Stories on social development

Sara Nuru rose to fame as a winner of Germany’s Next Top Model. She is now a successful entrepreneur, supporting women in Ethiopia. In 2018, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) appointed Sara Nuru as an ambassador for fair trade. In this interview for akzente, she reports on how her own association, nuruWomen, is supporting economic independence for women.

Albania will take centre stage as the official host country at the ITB 2025 travel trade show in Berlin. Located in the Western Balkans, Albania has so much to offer visitors. GIZ is supporting a number of local partners to ensure that the upsurge in tourism also benefits rural areas. A visit to the cultural and architectural heart of northern Albania.

Kosovo’s Government is focusing on innovation and digitalisation in government and the economy. In the interview, Lulëzon Jagxhiu, advisor to Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti, discusses the role played by the Innovation and Training Park in Prizren. The transformation of the former Bundeswehr military camp into a civilian economic and educational centre is a German-Kosovar initiative.

How a barracks in Kosovo became an attractive centre for business and training: we visit the Innovation and Training Park (ITP) Prizren. With GIZ support, it has become one of the most important hubs for innovation in the Western Balkans.

Daher Zedan, Country Director of the Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM), explains how the healthcare organisation is establishing reliable healthcare in Syria despite the difficult conditions.

My name is Matthias Militzer. I returned to Germany at the end of last year, having spent many exciting years working as a GIZ risk manager in Afghanistan and South Sudan.

Three questions for the ophthalmologist Dr Meena Kunwar Joshi, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and Deputy Director of the Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Hospital, which also treats civilians. With the support of GIZ, Dr Kunwar Joshi expanded the hos

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.

Bernd Schramm explains why ensuring equal participation for people with and without disabilities is important in international cooperation and how much progress has been made.

GIZ Managing Director Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven on this autumn’s political pushes for sustainability

Development cooperation and humanitarian aid are important for Germany’s own stability and its role in the world, says the Chair of the Board of Welthungerhilfe. Marlehn Thieme explains how GIZ and Welthungerhilfe are achieving results together and describes the obstacles in their way.

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.