Let’s work together to develop something great
Consultant in Development Cooperation: Project Management and further Development in Sub-Saharan Africa
My Services
35 years’ experience in active development cooperation, international cooperation and crisis intervention
Service 1
I will visit your project site and provide you with detailed reports, both in writing and via photos / videos, on the progress made and any issues encountered, including a forecast for the project’s continuation.
Service 2
No project can succeed without the involvement of decision-makers. I establish contacts with local stakeholders, thereby ensuring favourable conditions.
Service 3
A journey of 100 kilometres can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 4.5 hours. I’ll be checking out the local road and infrastructure conditions for you.
Service 4
I have worked in the political circles of Bonn and Berlin for many years. A chat with the German Foreign Minister is therefore just as commonplace as one with African politicians.
Why you might need me
Example I
A church parish in Germany has invested more than €250,000 in East Africa over the course of ten years. In the end, all the money has gone. The reason: a lack of (financial) controlling.
Example II
A medium-sized company in England used third-party investments to finance agricultural machinery and seeds in West Africa without understanding the local structures. The result: a total loss.
Example III
A large organisation wishes to take part in a tender – but those in charge lack the necessary expertise and have completely misjudged the local infrastructure. The result: no contract, no money.
Example IV
A European foundation has entrusted several hundred thousand Euros to a national NGO in Africa. The problem: the partner is not registered as an NGO, and the foundation is liable.
Your consultant
My name is Lars Bessel. I was born in 1970 in northern Germany. I would like to share with you the decades of experience I have gained in development cooperation (DC) and, in this way, work together to achieve something positive.
I know of far too many projects that were well-conceived but, unfortunately, poorly executed. In the end, the result was disappointment on both sides. In the vast majority of cases, the problem lies with controlling – the systematic planning, management and monitoring of processes in Sub-Saharan Africa. Added to this, all too often, is a lack of intercultural competence and insufficient knowledge of the actual conditions on the ground.
Make use of me and my expertise as a consultant for your project. I have been managing a variety of projects in South America and West Africa for decades and have made enough mistakes of my own to help you avoid making similar ones in the future. This saves time, money and stress – for you and your local project partners. And, above all, it makes a decisive contribution to the success of your project.
Are you already supporting a development cooperation project but aren’t quite sure what’s happening with your money on the ground? Do you want to support a start-up in Sub-Saharan Africa but aren’t sure whether all the necessary conditions are in place there? Would you like to find out more, but are unable or unwilling to look into it yourself? If so, I’m the consultant you need, and I look forward to hearing from you.
My additional services
Professional educational resources, academic studies and online content
Service 5
Together with my wife, the illustrator Marion von Oppeln, we create unique educational resources such as (picture) books, brochures, leaflets, etc.
Service 6
Do you require consular assistance with your plans? I would be happy to raise your concerns personally with the relevant ambassador.
Service 7
Together with my son (*2002), Luc Ben Bessel (M.Sc. candidate), we offer you the opportunity to commission scientific studies for your project.
Service 8
Do you need content for your website and social media channels? I’d be happy to provide you with professional photo, video and audio files.