Farmers of three countries refuse to get into debts and instead remember their traditional knowledge, which has been handed down from generation to generation. Innovative and versatile, they secure sustainable harvests, develop their own markets and contribute to the conservation of the environment.

Strengthening the capacity of development actors to respond to challenges in their own, yet competent way - this is what EED regards as principal task of consultancy work with its overseas partners. Know-how transfer has already a long tradition in EED's predecessor organisations, with the establishment of EED, support of partner organisations through consultancy was incorporated in the constitution as one of three EED - tasks - along with financial support and secondment of personnel.

The Consultancy Desk was established to fulfil this function. In close cooperation with EED's Regional Desks it makes the necessary expertise available to partner organisations. The precise needs are either defined by the partner organisation itself or may emerge from the dialogue between Regional Desks and the partner organisations.

One specific task of the Desk is the facilitation of consultancy assignments. The service includes assistance in drafting terms of reference, identifying suitable consultants, support in developing contracts with them, making  available and administering funds for the assignments, accompanying the consultation process, managing quality on result documentation and follow up. In all tasks the Consultancy Desk cooperates with EED's Regional Desks.

Consultancy assignments are to some extent also administered by EED's Regional Desks themselves, as long as it concerns their respective region and numerous consultations are commissioned by partner organisations directly. Partners frequently contract local experts bilaterally in order to get assistance in capacity development or for implementing specific projects. If not required specifically, the Consultancy Desk is not involved into those assignments and may not even know about them.

The Consultancy Desk undertakes own activities in two main areas. Firstly, on capacity building for groups of partner organisations and, secondly, on supporting, training, qualifying or backstopping consultants. The Consultancy Desk has expertise in participatory development approaches, organisational development, community-based disaster preparedness, financial management and institutional sustainability. Frequently, the staff members of the Consultancy desk may even conduct single assignments with individual partner organisations themselves. However, since the availability of qualified local experts is constantly growing, these services are increasingly carried out by consultants from the respective country or region.

In a number of countries local consultants or consultancy firms have been entrusted with the special role of providing so-called "Local Support Service" (LSS) to EED partners. This generally implies supporting partner organisations in their capacity development, in cooperation with EED and in dialogue and networking. In most cases, the Consultancy Desk facilitated the establishment of these LSS in the particular country or region. Once settled, the respective Regional Desk becomes the primary contact point for the LSS, while the Consultancy Desk remains in charge of the overall coordination, of funding and administrative aspects. However, arrangements differ from case to case. Currently, EED has contracted 21 consultants or consultancy firms in various countries with the provision of LSS services.

The Consultancy Desk furthermore accompanies those consultants, who are contracted directly by EED but based in our dialogue offices overseas. Presently, the Desk is supporting the establishment of Regional Offices. The first office was inaugurated at the beginning of 2008 in Botswana. In the near future Offices in Ethiopia, Costa Rica and Papua New Guinea will follow.