Improving the relationship between your Great Power and at least one Minor Nation eventually results in the reward of a Developer Unit.
The fastest route to improved relations with a Minor Nation is to establish a trade consulate, conduct frequent trades, build an embassy, offer a non-aggression pact, and offer grants to the Minor Nation’s leaders. Since your wealth is limited concentrate on a few Minor Nations.
Like other civilians, the Developer works on terrain tiles. However, his role is to purchase the tiles in other countries so that your other civilians can work there.
Each Great Power may have only one Developer Unit at a time.