poverty...

This is a humanitarian scandal!»

Why we get involved

«Issues such as climate change, migration flows and polarisation between rich and poor are also highly relevant to our prosperity and security.»

Why we get involved

«We have the tools and the knowledge to solve our problems - let's start together!»

Why we get involved

«Every time we replace 1 tonne of steel or cement with wood to construct a building, we reduce carbon emissions by 2.2 tonnes.»

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Thematic basis:

The CDC is based on the following UN-Sustainabale Development Goals:

CDC Triple Bottom Line Approach

Its consistently customer and demand-oriented approach makes the CDC an attractive partner for a wide range of interventions. The CDC aims to ensure that projects are economically, socially and ecologically successful and sustainable.

Fields of work

Vocational training and labour market programmes

CDC supports training initiatives at all levels, from informal provision through apprenticeships to tertiary qualifications and continuing education. With its roots in tertiary education and close partnership links with the Swiss VET sector, the CDC has proven expertise and experience in co-developing and contextualising educational initiatives.

Sustainable value chains

CDC has solid expertise and experience in analysing and developing sustainable business models and value chains based on fair trade, circular economy and climate protection. Auf die Ressource Holz legt das CDC einen speziellen Fokus.

Organic building materials and circular construction

The construction sector is one of the world’s largest CO2 emitters. The use of local and renewable building materials, combined with innovative and circular construction processes, can have a huge impact on climate change. These strategies can also be an economic advantage, especially for countries in the South. The CDC offers in-depth research and implementation expertise.

Natural hazard protection and reconstruction

>The CDC provides expertise for protection against extreme natural events and for sustainable reconstruction after natural disasters and conflicts through international cooperation projects.

'Access for all'

Using both technical and methodological innovations, CDC promotes access to education, financial and insurance services in regions and for target groups that still have inadequate access.

Labour Migration

Migration flows due to emergencies or lack of prospects are a challenge for both countries of origin and destination. We use systemic analysis to develop innovative solutions that can make a significant difference to the lives of migrants and their families.

CDC Services

The CDC provides a wide range of services to both private and public clients. As an intermediary, the CDC uses its networks and close links with educational and research institutions and the private sector to provide expertise and implementation capacity.

Education and Training

We develop and coordinate tailor-made training programmes for our cooperation partners. These can take place in Switzerland, in the countries of intervention or virtually. As part of our projects and the global CDC partner network, we offer exciting internships and also organise exclusive study and exposure trips ‘on demand’.

Policy advice and strategy development

We support and guide policymakers in strategic processes and the development of thematic programmes based on sound needs assessments.

Executive support and coaching

We support higher education institutions by providing advice, coaching and best practice to management and teaching staff. This includes infrastructure planning and review, curriculum development and international networking.

Project planning and implementation support

We support our clients’ initiatives at all stages, from project definition and feasibility studies, through planning workshop facilitation and project implementation, to the development and application of monitoring and performance measurement approaches.

Performance assessment and management

On behalf of funding agencies and foundations, we carry out professional project evaluations and impact audits, and provide on-site support to project and programme managers in planning and implementing improvements.