Worldwide change

Influences on GIZ’s work

GIZ’s work is strongly shaped by a wide variety of external influences: the prevailing conditions in a country, the political relations and interests, changes brought about by new technologies, the requirements of our commissioning parties. Factors like these impact on our activities. And that is why we continuously monitor our working environment and follow new developments closely. Over the last year, the following changes have been relevant for us:

More commitments and greater responsibility

The world order is in flux. Some countries are withdrawing from the international stage, while others move to centre stage. Germany is one of the countries shouldering increasing responsibility, as an advocate of effective multilateralism. This also entails new commitments for GIZ. Meeting them requires new, efficient forms of cooperation between global institutions and German implementing organisations.

Changing client landscape

It is becoming increasingly difficult to separate global, regional and local matters, because global challenges are interconnected and need to be addressed at transnational or cross-sectoral level. As a result, international cooperation is more and more crucial and is becoming the centre of attention. Divergent interests and expectations must be reconciled. Parallel to this, the number of clients is rising. Alongside the German Government, the EU plays a pivotal role for GIZ. This was clearly illustrated, for instance, by the support provided by GIZ to the German Government during Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Increasingly diverse actors

Non-governmental and private sector actors are increasingly engaging in international cooperation for sustainable development. Multilateral and non-governmental organisations, private foundations and consulting firms, high-tech businesses and start-ups are all offering their services. Cooperation with these actors offers enormous potential for taking existing approaches to the next level. This is making the international landscape more diverse, and also changing the environment in which GIZ operates.

The pandemic exacerbating existing divides

COVID-19 has hit the world hard with no warning. In addition to the massive health consequences it brings, this truly global crisis is exacerbating worldwide inequality. The gap between poor and rich is widening, and development progress is being lost. To support partner countries swiftly in dealing with the consequences of the pandemic, GIZ is developing new concepts to mitigate the fallout from lockdowns. These include strategies for the distribution of hygiene kits and personal protective equipment and the establishment of a fund for employees in need. All of this is happening under pandemic conditions. The importance of gender equality for fair, inclusive, sustainable development has become even more apparent than before.

Rising number of fragile states

The world has become more turbulent. Many states are deemed unstable; they do not have sufficient legitimacy, are unable to provide essential services for their citizens, or no longer have a monopoly on the use of force inside their borders. This is particularly true of many parts of Africa and the Middle East. And the number of affected states is on the rise. Some three quarters of people at severe risk of poverty live in countries like these. For GIZ, operating in these crisis-dominated contexts means working purposefully and effectively for the people on the ground, even under the most difficult circumstances.