International Technical Experts: An enhanced mechanism within the cooperation network

At 31 December 2023, 280 experts were deployed by the Bilateral Cooperation and Expertise Mobilisation Department, with a considerable geographical development.

While the majority of deployments are in Africa, with 95 experts in post, followed by Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean, ITEs reflect the directions of France’s policies at international level. For example, in Papua New Guinea and East Timor, the ITEs are opening up new opportunities, while in Europe, they are strengthening relations with our neighbours. They also contribute to encouraging emulation and experience sharing, both in research institutes and in strategic areas for France.

Last year, the transformation initiated in our sectors of operation several years ago also continued. There are an increasing number of positions in the fields of sustainable development, global health, technological innovations, and culture and heritage. This reflects the changes in France’s priorities. Positions in the fields of education and democratic governance are now focused on issues such as vocational training, sport, gender, European integration, as well as certain renewed priorities (Francophonie and the French language, food security). Emerging sectors (new energies, animal health) round off this already extensive range provided by a growing network. They are also one of the components of this transformation, in addition to an increasing feminisation (as 41% of the positions are held by women), which plays an important role in the ability of the ecosystem to provide an effective response to these changes through an extensive range of expertise and assignments.

Since the meeting of the Interministerial Committee for Overseas France on 18 July 2023, Expertise France’s mandate has been extended to the French overseas territories for technical assistance missions, on a pilot basis for three years, jointly managed by the Ministry of the Interior and the Overseas and AFD. Furthermore, “this deployment is further strengthening AFD Group’s approach and is part of the current dynamics of increasing operational synergies between AFD and Expertise France,” says Charles Trottmann, Director of AFD’s Three Oceans Department.

In 2023, eight new experts were deployed in these territories, working on issues such as sanitation and water network management, infrastructure, and finance.

In 2024, Expertise France’s deployment in the French overseas territories is set to gather pace, with the recruitment of an increasing number of TAs in the Overseas Departments and Regions and the start of activities in the Overseas Territorial Communities in the Pacific.

One of the highlights of 2023 is certainly the launch of the portal for the international mobilisation of expertise by Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, Minister of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships, during the International Technical Expert Days in late August. This portal has been designed as an interministerial tool and devised by Expertise France. It fits in with a new ambition: reinvent technical expertise services and strengthen the mechanism in the field in priority geographical areas.

 “This portal is a comprehensive tool to support candidates for expatriation and experts throughout the mobilisation process, from the consideration of the strategies and expertise of France’s development policies, up to the interactions throughout their mission,” says Antonin Cœur-Bizot, Director of the Bilateral Cooperation and Expertise Mobilisation Department at Expertise France. It presents the main sectors of cooperation, provides information about the mechanisms for mobilisation, advertises mission opportunities, and assists potential candidates with their expatriation procedures.