Technical experts in developing countries and countries in transition have a wealth of knowledge about how to deal with the challenges of rural development. Using and sharing this expertise through practical projects is essential for combating hunger worldwide.

The TCDC/TCCT Experts Programme provides a framework for mobilizing specialists from one country for assignments in another. These assignments are hands-on projects that bring tangible results in the field.

Under this programme, costs are shared by the country benefiting from the technical assistance, the institution providing the expert, and FAO. In this way, the programme avoids the traditional donor/recipient relationship and provides a cost-effective mechanism for fostering international cooperation. The programme also allows FAO to engage experts directly for its technical cooperation projects and work involving the establishment of international standards. In these cases, costs are shared between the institution providing the expert and FAO.

To make sure that requests for technical assistance receive a quick and appropriate response, FAO maintains a computerized database with details of TCDC/TCCT experts who have been made available for assignment by their employers.

A total of 130 countries have signed the framework agreement to participate in the programme and about 2 700 assignments covering a wide range of FAO activities have been handled by TCDC/TCCT experts. These technical experts may be employees of governments, the private sector, parastatal institutions or non-governmental organizations.