Prior to the formation of CESES in 2000, all its members belonged to the European Senior Service Network (ESSN) and performed well over 1 800 international assignments under the European Union's TACIS and PHARE programmes for the CIS, Mongolia and Central and Eastern European countries. CESES has also implemented 9 projects to support the European Commission's AID programmes. These contracts involved 92 Senior Experts from 16 member organisations out of 10 EU member states.  A total of 843 expert days was commissioned, averaging just over 7 days per assignment

A Senior Expert advising on the development of policies on child abuse in China, seen talking to local children.

CESES intends to participate further in the European Union's development aid programmes, for example in the Mediterranean, Africa / Caribbean / Pacific (ACP) areas and in Latin America. 

A Service Contract signed with the European Commission (AIDCO) in 2003 to support economic development in Latin America has been successfully completed with 15 assignments to support SME's, industrial associations, agricultural and processing cooperatives in 4 countries.

A second Service Contract signed in August 2006 aims to provide training and coaching to up to 300 small businesses, cooperatives and industry associations in Latin America. CESES is working closely with the Al-Invest III Consortium to provide support to its aim to develop trade relations between Latin American countries and the European Union.

CESES local representative in Peru with the members of an agricultural and cattle cooperative which is seeking to develop its managerial and administrative competencies, as well as to improve its logistics and marketing.