The German Development Service (DED) is one of the leading European development agencies for personnel cooperation. Almost 1,200 technical advisors are currently working in more than 40 countries worldwide to assist local institutions in their aims to fight poverty, promote a self-determined, sustainable development and to preserve natural resources. In Namibia, the DED currently focuses on support in the following fieldsof work :

· Prevention of HIV and AIDS

· Rural Development and Natural Resource Management

· SME Promotion

DED can offer support through the secondment of either DED technical a dvisors and/or DED junior advisors.

Partner institutions can request the support of a DED technical advisor for a period of two to five years. These are trained professionals in their respective field of expertise and have several years of work experience in Germany or another foreign country. DED will make sure to recruit persons with the appropriate skills suited best fit the requested project and position. In addition DED will provide

· payment of the salary and medical insurance and other overheads related to the placement;

· tailor-made training prior to the placement and continuous coaching during placement of the technical experts;

· support for planning, monitoring and evaluation measures if so requested by the partner organisations.

DED will request the partner organisations to also contribute to the placement. These contributions usually consist of the following:

· provision of office space, basic hard office furniture including a computer with 24/7 internet access and a cell phone allowance;

· payment of the rental costs for the DED technical advisor with an allowance to cater for annual rental increases;

· access to a pool car or reimbursement for the use of a private vehicle for business related trips.

Partner institutions can request the support of a junior advsior for the period of one year. These are fully trained, highly motivated professionals between the age of 23 and 28. 

DED will request the partner organisation to provide a functional working environment for the technical advisor. A close cooperation with the key staff in the partner organisation should be ensured. DED is responsible for all other costs.

A junior advisor can be seconded on the basis of a request received from the partner organisation including information on the aims of the placement and a brief job description. On the basis of this request and discussions between DED and the partner, a Memorandum of Agreement will be signed.

During the entire secondment, the junior advisor will be accompanied by an experienced DED technical advisor. A junior advisor’s  contract cannot be extended beyond the duration of one year.

DED will consider the placement of a technical advisor / junior technical advisor on the basis of a request by the partner institution. This request should include:

· a brief description of the institution or organisation and its goals (incl. an
organisational chart)

· a description of the project or program for which the advisor is to be
recruited (including aims, objectives and activities)

· the desired duration of the placement

If the request conforms to its requirements, DED will enter into discussions with the requesting organisation, usually in form of a strategic planning workshop. In this process the aims of the intervention, clear targets and the job description of the advisor will be agreed upon. Subsequently a Memorandum of Agreement will be signed by both parties.

DED will then proceed to recruit a suitable candidate for the position. Once the advisor has taken up his/her position more concrete monitoring and reporting agreements will be struck with the partner organisation. On the basis of yearly monitoring visits, extensions of the placement will be agreed upon. 

Procedures - read more...