Shared responsibility

Whether combating poverty, protecting the climate or ensuring access to health care for all: global challenges cannot be mastered by governments alone. The principle of shared responsibility therefore stands for a new understanding of global cooperation. Everyone needs to pull together to ensure a sustainable future. Not just governments but also businesses, civil society groups, citizens and researchers must do their part.

Projects involving a large number of stakeholders and hence new forms of cooperation are therefore becoming more important. Multi-stakeholder partnerships facilitate cooperation as equals and involve all stakeholders in implementing the 2030 Agenda. GIZ has many years of experience in managing partnerships and advises multi-stakeholder partnerships – from the initial design to the ongoing cooperation and subsequent evaluation.

One example is the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles, whose approximately 130 members come from business, civil society and politics, working together for a socially and environmentally sustainable textile and clothing industry. The Textiles Partnership provides them with a platform for learning and dialogue. At the same time, the members pursue joint projects in the countries of production to improve working, living and environmental conditions.