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Global: a new digital era

As part of Team Europe, Germany is advancing digitalisation worldwide.

Graphic: GIZ: SDG 8 Decent work and economic growth
Graphic: GIZ: SDG 9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Graphic: GIZ: SDG 10 Reduced inequalities
Graphic: GIZ: SDG 17 Partnerships for the goals

New technologies are one of the key drivers for sustainable development. Farmers can access weather data for harvests, businesses can process financial transactions more efficiently, and schools can offer e-learning opportunities. The digital transformation offers virtually unlimited possibilities – and major benefits, especially in the field of international cooperation. This also applies to the question of how we can use the radical break with the past triggered by the pandemic to create a greener and more sustainable future. That is why both the European Commission and the German Government have declared digitalisation to be a particular priority in their worldwide cooperation. At the end of 2020, the Digital for Development (D4D) Hub was launched – a joint initiative that has prominent support from President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and other EU heads of state. They are seeking to work together in the D4D Hub to forge new digital partnerships and drive forward a fair, secure and sustainable digital transformation in conjunction with global partners.

This central digital hub evolved from collaborative work involving Germany, France, Belgium, Estonia and Luxembourg and is completely in keeping with the spirit of Team Europe, in which EU countries join forces and coordinate their activities on projects and programmes in developing countries. A further six EU Member States have since signed up to the D4D Hub and its objectives. GIZ is heading up the global hub on behalf of the German Development Ministry and in collaboration with European partners such as Agence Française de Développement and LuxDev.

Using innovations – in a way that is fair and for the good of people

The hub is an open platform designed to facilitate sharing of ideas and information and to bring together partners from around the world. European tech firms such as SAP, Vodafone and Nokia are already participating in dialogue formats and transfer of knowledge. Companies from Africa and Asia will also soon be able to join in, form innovative partnerships with other stakeholders, and work together to develop new ideas. As well as policy dialogues, the hub is also used to initiate specific projects that help to narrow the digital divide within and between countries and to advance the digital transformation in a fair and secure manner. A number of digital initiatives and new projects have already been created as a result of the D4D Hub, including the African-European Digital Innovation Bridge, a European initiative that is building a network of regionally connected hubs across Africa. These are designed to promote technological innovations and joint ventures between the two continents – in particular for medium-sized enterprises and start-ups. And finally, a political initiative called EU-AU Data Flagship has been launched with the dual aim of establishing rules for fair data usage and of creating a shared data space between Europe and Africa. All of the projects and initiatives have a common goal, namely to use innovations and ensure that the rapid push towards digitalisation happens in a way that is fair and people-focused. The D4D Hub’s activities in Africa are just the beginning in this respect. There are plans to expand the hub to Latin America in 2021 – followed by Central Asia and South-East Asia.

Our projects in the 2020 Integrated Company Report

Do you want an overview of all the projects in the 2020 Integrated Company Report? Select a project below:

Read more about GIZ’s work in North and Central America

Latin America: naturally cool

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Read more about GIZ’s work in South America

Brazil and Mozambique: going digital

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Sierra Leone: radio programme provides support in the crisis

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Morocco: on track towards the technology of the future

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European Commission: green recovery

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West Africa: disease control made in Nigeria

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Global: centres for digital transformation

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Read more about GIZ’s work in Europe

Global: a new digital era

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Bosnia and Herzegovina: a magnet for adventurous tourists

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Read more about GIZ’s work in Africa

Democratic Republic of the Congo: a prescription for better health

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South Africa: green investing

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Moldova: new patterns, new opportunities

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East Africa: fighting infections

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Global: artificial intelligence for all

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Lebanon: educational opportunities for all

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Read more about GIZ’s work in Asia

Cambodia: no one is overlooked

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Indonesia: ice from solar energy

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Do you want to learn more about GIZ’s work? You’ll find information about around 1,600 ongoing projects here.

Overview of all ongoing projects