Transparency in international cooperation

Transparency makes GIZ’s work in our countries of assignment and in Germany clear, because information on our work areas and methods is publicly available. It is also fundamental for ensuring that development policy actors are well coordinated and work together optimally. 

In addition, transparency means that these actors handle the funds entrusted to them responsibly and in line with objectives. They have accountability for their own measures. The governments of the countries in which measures are implemented can incorporate the measures and funds into the planning of their reforms. Similarly, non-governmental organisations can hold governments accountable for how they use funds, and donors can coordinate the measures they support more efficiently. 

GIZ is therefore committed to transparency as a fundamental principle of international cooperation. In line with our own values and those of German and European development cooperation, we provide information about our fields of activity, work methods and results. Our engagement is reflected in our continuous rise in the Aid Transparency Index ranking.  

 Every two years, the transparency efforts of the major international cooperation institutions are assessed and systematically compared by the independent organisation Publish What You Fund. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) [internal link: Federal Government] is ranked in the top third of the ‘good’ category with its reporting on programmes implemented by GIZ.

Data on GIZ projects is published on various channels to meet the different requirements for transparency in international agreements. 

Project data updated daily in the GIZ portal 

GIZ publishes all information on the projects it implements in its project data, which is updated daily. This also includes brief project descriptions.  

International reporting obligations 

It also provides details on these projects to the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) every month. For projects commissioned by BMZ, data is sent through the ministry. GIZ reports data on other projects directly. IATI reporting also contains information on conditions attached to the awarding of grants. Unlike budget support, no political or fiduciary conditions apply for GIZ projects. 

Making development spending transparent 

GIZ reports its contribution to official development assistance (ODA) on an annual basis through BMZ and the German Federal Statistical Office. The Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD-DAC) publishes the data with detailed information on each project.  

Publication via the BMZ transparency portal 

BMZ publishes data on GIZ projects that it has commissioned on its transparency portal. 

In addition, GIZ must ensure public accountability. It is therefore subject to regular audits, including by supreme audit institutions. Some of the audit results are published. 

Accountability through company reports 

In addition to the data on its projects, GIZ publishes company reports, annual statements of accounts and other documents on its company website. The German Government’s Public Corporate Governance Code (PCGK) defines further national transparency requirements.. GIZ publishes an annual Corporate Governance Report for this purpose. 

GIZ strives for a high level of transparency in its work. At the same time, there are legal regulations and objective reasons that limit the sharing of data and information. This applies particularly to legal regulations on data protection, confidentiality and copyright protection, and our obligation to ensure the security of the individuals involved in implementing projects.