CBI Jaarverslag 2024

Total employment supported

In 2024, the 467 companies we supported provided 56.600 jobs (full-time, part-time and seasonal jobs). This equates to 39.127 FTE jobs, an increase compared to 2023 (28.641 FTE jobs) and 2022 (26.587 FTE jobs).

Women in employment – Men in employment

Within our projects, we try to support and increase job opportunities for women. In 2024, women were employed in 58% of the jobs at SMEs we support. This equates to 32.687 jobs and 44% FTE jobs. The FTE equivalent is lower than the percentage of women in employment due to the distribution of women in full-time positions (44%) and part-time positions (76%). Women entrepreneurs led 145 of the SMEs we supported (31%). All projects that started in 2024 have been positively evaluated for gender-awareness. This means that at least local women and women's organisations were consulted and opportunities for collaboration were explored during the inception phase of new projects.

Jobs for youth

Of the total FTEs we supported in 2024, 29% were for youth. This is 7% less than in 2023 (36%). Of the SMEs we supported, 60 were led by young entrepreneurs. In 2024, the project portfolio included 7 projects focusing on youth employment. A good example is the CBI project in Morocco, which supports young people to develop innovative services within the olive oil sector through Human Centered Design (HCD). To integrate youth employment more structurally into CBI projects, the Strategic Youth Interventions Document has been developed. This document provides guidelines for promoting youth inclusion and economic participation within international trade chains. In addition, CBI investigated the establishment of a Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) in 2024 to involve young people more actively in the development and implementation of programmes.

CBI Market Information – Helping exporters enter the European market

Thousands of entrepreneurs visit the CBI website each year to consult market information about trends, buyer expectations, and trade opportunities.

In 2024, the top 5 most-read studies reflected the challenges and opportunities exporters face when entering the European market. Many visitors searched for information on buyer requirements for coffee, spices & herbs, and fresh fruit & vegetables. These studies help exporters understand quality standards, certification requirements, and sustainability expectations. Finding the right buyers was another major focus, especially in sectors like cocoa and apparel. These studies helped facilitate connections between businesses and potential buyers in Europe.

CBI’s market information studies can help businesses grow and trade sustainably. By offering clear and practical insights, CBI helps exporters meet market demands and strengthen their position in international trade.

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Total SMEs supported

In 2024, we supported 467 companies and helped many to comply with various sustainability standards. We assessed 53 companies in 6 countries using the Corporate Social Responsibility Assessment Tool (CCAT). 35 SMEs now meet the standards of sustainability certification schemes.

Total exports

CBI focuses on strengthening the economic, social and environmental sustainability of SMEs that export value-added products and services to European and regional markets. In 2024, the companies we supported achieved a total export value of nearly 350 million euros. Export directly linked to a sustainability certification accounted for 43% of the total exports.

Projects

In 2024, our portfolio included 42 projects in the implementation phase. We added 13 new projects to our portfolio and completed 12 projects. A total of 6 projects focused on regional exports. All of our projects focused on agriculture, services (tourism and outsourcing) and consumer goods (apparel, home decoration and home textiles). We carry out projects in East Africa, West Africa, the Sahel, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Asia.

New tool boosts SME financing in West African cashew sector

Finding reliable financing is a challenge for small and medium-sized cashew processors in West Africa. This limited access to funding prevents businesses from growing, innovating, and competing in international markets. To tackle this issue, CBI collaborated with the African Cashew Alliance and NABC to introduce a new financial management tool.

With this tool, cashew processors can improve their financial planning. By providing clear information about costs, income, and profitability, the tool facilitates making good financial decisions. This helps businesses become more attractive to investors and prepare for loan applications.

In a sustainable and competitive cashew sector, good financial management is essential. With this initiative, CBI and West African processors are working together to secure the resources needed to grow and innovate for a future-proof sector.

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Export-enabling environment partners

We collaborate with business support organisations (BSOs) and other partners to achieve more sustainable and inclusive sectors. Partners include governments, trade promotion organisations, export promotion agencies and sector associations.

CBI continued cooperation within the TRIC network in 2024, which includes ITC, IPD, Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO), OTGS, Finnpartnership, FCDO and Enabel. In 2024, CBI hosted the annual general meeting. In addition, cooperation with ITC was expanded on the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). CBI and ITC jointly developed handbooks and fact sheets on EUDR compliance, which provide SMEs and farmers with concrete guidelines and practical applications. Such collaborations also lead to better coordination at project level, such as within the Uganda Climate project, where partners are jointly working on solutions around EUDR compliance.

Market Information

We provide information on markets and their requirements via our market information platform. In 2024, we published 238 market information studies on the CBI website and 16 news items. This resulted in more than 820.000 unique visitors and 1.3 million page views. We also organised 13 webinars. In 2024, we published new studies with tips on how to go green and tips on how to become more socially responsible. Also, CBI set up the Honey sector page and published 10 studies on this topic.

Climate

In 2024, CBI strengthened its commitment to digitalisation by launching initiatives introducing opportunities, challenges, and recommendations regarding digitalisation and traceability. The CBI Training Portal, launched in 2023, gives project participants, experts and colleagues access to relevant e-learning modules. At the end of 2024, there were 549 active users on the Training Portal and 731 modules were completed. There is also interest in the modules among external partners, who can be given (temporary) access to the modules so that participants from their programmes can also benefit from them. Active monitoring of CBI's CO₂ emissions from air travel continued in 2024. It is expected that a total of between 500 and 550 (return) flights have been made by CBI staff, experts and participants for all projects. This means we meet our target of 25% fewer flights compared to the 2019 baseline (=maximum 593 flights) as in previous years. We also continue to see an increase in train travel within Europe, both by CBI staff and experts.