Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit
Encyclopedia
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (German Agency for International Cooperation) or GIZ is an international enterprise founded in 1975 by Erhard Eppler
and owned by the German Federal Government, operating in many fields across more than 130 countries. It primarily works for public-sector organizations and is headquartered in Eschborn
, Germany
. It was formerly known as Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ).
On January 1, 2011 Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH merged with three other German organisations: the German Development Service (Deutscher Entwicklungsdienst
, DED), the German Technical Cooperation (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit
, GTZ), and International Training and Capacity-Building (Internationale Weiterbildung und Entwicklung GmbH, InWEnt).
(BMZ). Further clients are other departments of the government, international donors like the European Union
, World Bank
or the United Nations
, partner countries and the private sector. The cooperation with private enterprises is an emerging field in the domain of sustainable development promotion. The GIZ is set up with International Services (IS) and the Public Private Partnership (PPP) in this area.
1,057 million in 2007, some €860 million came from projects and programmes for public clients, such as the BMZ and other federal ministries. Some 81.3 percent of GIZ's turnover was under contracts from the German Federal Government
. The GIZ made 18.7 percent (€197 million) in 2007 from contracts from other clients such as financing institutions or private sector companies. It has about 13,000 employees working in more than 130 countries, including about 1,700 at its head office in Eschborn
near Frankfurt am Main and Bonn
.
GIZ works on a public-benefit basis. All surpluses generated are channeled back into its own international cooperation projects for sustainable development.
Erhard Eppler
Erhard Eppler is a German Social Democratic politician and founder of the GTZ .- Early years :Born in Ulm, Erhard Eppler grew up in Schwäbisch Hall, where his father was the headmaster of the local grammar school. From 1943 to 1945 he served as a soldier in an anti-aircraft unit...
and owned by the German Federal Government, operating in many fields across more than 130 countries. It primarily works for public-sector organizations and is headquartered in Eschborn
Eschborn
Eschborn is a town near Frankfurt am Main in the Main-Taunus district, Hesse, Germany. As of 2009, it had a population of 20,789, but boasts fulltime employment of over 30,000 people...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It was formerly known as Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ).
On January 1, 2011 Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH merged with three other German organisations: the German Development Service (Deutscher Entwicklungsdienst
Deutscher Entwicklungsdienst
The Deutscher Entwicklungsdienst was a German development organization active between 1963 and 2010. It was one of the leading European development services for personnel cooperation. It was focused on sending professional Germans to work in developing countries on small development projects...
, DED), the German Technical Cooperation (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit or GIZ is an international enterprise founded in 1975 by Erhard Eppler and owned by the German Federal Government, operating in many fields across more than 130 countries. It primarily works for public-sector organizations and is...
, GTZ), and International Training and Capacity-Building (Internationale Weiterbildung und Entwicklung GmbH, InWEnt).
Clients
The GIZ mainly operates on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and DevelopmentFederal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development is a ministry in Germany. Its main office is at the former German Chancellery in Bonn with a second major office at the Europahaus in Berlin....
(BMZ). Further clients are other departments of the government, international donors like the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
or the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, partner countries and the private sector. The cooperation with private enterprises is an emerging field in the domain of sustainable development promotion. The GIZ is set up with International Services (IS) and the Public Private Partnership (PPP) in this area.
Facts and Figures
With a total turnover of €Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
1,057 million in 2007, some €860 million came from projects and programmes for public clients, such as the BMZ and other federal ministries. Some 81.3 percent of GIZ's turnover was under contracts from the German Federal Government
Politics of Germany
The Federal Republic of Germany is a federal parliamentary republic, based on representative democracy. The Chancellor is the head of government, while the President of Germany is the head of state, which is a ceremonial role but with substantial reserve powers.Executive power is vested in the...
. The GIZ made 18.7 percent (€197 million) in 2007 from contracts from other clients such as financing institutions or private sector companies. It has about 13,000 employees working in more than 130 countries, including about 1,700 at its head office in Eschborn
Eschborn
Eschborn is a town near Frankfurt am Main in the Main-Taunus district, Hesse, Germany. As of 2009, it had a population of 20,789, but boasts fulltime employment of over 30,000 people...
near Frankfurt am Main and Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
.
Fields of activity
The GIZ provides services in the following areas of sustainable development:- Economic Development and Employment (including services such as vocational training, economic policy advice, financial systems development or private sector promotion)
- Government, Democracy and Poverty Reduction (including services and working fields such as development-oriented emergency aid, peace building and crisis prevention, governance, sustainable urban development or structural poverty reduction)
- Education, Health and Social Security (including working fields such as education, development-oriented drug control, promotion of children and young people or HIV/AIDS prevention)
- Environment and Infrastructure (including activities such as waste, energy and water management, natural resource management, transport and mobility, implementing international environmental regimes or environmental policy, climate change-related capacity building)
- Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (including services such as coastal zone management, land management, market-oriented farming and food systems, policy advice on agriculture and rural development or securing livelihoods in marginal rural areas)
GIZ works on a public-benefit basis. All surpluses generated are channeled back into its own international cooperation projects for sustainable development.
See also
- List of development aid agencies
- Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and DevelopmentFederal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and DevelopmentThe Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development is a ministry in Germany. Its main office is at the former German Chancellery in Bonn with a second major office at the Europahaus in Berlin....
- Capacity buildingCapacity buildingCapacity building also referred to as capacity development is a conceptual approach to development that focuses on understanding the obstacles that inhibit people, governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations from realizing their developmental goals while enhancing...
- Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21)REN21REN21, the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century, is a policy network that provides a forum for international leadership in renewable energy policy, in order to share knowledge and facilitate the rapid growth of renewable energy technologies in developing countries and industrialised...
- BIOPATBIOPAT – Patrons for BiodiversityBIOPAT is non-profit-making association set up to raise funds, through donation, for use in studying biodiversity, systematically describing it, and supporting its preservation.- History :...