Central America

GIZ local staff

National employees: 319
International employees: 45​​​​​​​
Development workers: 10
Integrated experts: 1

_{(as as: 31.12.2023)}

In Central America, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH works primarily within the framework of regional cooperation.

The Central America Regional Office serves the following countries:

• Costa Rica
• Guatemala
• El Salvador
• Honduras
• Nicaragua
• Panama
• Belize

GIZ has been working in the region since the early 1960s. It implements projects on behalf of the German Federal Government, the European Union and the Green Climate Fund. Central American states are not bilateral partner countries of the German Federal Development Ministry (BMZ). BMZ cooperates with the Central American Integration System (SICA) at the regional level.

Challenges facing the region include corruption and inequality, a lack of opportunities, diminishing freedoms and insecurity. Urban and rural areas alike are impacted by extreme poverty and unemployment, and thousands of people continue to migrate from Central America. Low government revenues and the decreasing readiness of companies to invest are exacerbating the situation. Central America is also badly affected by the impacts of climate change. Extreme weather events are occurring more and more frequently and are hitting rural populations particularly hard.

However, there are also major opportunities in Central America. The region has significant potential for generating clean energy. Costa Rica, for instance, is a worldwide leader in environmental protection and climate action, with 98 per cent of its energy generated from renewable sources. It is aiming for full independence from fossil fuels by 2050. The region is rich in natural resources and is home to eight per cent of the world’s biodiversity. It also has a young population, which holds the promise for future societal development.

Many of the challenges facing the region can only be addressed together with neighbouring countries. SICA was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in San Salvador. It aims to foster sustainable economic, social, cultural and political development throughout the region. GIZ is working with SICA on behalf of BMZ to resolve regional challenges. Other commissioning parties in Central America include the Federal Environment Ministry, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and the Federal Foreign Office. International commissioning parties include the European Union and the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

The priority areas of cooperation are:

• Good governance, the rule of law and human rights

• Environment, climate and energy efficiency

• Sustainable economic development