CIM is a joint operation of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH – German Technical Cooperation – and the International Placement Services of the German Federal Employment Agency (BA). Founded in 1980, CIM is largely financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ); but other ministries, state and parastatal institutions, non-governmental organisations and the private sector also participate in CIM programmes.

About 800 European managers and technical experts are currently working through the CIM Integrated Experts Programme in roughly 75 countries throughout the world. Both they and the numerous experts from developing countries who are returning home through the Returning Experts Programme enjoy the support of some 60 employees at the CIM head office in Frankfurt