The aim of the Crafts Fund is to use the know-how of the German crafts sector for development cooperation. To this end, the Craft Fund provides funding to initiate partnerships between companies and measures by craft organizations and to facilitate innovative forms of cooperation at eye level.
The delegation trip to South Africa in May, for example, was aimed at initiating potential company partnerships. The eleven selected German craftsmen and women from the fashion and wood sectors visited South African craft enterprises that had been identified in advance by the local GIZ Business Scout. The result:
- 11 German Craftspeople, 8 from the fashion sector, 3 from the wood sector
- 18 South African craft enterprises, 10 from the fashion sector, 8 from the wood sector
- 9.396,03 km distance Frankfurt/Main - Cape Town
- resulted in 10 ideas for company partnerships
During the company visits, the South African colleagues explained their products, production processes and challenges. In the subsequent lively discussions, the potential partners got to know each other a little better.
Upon their return, the German participants drafted their ideas for company partnerships. These are now in the process of being developed together with the South Africans. In the case of a match, the result can be a partnership that is funded by the Skilled Crafts Fund.
