© Helvetas / Flurina Rothenberger

Our Expertise and Services: Private Sector Development

© Helvetas / Flurina Rothenberger

Helvetas seeks to increase the income, job opportunities and resilience of disadvantaged women and men. For this purpose, Helvetas collaborates with private and public sector as well as civil society partners to support the sustainable growth of micro and small enterprises across economic sectors.

Why private sector development matters

Private sector initiatives have the potential to foster development by providing and generating better quality jobs, promoting decent labor standards, advancing inclusion and gender balance, strengthening skills and furthering technological advances.

In developing economies micro, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) often lack the resources and capacity to create new jobs and promote economic development. Helvetas supports the strengthening of these actors and the improvement of the framework conditions for the establishment and development of entrepreneurial initiatives that positively contribute to economic development.

What we do

  • By increasing efficiency for both farm and non-farm market systems, Helvetas enhances incomes and job opportunities, as well as resilience. We foster closer and stronger linkages between producers, entrepreneurs, industries and markets.
  • Helvetas supports the development of local markets and certified agricultural commodity chains, including organic rice and cocoa. We also strengthen labor market systems to create jobs and launch enterprises, with special attention paid to disadvantaged groups like women and youth.
  • We recognize the important role of the private sector in innovation and economic growth, both integral elements in enhancing social and political stability in our partner countries.
  • Helvetas also advocates for sustainable, fair, resilient and environmentally responsible market systems that provide rural and urban populations with the products and services needed.
© Helvetas / Simon B. Opladen
© Helvetas / Simon B. Opladen
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© Helvetas / Simon B. Opladen
© Helvetas / Simon B. Opladen
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© Helvetas/Flurina Rothenberger
urban farmer Ulriche Hontonnou, Benin. © Helvetas/Flurina Rothenberger
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What we offer

The private sector development advisory services team consults for Helvetas’ programs as well as external clients in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. Our services include:

  • Expertise in sustainable market systems and private sector development in farm and non-farm sectors, and financial inclusion.
  • Long-standing experience in linking producers with markets of certified produce (such as organic and fair-trade value chains) and in facilitating knowledge sharing.
  • Advice on designing internal control and quality management systems as per the requirements of the market.
  • Training and capacity building on inclusive market systems development (MSD) / making markets work for the poor (M4P).
  • Establishing and implementing private-public development partnerships that benefit disadvantaged women and men to increase income and employment.
  • Advice on financial inclusion, in particular the strengthening of self-help credit and saving programs, the institutional development of rural microfinance institutions, and value chain finance.

Contact our team

Our multilingual advisory team offers wide-ranging thematic expertise and has in-depth experience in navigating complex processes. Helvetas’ work builds on over 60 years of experience in more than 30 countries.

Contact our sustainable and inclusive economies experts
Senior Advisor Financial Inclusion and Business Management
Senior Advisor Value Chain & Market Development
Director Advisory Services / Senior Advisor Sustainable Agriculture & Extension
Senior Advisor Private Sector Development
Advisor Humanitarian Response, Skills, Jobs and Income
Advisor Financial Inclusion and Private Sector Engagement

Selected projects

Helvetas develops and guides projects. To be sustainable, they must be locally embedded. We support our partners in effectively organizing projects and processes and assist local authorities to better assume their responsibilities.

© Fatoumata Diabate
Private Sector Development

Dynamizing Agriculture for the Youth

© Helvetas / Patrick Rohr
Laos Private Sector Development

Good Tea Fetches Good Prices

© Helvetas / Simon B. Opladen
Nepal Private Sector Development

Riverbed Vegetables

Guatemala Private Sector Development

Women´s Agro-entrepreneurship in the Highlands

© Helvetas
Vietnam Private Sector Development

Fighting Poverty with Responsible Tourism

Vietnam_Biotrade_Woman | © Helvetas
Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar Private Sector Development

Ethical Trade in Botanicals

© Helvetas
Kyrgyzstan Private Sector Development

Creating Jobs to Escape Poverty

© Helvetas / Patrick Rohr
Bosnia-Herzegovina Private Sector Development

Making Markets and Jobs

© Helvetas
Bangladesh Private Sector Development

A healthy diet for women and children

© Helvetas / Simon B. Opladen
Bolivia Private Sector Development

Cocoa harvesting, protecting forests

Anfanni 2023 | © Simon B. Opladen
Benin Private Sector Development

Encouraging Rural Youth to Become Entrepreneurs

© Helvetas
Tajikistan Climate & Disaster Resilience

For a Self-Determined Life in Dignity

Albania Private Sector Development

Making Markets Work for the Youth

International bloggers visited Kyrgyzstan | © Helvetas
Kyrgyzstan Private Sector Development

Sustainable Winter Tourism Development Project

Vietnam, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos, India Partnership & Capacity Development

Value Chain Capacity Building Network

Tanzania Private Sector Development

Climate-Smart Organic Cotton

© Helvetas
India WASH & Water Governance

Fair and Good – for People and Planet

© Helvetas
Vietnam Private Sector Development

Swiss Import Promotion Program

© Helvetas/Singye Wangchuk
Global Private Sector Development

Networking for Employment and Income

Global Private Sector Development

Postharvest Management in Sub-Saharan Africa

Bangladesh Private Sector Development

Disability Inclusion in Bangladesh

Kyrgyzstan Private Sector Development

Sustainable Tourism Strengthens People and Nature

Tanzania Private Sector Development

Save Safe Food Project-Hifadhi Nafaka Salama (SSF)

Vietnam Private Sector Development

Conservation-Friendly Enterprise Development

© Helvetas / Luigi Baldelli
Madagascar Private Sector Development

Boosting Income to Boost Rainforest Conservation

© Helvetas/Andrew Bartlett
Laos Private Sector Development

Towards a Greener and More Profitable Future

Vietnam Sustainable and Inclusive Economies

Circular Economy Cocoa: From Bean to Bar

© Helvetas Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan Climate & Disaster Resilience

Green Economy for People and Environment

Peru Private Sector Development

MiCacao Project

Nepal Voice, Inclusion & Cohesion

Support for returning migrant workers

Ukraine Private Sector Development

Fair Opportunities for a Fresh Start in Business

© Axel Fassio
Madagascar Climate & Disaster Resilience

Growing Cocoa and Protecting the Forest at the Same Time

© Helvetas
Georgia Private Sector Development

Strengthening Local Economies in Georgia

Peru Private Sector Development

SeCompetitivo Programme - Phase III

Rural Access

Lack of transport infrastructure makes it impossible for the poor to escape the poverty trap. We help people get better access to markets, schools, and hospitals.

Climate & Disaster Resilience

Every year, we support over 1,000,000 people in adapting to climate change, reducing the risks of disasters, sustainably managing natural resources, and conserving nature.

Education and Vocational Skills

Lack of education perpetuates inequality because poor countries cannot compete economically without a skilled workforce.