Kick-off for the 2026 Staff Development Program
Those who had already been on assignments abroad spoke openly about personal challenges, moving encounters, and valuable learning experiences. The new participants not only received practical tips but also gained an authentic insight into what to expect: a period that will shape them professionally and enrich them personally.
Every year, the German Sparkassenstiftung for International Cooperation (DSIK) and the Förderkolleg of the Stiftung für die Wissenschaft enable up to ten committed employees of the Sparkassen Finance Group to broaden their horizons. For four to eight weeks, they contribute their expertise to projects worldwide, supporting the development and strengthening of local financial systems.
The program is aimed at employees of DSIK member institutions and members of the Förderkolleg – people who want to take on responsibility and grow beyond their own horizons.
New: Staff Development Program Plus
With the new Staff Development Program Plus, DSIK is opening additional opportunities for its members nationwide: Qualified employees can be sent on temporary assignments abroad as a strategic tool for staff development, to promote management talent, and to strengthen employer attractiveness.
Participants make a tangible contribution on site and return with fresh perspectives, intercultural competence, and new impetus for their everyday working lives. A real win-win situation: for the projects, for the institutes, and for each individual.
Experiences from six project countries
At the kick-off event, six former participants in the program shared their personal impressions from their assignments in Mexico, Uzbekistan, Rwanda, Laos, Mongolia, and Malawi.
They all contributed valuable insights to the DSIK projects with their Sparkassen knowledge and benefited enormously themselves at the same time. Whether it was new perspectives on leadership, a keener eye for cultural differences, or confidence in their own adaptability, the assignments abroad had an impact far beyond the project period.
In 2026, 25 participants will go abroad as part of the staff development program. This is another significant increase compared to recent years. Two-thirds of the participants come from the traditional staff development program and one-third from the new Staff Development Program Plus.
Three inspiring examples of assignments abroad:
Janine Max from Sparkassenversicherung in Laos
In Laos, Janine Max (photo, right), IT consultant at Sparkassenversicherung, supported the project for the socio-ecological transformation of the financial sector from August to October 2025. The project aims primarily to strengthen financial organizations in rural areas, which contributes to the promotion of women-led small businesses, agricultural enterprises, and young people. This is achieved, for example, by creating ecological and sustainable business models, market-oriented product offerings for micro-entrepreneurs and women farmers, and expanding geographical reach. To this end, Janine Max has worked with local partners such as the Lao Association of Savings and Credit Unions (LASCU), assisting with the preparation of business plans and the selection of a new IT system, among other things.
Denise Meyer from German Sparkassenverlag in Mexico
Denise Meyer from German Sparkassenverlag (photo, center) supported the DSIK’s sustainable finance project in Latin America during her stay in Mexico City. In addition to focusing on the challenges of climate change and biodiversity, the project also takes into account social sustainability (e.g. reducing the gap between rich and poor or gender equality) and governance aspects (fighting corruption, non-discrimination, etc.). The overarching goal of the project is to combine the socio-ecological transformation of the financial sector with financial inclusion. Denise Meyer was able to contribute her knowledge as a sustainability manager by helping to create support materials for the ESG implementation steps and practical ESG guidelines. She also had the opportunity to participate in the DSIK Regional Forum in Costa Rica with presentations on sustainability.
Maiko Stelter from Sparkasse Lüneburg in Rwanda
As part of the regional project in East Africa, Maiko Stelter (photo, left) swapped his job at Sparkasse Lüneburg for seven weeks to work as a short-term expert in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. He was able to put his experience as head of the corporate finance to good use there by working with our local partners to professionalize the microfinance sector, promote organizational development and financial education, and help women start businesses by facilitating their access to finance. This strengthens the financial inclusion of otherwise disadvantaged population groups, contributing to sustainable economic growth in Rwanda.