Strengthening rural resilience and adaptability to climate change

Rural regions are especially vulnerable to political crises, climate change and economic shocks. We support the population in developing resilient livelihoods. How we strengthen resilience and adaptability to climate change We promote climate-smart innovations that are adapted to the negative impacts of climate change We safeguard natural resources through sustainable cultivation practices, and this reduces the negative impacts of extreme weather events We boost the rural population’s income and support the diversification of their income We support social services and basic public services in rural areas We promote access to land, resources and technical infrastructure (such as digital services and transport links)

Strengthening the private sector in rural areas

A strong rural private sector is the driving force for a sustainable agri -food sector and a prerequisite for the economic sustainability and attractiveness of rural areas. Our approaches: We promote dialogue between the state and the private sector, with a view to dismantling obstacles faced by companies in the agri-food sector. We strengthen technical and business services for companies in rural areas, such as support with certifications, access to finance, and business advisory services. We foster a supportive organisational, political and regulatory framework for rural companies. We promote access to national and global markets for companies and farmers in rural areas.

Promoting youth employment in rural areas

Africa has the world’s youngest population. Many young people live in rural areas – yet agriculture often holds little appeal for them. We help to change that. Measures to strengthen youth employment: Promoting the private sector in rural areas, which increases local demand for young workers Providing skills development for young people through vocational education and training Supporting start-ups and companies founded by young people Matching labour supply and demand

Icon Agrarpolitik und ländliche Entwicklung

Agricultural policy and rural development

Rural areas have a great deal of potential for income and employment promotion and nutrition security. We design measures that promote social, environmental, political and economic sustainability for rural areas.

Our vision: sustainable development in rural areas
GIZ strategies for strong rural areas

Rural areas play a key role in the fight against poverty and hunger – especially in our partner countries. Agriculture is often the biggest economic sector in rural areas in these countries, offering employment, income and prospects. In fragile contexts, agriculture can contribute to stabilisation.

									More than
													70
													%

of the world’s poor live in rural areas.

The agricultural sector

is the most important source of income and employment in rural areas.

Developing this potential requires a supportive political framework, efficient institutions, a strong private sector, and effective measures to strengthen rural areas.

Our vision: sustainable development in rural areas

We advise our partners on enhancing the attractiveness of rural areas by increasing the population’s economic prospects and safeguarding environmental sustainability.

Our priorities in agricultural policy:

We promote sustainable transformation of agri-food systems.
We support partner countries in implementing international agreements, such as the Kampala Declaration (African Union [Link: African Union], 2025) or the Rio Conventions (UNFCCC, CBD, CCD) on climate [Link: Climate change], biodiversity [Link: Biodiversity] and desertification.
We support our partners in analysing and formulating agricultural policy strategies.
We promote transparent negotiation processes between the state, civil society and the private sector.
We provide technical and organisational advisory services to ministries, and promote policy coherence and intersectoral coordination
We strengthen the economic, environmental and social sustainability of the agri-food sector in our partner countries.
We bolster the inclusion of vulnerable population groups and encourage the participation of young people and female target groups in support measures on an equal footing, in line with a feminist development policy (which promotes women’s access to resources, rights and representation).

GIZ strategies for strong rural areas

GIZ pursues a holistic approach to strengthening rural areas, and combines agricultural policy measures with empowerment of governmental, civil society and private sector stakeholders in rural areas, measures to increase the population’s resilience, and action to support economic empowerment and social justice.

Good governance

Value chain development

Private sector development

Resilience and climate

Young people and gender justice

Our programmes specifically focus on areas that are particularly affected by poverty, hunger and a lack of prospects – and empower the people who are ushering in change at local level.

Rural regions are especially vulnerable to political crises, climate change and economic shocks. We support the population in developing resilient livelihoods.

How we strengthen resilience and adaptability to climate change

We promote climate-smart innovations that are adapted to the negative impacts of climate change
We safeguard natural resources through sustainable cultivation practices, and this reduces the negative impacts of extreme weather events
We boost the rural population’s income and support the diversification of their income
We support social services and basic public services in rural areas
We promote access to land, resources and technical infrastructure (such as digital services and transport links)

A strong rural private sector is the driving force for a sustainable agri-food sector and a prerequisite for the economic sustainability and attractiveness of rural areas.

Our approaches:

We promote dialogue between the state and the private sector, with a view to dismantling obstacles faced by companies in the agri-food sector.
We strengthen technical and business services for companies in rural areas, such as support with certifications, access to finance, and business advisory services.
We foster a supportive organisational, political and regulatory framework for rural companies.
We promote access to national and global markets for companies and farmers in rural areas.

Africa has the world’s youngest population. Many young people live in rural areas – yet agriculture often holds little appeal for them. We help to change that.

Measures to strengthen youth employment:

Promoting the private sector in rural areas, which increases local demand for young workers
Providing skills development for young people through vocational education and training
Supporting start-ups and companies founded by young people
Matching labour supply and demand

Insights

Topic

15.10.2026

'Biodiversity protection is also crisis prevention'

Interviewed in the run-up to the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 17) in Armenia, GIZ Director General Elke Siehl and Director of Division Alexander Haack explain why human existence depends on the biodiversity on Earth, how we are protecting the basis of our livelihoods around the world, and who is driving improvements.

An aerial view of a green, water-rich natural landscape in Viet Nam.

Interview

‘What we do or do not do in cities will have a decisive effect on future temperatures’

UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach explains how housing shortages and climate change are connected—and how cities can become more resilient.

Topic

08.10.2026

Rice cultivation in Thailand: two million euros generate 120 million

How public funding and international cooperation attract investment in climate action.

Zwei Menschen schütteln Reis aus geflochtenen Körben.

This project focuses on the following GIZ work priorities:

Climate action and environmental protection

Agriculture and nutrition

Social development

Economy and employment

The project contributes to these Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations:

Life on land