New Evaluation Report: GIZ’s energy portfolio especially successful

Eschborn/Berlin, 16 September 2025 International cooperation works – in countries and societies around the world and in Germany. Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven, Vice-Chair of the Management Board of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, stressed this today as she presented the latest GIZ Evaluation Report: ‘International cooperation opens doors for German and European businesses, mitigates the causes of displacement by creating prospects, and promotes stability and security. Today it is more important than ever.’ 

For the current Evaluation Report, GIZ collated the results of around 150 project evaluations from the past two years. Independent experts conducted the evaluations using internationally recognised criteria. The results show that GIZ’s work is successful. On average, the projects received a score of 2.5 on a scale of 1 (best) to 6 (worst). The evaluators rated 60 per cent of the projects as ‘very successful’ or ‘successful’.  On the whole, the result is slightly below the average from two years ago (2.26). This is due in part to stricter quality requirements, the ‘knock-out criteria’: if a project is rated unsatisfactory in any one of the criteria of effectiveness, impact or sustainability, then it is classed as unsuccessful overall. 

Energy projects especially successful  

The current report focuses on GIZ’s energy projects. The climate and energy sector is the largest of GIZ’s priority areas. On behalf of the German Federal Government and international clients and commissioning parties, GIZ works towards the global energy transition in more than 60 countries. The analysis shows that GIZ is especially successful in the energy sector. These projects had an average rating of 1.97. One reason for this excellent result is that the project work is embedded in national strategies of GIZ’s partner countries. Hoven explains: ‘Our partners have a significant vested interest in cost-effective, clean energy. They want to become more competitive and climate-resilient, and seek GIZ’s support with this.’ 

Hoven emphasised the importance of cooperation with the private sector in driving forward the global energy transition. And how the private sector itself benefits by tapping into new markets and building new supply chains. GIZ creates the right conditions for private investment in its partner countries and together with its partners. The company sees itself as an intermediary between the public and private sectors, and creates a win-win situation for all sides.  

For example, on behalf of the German Federal Government, GIZ is supporting German companies in developing green hydrogen projects in developing countries and emerging economies. It provides specialist knowledge and connects the right partners through networks it has developed over many years in its partner countries. In Mexico, for example, a German company from Wiesbaden is currently planning a large production facility that is scheduled to go into operation three years from now. In Brazil, a project developer from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is working on its first biogas plant, which produces biogas from livestock manure and upgrades it to biomethane. In combination with green hydrogen, this can be used to produce green fuels that can also be transported to Germany in the future.  

Hoven stressed: ‘With its wide-ranging portfolio, GIZ is contributing significantly to the global energy transition. We need a transformation towards a more climate-friendly and equitable way of life. And this transformation is possible if we shape it through consistent, evidence-based and fair action. International cooperation is crucial to this and is an investment in our future.’ 

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federal enterprise with worldwide operations. It supports the German Federal Government in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education. GIZ assists people and societies in shaping their own future and improving their living conditions.

You can find the Evaluation Report 2024 ‘Energy for Development’ here.