Partnerships

GIZ’s work is shaped by its partnerships. The company collaborates with many different stakeholders worldwide to support the German Government in achieving its objectives in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development.

Global challenges such as poverty, climate change and economic inequality require joint solutions. No single stakeholder can master these challenges alone. The global agenda for sustainable development, the 2030 Agenda, is a clear commitment to shared responsibility. Its implementation will require a global partnership with contributions from all actors.

Together with its partners in state institutions, civil society, the scientific community and business, GIZ is contributing to global cooperation. Increasingly, this entails learning together and developing solutions and shared standards, sometimes requiring complex processes that involve a large number of different stakeholders. Multi-stakeholder partnerships are a key element of the new global partnerships for the 2030 Agenda; and GIZ is already successfully supporting various partnerships of this kind. Collaboration also allows GIZ to continuously extend its range of specialised services and to adapt them to changing requirements. Through partnerships with German institutions and companies, GIZ can also help mobilise German expertise and channel it for international cooperation.

Additional information

German development cooperation is implemented collaboratively by several organisations. KfW Development Bank, Engagement Global, the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (Germany’s National Metrology Institute, PTB), the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) and others cooperate closely with one another on behalf of the German Government.

GIZ also implements programmes with other bilateral organisations, for example on behalf of the European Union (EU). Expert talks on the development of EU development policy take place in a network with other European development cooperation organisations, the Practitioners’ Network.

EU Practitioners’ Network

Promoting Occupational Prospects of Young Africans

EUROCLIMA+

In Germany and in many partner countries, civil society organisations often drive change processes – without them, sustainable solutions would be virtually impossible. Local and regional civil society organisations in particular play an important part in successful development policy work. GIZ therefore cooperates closely with these organisations.

Sport for Development in Africa

Global programme Green Innovation Centres for the Agriculture and Food Sector (GICs)

Partnerships with the private sector are crucial to development cooperation if we are to achieve the global sustainability goals set out in the 2030 Agenda, so GIZ cooperates with companies and business associations in a variety of ways. On behalf of BMZ, it promotes sustainable business involvement of companies from emerging economies through “Entwicklungspartnerschaften” (development partnerships). As part of the develoPPP.de Programme, GIZ brings companies, governmental institutions and representatives of civil society together to find shared solutions for greater sustainability. Companies from a wide range of sectors also commission GIZ to implement their corporate goals in developing companies and emerging economies in line with global sustainability objectives.

Cooperation with the private sector

Private foundations are important drivers of social change, making them central partners for GIZ in its work to achieve the global Sustainable Development Goals. As commissioning parties, funders and cooperation partners, foundations value GIZ’s long experience in international cooperation and its resulting expertise and skills in dealing with a wide range of global issues.

Cooperation with innovative foundations also ensures that GIZ continues to develop its advisory services to fit modern development work.

Foundations

Universities and other scientific and research institutions support international cooperation with critical analysis and innovative ideas. They identify challenges and highlight ways to make GIZ’s work even more effective.

Innovations for sustainable development - New partnerships

International Agricultural Research for Development

Digital Skills for Businesses in East Africa

Expertise from German municipalities and specialised institutions such as the Robert Koch Institute is in demand internationally. For example, they contribute expertise to international specialist debates on municipal services or pandemic precautions. Knowledge sharing where various actors contribute to solutions to global challenges together plays an increasingly important role.

German Biosecurity Programme

Multilateral organisations, in particular the United Nations, shape what is known as global governance. They provide the international framework of principles and approaches designed to overcome global challenges. Multilateral organisations have strong legitimacy and influence on financing and implementing programmes in partner countries.

GIZ cooperates extensively with multilateral organisations such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Bilateral and multilateral methods and competences complement one another – the strong technical expertise of multilateral organisations corresponds well, for example, with GIZ’s in-depth knowledge of many partner countries and its extensive experience of implementing projects on the ground.

Global Programme for Climate-Smart Livestock Systems

Cooperation with UNHCR in International Displacement Contexts

German political foundations promote the development of democratic structures and civil society in partner countries. GIZ is in constant exchange with them, in Germany and abroad.

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit

Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung

Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung

Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung