Governance and Democracy

A peaceful and productive society is based on effective state institutions. Good governance in this sense means effective and efficient structures which provide optimal support to citizens in leading a safe and productive life in line with their desires and opportunities. Essentially, this involves a combination of democracy, the social welfare state and the rule of law.

Governance and democracy

Anti-Corruption & Standards of Integrity

In many countries, public administrations are under-performing. Their work is not transparent, efficient or effective. In many cases, this is because they lack clear structures and processes or are not motivated to use such processes and structures. Corruption is a major problem, affecting poor and disadvantaged populations in particular. GIZ works to ensure that administrations work efficiently and with integrity to provide citizens with access to public services.

Decentralization & Local Governance

Around the world, states face the challenge of meeting their citizens' growing expectations of a modern state, even with scarce public resources and administrative staff. Increasingly educated and organized citizens are demanding above all more participation in decision-making and planning processes and better local public services. Decentralized government and administration systems offer opportunities to meet this challenge.

Digital Governance and Society

Digital information and communication technologies improve transparency in governance and facilitate participation by citizens.    Media, communications and the digital transformation of the public sector are central to promoting a constructive partnership between state and society.

Gender Equality

The international community, the European Union and Germany have all made gender equality their objective. Structural inequality and discrimination on the basis of gender should be things of the past. Gender equality can only be achieved by securing change at many levels. This is why GIZ’s support ranges from policy advice to media training.

Green Economy

Economic growth and a fair distribution of wealth are the prerequisites for poverty reduction and sustainable development. However, if growth and development are bought at too high a cost in terms of consumption and emissions, future generations will suffer the consequences. “Green” growth requires new economic structures. GIZ advises its partner countries on the changeover.

Human Rights

Human rights are the universal basis for a life lived with dignity and freedom. They are the guiding principle and the cross-cutting role of all German development policy. To enable everybody to live with dignity, GIZ is working to strengthen human rights. Its partners are states and civil society.

Inclusion of People with Disabilities

Strengthening the rights and opportunities of persons with disabilities is also the responsibility of development cooperation. The inclusion of persons with disabilities is a task for society as a whole. It promotes social cohesion by standing up to discrimination and disadvantage. Equal rights for persons with disabilities also help to reduce poverty by ensuring that this group is not excluded from development.

Inclusive Finance

In many developing countries, poor people have no access to financial services. Financial inclusion aims to change this. It means that households and microenterprises receive access to microloans and financial services from formal providers on fair and transparent terms. This includes savings schemes, payment systems and insurance.

Land Governance

The existence of many people depends directly on the land on which they live and farm. But land is a limited resource and demand is rising. Land conflicts arise because it is usually not clearly regulated who owns the land and who may use it. Reliable access to land is a basis for rural development. GIZ therefore supports the strengthening of property, ownership and land use rights in the partner countries.

Natural Resources

Today, about three quarters of the world's poor live in countries whose economies are dominated by commodities. This is despite the fact that natural resource deposits have the potential to drive a country's development, reduce financial dependence on external donors and increase the prosperity of the population. In many countries, however, they have an opposite effect: state structures are weakened, the environment is destroyed, and social conflicts are created or exacerbated.

Political & Social Participation

Democracy is an essential prerequisite for living in dignity and freedom. The essential features of a basic democratic order are the separation and control of powers, the rule of law, respect for human rights, and freedom of opinion and of the press. Citizens must have the opportunity to participate in free and fair elections and in social and political decision-making processes. The GIZ promotes democracy as a value and as a political order.

Public Administration

Administrative reforms change structures, procedures and processes of public administration or help to build effective and efficient structures. In our understanding, administrative reforms must take into account core principles of good governance such as transparency, accountability, integrity and gender equality. The changes aim to improve service delivery for citizens.

Public Finance

Ideally, a country’s revenue system reflects a consensus of the whole of its society, and adequate fiscal and customs revenues should finance development goals and provide incentives for economic growth. GIZ advises its partners on creating a fair, transparent, effective and efficient revenue system.

Regional and Sectoral Economic Development

This topic encompasses the spatial (regional/local) as well as the industry (sectoral) focused approach to economic development. Regional and sectoral approaches can also be combined to achieve greater effectiveness.

Rule of Law

The rule of law has many dimensions. Most importantly, every individual has the right to live in safety and dignity. Many people suffer discrimination, marginalisation and exploitation; some even live in fear for their lives. Often, these individuals have no redress against being deprived of their rights. The rule of law underpins development. Support for the legal system is therefore a key issue for international cooperation.

Security

The security situation in many partner countries for international cooperation is very tense. People in these countries live with armed conflict and the risk of frequent outbreaks of violence. The state must protect its citizens and respect democracy and human rights. GIZ strengthens the state’s legitimate monopoly on the use of force.

Sustainable Mobility

Worldwide, the quality of life in urban agglomerations suffers from the masses of traffic. Health-damaging exhaust fumes, noise, accidents and the use of space all cause problems for city dwellers. The more urbanization and motorization progress, the greater the problems. More and more roads and ever faster cars are not the way of the future. GIZ supports partners who want to make mobility sustainable.

Urbanization

Most people around the world now live in towns and cities. GIZ sees rapid global urbanisation as an opportunity to help shape dignified and environmentally sound lifestyles.  It promotes regional development to create equality of opportunity and tap into regional potential.

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