South Africa

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH has been working in South Africa since 1995. A country office opened in Pretoria in 1996.

Almost three decades after the transition to democracy, South Africa is still undergoing change. Inequality, corruption, and youth unemployment of almost 70 per cent pose a threat to social peace. Violence, in particular against women and children, and crime are having an impact on economic and social development. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this trend, while underlining the dependence on vaccines imported from outside of the African continent.

Although South Africa has vast potential for renewable energy, domestic coal is the country’s predominant energy source, making it one of the world’s 20 largest emitters of greenhouse gases. Simultaneously, South Africa is severely affected by the impacts of climate change, such as droughts and floods.

Our work on site: For stability and sustainable agriculture 

GIZ’s work in South Africa is carried out primarily on behalf of the German Development Ministry (BMZ). The core areas of cooperation are:

• Peaceful and inclusive societies
• Economic development, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and employment
• Climate and energy

In order to develop inclusive societies, GIZ supports the fight against corruption. To this end, it strengthens state anti-corruption agencies and promotes partnerships between the public and private sectors and civil society. GIZ is also working to make South Africa safer by supporting measures to prevent violence, with a focus on gender-based violence.

In terms of sustainable economic development, GIZ is helping to improve both the quality of TVET and the range of services in this area. It uses courses and internships to support labour market-oriented training and employment in the fields of digitalisation and renewable energy.

GIZ is working on a socially just energy transition to create an economy that is environmentally friendly and a society that is climate resilient. To achieve this, it is actively involved in developing an environmentally sustainable and secure energy infrastructure and in enhancing energy efficiency. This is cutting emissions and creating new jobs, such as in the hydrogen sector. Similarly, GIZ is supports South Africa in further developing and implementing its national climate policy so as to be able to meet its contributions under the Paris Agreement.

Furthermore, GIZ works as part of a European Union initiative to increase production of vaccines and other health products in Africa itself. It is also supporting the ongoing vaccination campaign against COVID-19 in South Africa.