4th International Technical Expert Days: An extensive network for a shared impact

The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) entrusted Expertise France with the management of the network of international technical experts (ITEs) in 2016, followed by the Ministry of the Economy and Finance in 2021, and AFD and the Ministry of the Interior and Overseas in 2023, for the French Overseas Territories.

Over the last five years, Expertise France has been continuously developing its structure to respond to requests for partnerships from French ministries. Nearly 400 experts are currently deployed in the field in an increasing number of sectors and countries, including in crisis areas. 

These International Technical Expert Days have become a key event. They are an opportunity to prepare the departure of experts leaving on their first mission, who benefit from pre-departure training, as well as provide a forum for discussion between experts, stakeholders and partners. 

At the opening, Thani Mohamed-Soilihi, Minister of State for Francophonie and International Partnerships, said “International technical experts provide a crucial link for France. You strengthen our alliances and showcase our expertise. In line with the conclusions of the Presidential Council for International Partnerships, he also said “It’s essential for each mission to have a concrete and measurable impact and for each expert to create shared value.”

Jérémie Pellet, Chief Executive Officer of Expertise France, in turn said “International technical experts have a key position with our partners. This is an invaluable asset for Expertise France, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Economy and Finance, and Team France in general. It strengthens bilateral relations and helps establish lasting and trusted relations with partner institutions.”

The first day was marked by an institutional session during which the ministries presented their strategic vision for the mechanism and the way in which ITEs fit in with the French cooperation network. 

Akmaral Alnazarova, Minister of Health of Kazakhstan, also took the floor to highlight the role and impact of the health ITE deployed as an advisor to her. 

The next part of the event was devoted to interactive workshops, during which the experts and our partners in administrations were asked to think about the role of ITEs and the link between their thematic areas of operation, global issues and the priorities of French cooperation.

The experts are deployed to governments and international and regional organisations to support contracting authorities, as well as to local authorities in the French Overseas Territories. They all help coordinate concrete responses to global challenges. The diversity of partner institutions, geographical areas (110 countries) and thematic areas on which the ITEs work demonstrates the relevance of this mechanism. For example, the mechanism of the Directorate-General of the Treasury has been strengthened with 34 experts on missions, including 11 new deployments in 2024 and operations in emerging thematic areas such as artificial intelligence, climate finance and the space sector, which help provide a response to the challenges posed today by a changing world. There has also been an increase in the number of positions financed by AFD, including in the French Overseas Territories, where 19 technical assistants are now deployed to support critical issues, for example, water management in Guadeloupe and the financial restructuring of local authorities.