Stories on democracy and the rule of law

Illustration einer Frau fragmentierte grafische Flächen

Feature

A matter of justice and dignity

In order for Syrians to rebuild their country in a just and stable manner, the property rights of refugees and displaced persons must be secured. Together with partners, GIZ has created an important basis for this to happen.

Eine Frau mit blonden, lockigen Haaren steht auf einem Balkon, trägt ein schwarzes, gemustertes Spitzenoberteil und lächelt leicht, im Hintergrund ist üppiges tropisches Grün mit Blüten und einem bewölkten Himmel zu sehen.

Hello from Niamey

I’m Natalie Naeser. I work for GIZ in Niger, where I manage the Sahel Resilience Strengthening project.

Schwarz-weißes, digital gezeichnetes Porträt einer Frau mit langen, dunklen Haaren und Ohrringen vor einem türkisfarbenen Aquarellhintergrund mit schwarzem Rollkragenpullover

Three questions

‘We need a seat at the table – not next to it’

Anila Noor is the spokesperson of a network for refugee women and LBTIQ+ individuals. With GIZ support, the network empowers women who have been forcibly displaced to connect with each other and shape political processes directly.

Diskussion in einem Konferenzraum mit einer Frau im grauen Blazer, die mit Gestik spricht, umgeben von mehreren Personen in Businesskleidung, die aufmerksam zuhören.

Guest article

Putting international cooperation on a new footing

Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer discusses new partnerships with the Global South and explains why they are particularly important now.

Eine Frau mit schulterlangem blondem Haar trägt eine farbenfrohe Bluse mit abstraktem Muster und spricht auf einer Veranstaltung in Brüssel an einem Rednerpult mit einem Mikrofon in der Hand.

Interview

‘GIZ’s expertise is incredibly valuable’

Hildegard Bentele, Vice-Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Development, talks about learning from crises, the EU’s place in the current geopolitical rivalry and what GIZ offers in international cooperation.

Ein Mann mit kurzem Bart und brauner Jacke steht vor einer bunten Wandmalerei, die eine Person mit mehreren Hunden an der Leine zeigt.

Hello from Kyiv

My name is Maksym Vernyhora and I am working on a GIZ mental health project in Ukraine.

A smiling man in military camouflage uniform with a name tag reading ‘A. Stirnimann’ stands next to a woman in a red shirt in front of a modern blue building.

Interview

Peacekeeping Training Centre: securing peace is only possible together

GIZ component manager Teresa Krafft and Swiss Colonel André Stirnimann report on their work at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center (KAIPTC) in Ghana.

Nahaufnahme eines Kindes mit schwarzen Streifenmustern im Gesicht, das zur Seite blickt, mit verschwommenem Hintergrund.

Interview

‘After COP29, the world is now looking ahead to Brazil’

The COP29 UN Climate Change Conference in Azerbaijan ended with relatively little to show in the way of progress. In an interview with akzente, Jörg Linke, Head of GIZ’s Competence Centre for Climate Change, explains why hopes are now turning to COP30 next year in Belém.

UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner in Ukraine.

Interview

‘The SDGs are the best way to avert an apocalyptic future’

The world is facing uncertain times, and geopolitical tensions are on the rise. Can the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) be upheld? Achim Steiner, Administrator of the UN Development Programme, believes that they are more relevant than ever. In this interview, he explains why.

Interview

‘Information manipulation and interference are undermining our democracies’

How is Moldova countering the threat posed by complex disinformation and foreign influence campaigns? Former Minister of Internal Affairs in Moldova Ana Revenco shares some insights into strategies and examples of international cooperation.

Maria Escobar stands in front of a sunset

Hello from La Libertad

my name is María José Rodríguez Escobar and I’m from El Salvador. Together with my colleague Natalia Romero Mora from Costa Rica, I coordinate and advise a transnational team of 15 GIZ communicators.

Interview

‘Climate change won’t wait until the war is over’

In this akzente interview, the Sudanese climate activist Nisreen Elsaim reports how she was forced to flee her home and how she continues to fight for climate justice.