Our expertise
IBF has managed projects in more than 100 countries, from Chile to China, Russia to South Africa.
We are able to draw upon the knowledge and experience of an extensive network of in-house and external development consultants, both local and international.
Our technical and professional expertise is based on 5 core areas: Education, Social Development, Economic Development, Institutional Support, Consumer Protection
Education
IBF International Consulting (formerly known as the "Institut Belge de Formation") works with various organisations (governments, education institutions and NGOs) to promote the development of education policy and systems in many countries worldwide.
Our experts have experience in the following areas:
- Education Policy Development (Policy Analysis and Policy Advice)
- Education Strategy Development (at national, local and institutional levels)
- Development of Education Systems
- Education Management
- Teacher Training
- Curriculum Development and
- Development of Teaching and Training Programmes and Materials
Our expertise covers all the fields of education from Basic Literacy to highly specialised Vocational Training:
- Literacy and Post-Literacy
- Non-Formal Education
- Primary Education
- Secondary Education
- Tertiary Education
- Higher Education
- Distance-Learning
- Vocational Education and Training and
- Management Training
Social Development
In this day and age of development and co-operation, it is an accepted fact that human and social development should be at the core of international technical co-operation. Meaningful development, whether in the economic sphere or in the field of institutional and political reform, can only take place if it translates into real benefits and progress for human beings. According to this guideline, the Social Development Department links its core business with 4 sectors:
Labour market restructuring
- Labour market analysis and employment policy advice
- Social dialogue
- Human Resources development
- Social Inclusion and employability (European Employment Strategy) and
- Equal opportunity for all
Strengthening of the social services sector
- Support to social security reforms
- Reorganisation of social services institutions
- Advisory services on legislation, regulations and policies
- Training for individuals and organisations
Strengthening of Civil Society & Democracy
- Advisory services on legislation, regulations and policies
- NGO support
- Community development
- Training and information programmes
Promotion of social justice, equal opportunities & human rights
- Prevention of discrimination (Horizontal integration of gender and human rights)
- Promotion of gender equality
- Promoting personal rights and opportunities of various vulnerable groups (including minorities, children, persons with disabilities)
- Advisory services on legislation, regulations and policy for the promotion and protection of human rights and social standards
- Formulation and management of Awareness raising campaigns
Economic Development
We provide integrated expertise and experience in 4 major areas, for which we have an extensive pool of specialised experts:
Trade development and investment promotion
- Design and implementation of trade development and investment promotion projects
- Trade policy and foreign investment policy and advise to executing bodies for policy implementation
- Investment promotion
- Capacity building for the negotiations, design and implementation of trade agreements
- Removal of technical barriers to trade (TBT), support in implementing the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreements
- Technical expertise in assisting various public and private stakeholders to improve the economic environment for business growth
- Inter-regional co-operation, regional development policy
Export promotion
- Advising Governments for the development of export promotion policies
- Training and capacity building for the creation and running of export promotion agencies and management of export promotion funds
- Market surveys for particular sectors of industry and services
- Organisation of trade fairs and exhibitions
SME support and private sector development
- Implementation of SME support programmes
- Technical expertise in promoting entrepreneurship, improving policy and business environments
- Entrepreneurship and management training
- Implementation of quality management systems
- Capacity building and training for Business Service Providers, support for the creation and running of business support centres, agencies and business incubators
- Private sector development
- Design, management, and implementation of credit guarantee schemes and matching grant facilities for exporters and SMEs
Institutional Support
We work on State, Regional and Local Public Administration Reforms and our activities focus on the following two inter-linked areas:
Reinforcement of European Union pre-accession strategy and "Acquis Communautaire"
- Law harmonisation and law approximation
- Legal advice and legal drafting
- Continuous support during transposition
- Implementation of the entire "Acquis Communautaire"
- Public awareness of European issues
- Impact studies on the new legislation on economy, society and budget
- Justice and Home Affairs (Third Pillar) consulting: asylum, immigration, external border, and judicial co-operation
Modernisation of the State, Regional and Local administration
- Institutional building, good governance and strengthening of civil society
- Good management of public affairs and rationalisation of procedures and practices
- Assistance in decentralisation process and strengthening of regional and municipal authorities
- Strengthening of national parliaments
- Creation of modern, transparent and participatory administrations
- Improvement of management techniques
- Technical assistance to polling supervision
- Reforms in the area of legal systems as well as legislative and judicial bodies
- Training on EU policies and legislation
Consumer Protection
The Consumer Policy Centre was created in July 2000 as a division of the IBF Group. The objectives of the Centre are to offer expertise, research and studies, policy and legal advice, technical assistance programmes and training activities worldwide on consumer policy matters and conformity assessment issues.
Consumer Protection and Market Surveillance
- International and regional harmonisation of consumer laws
- Consumer protection policy
- Capacity building for public administration and consumer protection agencies and associations
- Design and implementation of market surveillance systems
- Global trade and sustainable consumption
- Promoting citizens’ rights and interests
Food safety
- Establishment of food safety and quality assurance systems and HACCP schemes
- Implementation of traceability principles
- Capacity building and training for competent authorities
- Technical support for associations and companies exporting to the EU
Conformity assessment
- Alignment of standardisation, accreditation, metrology and conformity assessment infrastructures at national and regional levels
- Support to laboratories in equipment procurement and preparation for accreditation
- Capacity building and policy advice for national and regional standardisation bodies
- Support national and regional accreditation systems