Every euro needs to achieve the best possible results. We therefore focus not only on efficiency, but also on sustainability – in everything we procure, commission and organise.
Cost-effectiveness is about more than being economical. For us, it means achieving the best possible cost-benefit ratio – with sustainable results. This applies to our services as well as to our internal workflows, procurement and events.
Only through cost-effectiveness can we remain effective – for our partners, clients and commissioning parties and for the people that work assists.
These two questions guide all our decisions. We continuously review the relationship between the resources we use and the results we achieve.
Our work is audited at two levels:
The cost-benefit ratio of our services is also evaluated regularly by external experts and on behalf of the German Development Ministry (BMZ). Public price audits are also carried out.
GIZ is subject to an internal control system certified to the international standards of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA). Our Auditing Unit regularly reviews our processes to ensure that they are effective and comply with regulations.
We use data, new technology and strong partnerships to make our work more effective. This enables us to improve the quality of our services – while reducing the resources used.
Sustainability is at the heart of our procurement. Every year, we analyse the risks associated with products and services – from raw material extraction to usage and disposal.
For particularly important product categories, we issue practical recommendations to our staff worldwide to ensure that local procurement is sustainable.
Our tenders include mandatory sustainability criteria – for products and services, and for our partner companies.
To prevent human rights violations in the supply chain, GIZ was certified by the German Association for Supply Chain Management, Procurement and Logistics (BME) in 2023 as a 'responsible procurement organisation'.
We also set clear standards for events: since 2019, minimum sustainability requirements such as accessible event venues and all-vegetarian catering options have been mandatory at our locations in Germany – in 2024 they were enhanced and expanded.
At locations in our countries of assignment, the sustainability standards for events serve as flexible guidelines. Several countries have developed context-specific guidelines – tailored to local conditions.
Our financial management also follows sustainability criteria. We apply environmental and social standards and principles of good corporate governance to our company pension scheme and our other investments.