TriNet Global

Global engagement of stakeholders in the business sector, science and administration

Economic activity always has a global dimension, with decisions made in the Global North influencing living and working conditions in the Global South. Sustainability also always includes global aspects, such as climate justice, responsibility for the compliance of core working standards at suppliers or subcontractors in the Global South, transparency of trade chains etc. It is this political environment that the project TriNet Global begins with.

The aim of the project was to promote the involvement of economic actors in development policy and sustainability issues. To this end, cooperation between business, science and administration in this field was strengthened. Initiatives in the field of development cooperation and Fairtrade were initiated through awareness-raising campaigns and training courses. A large number of business actors was reached at project events such as Fairwins and at events within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Weeks and the Bazaar Berlin.

Development and sustainability issues were also increasingly integrated into higher education – both students and teachers were informed and coached on CSR and its global dimension. Seminars and materials were developed to provide graduates with skills in global responsibility and sustainable development.

The project has been very successful in strengthening Fairtrade and Fair Procurement: Accompaniment of 20 Fairtrade-Town initiatives, including five in Berlin; initiation of changes in local government procurement, work with SMEs on Fairtrade and a large-scale campaign to raise awareness among civil society, reaching over 50,000 people.

Focuses of the project work in Berlin have been provision of advice and workshops for business sector stakeholders, promoting the participation of companies (particularly small and medium companies) in international and development cooperations, supporting of Berlin districts in becoming certified as a Fairtrade Town, as well as the development and piloting implementation of learning modules with a global dimension in higher education.

The project was coordinated by BGZ, which was responsible for project management, transnational networking and evaluation.