Sustainable development with security

For the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, a commitment to stable and secure structures is part of its work for sustainable development. People living in conflict regions are often threatened by violence and have only limited access to education and development opportunities. In many regions, perpetrators of violence also threaten social cohesion. 

GIZ therefore supports countries in building strong institutions and alleviating the impact of conflicts. For example, in the border region between west Ethiopia and east Sudan, where 1.6 million people are affected by unemployment, crop failures and violent conflicts. GIZ is working here on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union in cooperation with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a regional organisation in the Horn of Africa, with a host of measures. New training courses and business start-ups beyond agriculture improve people's income opportunities. The framework for cross-border trade in goods is also being expanded. This should improve the economic situation and stabilise the region. At the same time, the local communities are supported in identifying potential conflicts at an early stage and resolving them straight away.

It is equally as important for security policy actors from the region to engage in international dialogue. For this reason, GIZ will be a partner of the Munich Security Conference once again this year. In a discussion event, GIZ will be bringing together high-ranking African and European actors, with the focus this year being on regional security in north-east Africa. New bilateral peace agreements, such as between Ethiopia and Eritrea, give cause for hope, but regional armed groups and terrorism remain a threat. Successful discussions can also help to improve the conditions for development cooperation in the region significantly.

Photo: © GIZ/Matthias Oesterle