Approach and main drivers

Approach and main drivers

Why we do what we do. Our drivers.

Our work is based on strong personal values and principles. 


  • We believe that training goes beyond simply teaching people knowledge and is about facilitating learning and unlocking hidden potential. That is why our formats follow the “Head, Heart and Hand” approach to adult education, linking the technical expertise (head) with capability (hand) and motivation (heart) to induce long-lasting change.
  • We think that access to education and effective capacity development can have a high impact on development prospects of people and enterprises.
  • We believe that the cooperative business model, just as any other microfinance and SME finance concept, can be a means to reduce poverty and dependencies. Independent of their approach/structure, microfinance institutions and cooperative banks prove that banking does not necessarily mean to pursue only profit maximization.
  • Banking can be dedicated to improving the living conditions of individuals, improving regional structures and starting-up and further developing (small) businesses. With its peculiarities – focusing on member`s benefits, based on democratic principles and on the help-to-self-help idea – the cooperative business model represents an important pillar of financial participation for the poor.

How we do what we do. Our approach.

Sustainable impact is where a change in mindset is combined with effective, practical tools to implement and sustain change.

  • Clear Focus

    We are not "Jack of all trades": we have a special focus on Human Resource Development (HRD) and have our core competence in the field of Capacity Building.

  • Sustainable HRD

    Systematic and structured HRD is key. If financial institutions want to reach their strategic goals, to achieve impact and to experience sustainable training results, they have to align their capacity development. HRD contributes to business success only if it is matched with …

    • the company's strategic targets,
    • the organizational structures,
    • the implementation of a well-functioning HR department equipped with motivated and competent people,
    • consistent career development paths for the staff.

    Why invest in people and waste their potential afterwards?

  • Strategic Partnerships

    Sticking to the HRD focus but at the same time being able to provide the full range of services requested in FSD projects calls for strong and reliable partnerships. For many years we have been cooperating e.g. with our partners from AFC-International (Bonn, www.afci.de) and the International Department of DGRV (the German Cooperative Auditing Federation www.dgrv.de).

  • Quality assurance

    In addition to the internal ADG International team we have a pool of more than 800 external financial experts available. We thoroughly select, brief and back-stop the optimally suited expert(s) for the respective tasks. We foster tight and long-term partnerships with our experts. 

  • Learn from experiences

    ADG International works as a platform: connecting practitioners with universities; locals with internationals; bank managers from one country with decision makers from other countries (see “Study Tours”). Why invent the wheel again & again? We carefully match peers and facilitate the experience exchange process.