01.07.2022
A review of 2021: demand for GIZ’s services continues to grow
Business volume rises to EUR 3.7 billion, more than half of which is implemented in fragile contexts.
Today in Berlin, Tanja Gönner, Chair of the Management Board of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, presented an annual review of 2021. In the face of crises and conflicts, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and advancing climate change, Gönner gave a clear message at the federal enterprise’s annual press conference: ‘This is the decade for action and cooperation. The international community can only tackle global challenges through joint action.’ This applies to achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Climate Agreement. But it is especially true of engagement in fragile countries: ‘Where there is social cohesion, where people have prospects through education and economic participation, conditions are more stable and countries are more resilient to new crises,’ said Gönner.
Integrated Company Report 2021
Two-thirds of the countries in which GIZ operates are affected by crises, violence or conflicts, and the company implements around 60 per cent of its total order volume in fragile contexts. Jochen Flasbarth, Chair of the GIZ Supervisory Board and State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), emphasised: ‘The COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, food crises and now Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its global repercussions – these are all huge challenges, particularly for developing countries. That’s why in these challenging times we need strong development cooperation more than ever. GIZ is an effective and internationally recognised implementing organisation in our partner countries – even in fragile contexts.’
Business volume and workforce numbers at record levels
GIZ’s business figures for 2021 also illustrate the growing importance of international cooperation. At around EUR 3.7 billion, GIZ’s business volume was up 11 per cent year on year, continuing the steady growth trend from previous years. GIZ’s main commissioning party is the German Development Ministry, followed by the European Union.
The growing demand for GIZ’s services is also reflected in a larger workforce: The federal enterprise had a workforce of almost 25,000 people from 155 countries in 2021.
Further information, facts and figures on GIZ’s work in 2021 can be found in the press release and the 2021 Integrierter Unternehmensbericht (English version available soon).
