The GIZ Story Portal

Welcome to the GIZ Story Portal. We invite you to explore GIZ’s work worldwide, get to know fascinating people, and learn about leading experts’ views on crucial topics in international cooperation.

Marcel Fratzscher, in a suit and tie against a blue background, speaking and gesturing with both hands in front of him.

Interview

‘Cuts to the development budget are a mistake’

Marcel Fratzscher believes that investing in the Global South is just as important as investing in Germany. The President of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) says that without open markets and international partnerships, our prosperity will decline.

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Lacina Koné und Anna Sophie Herken

Interview

‘The old Africa does not exist anymore’

From dependency to digital sovereignty: Africa is redefining its place in the global technology order. Lacina Koné, Director General and CEO of Smart Africa, and Anna Sophie Herken, GIZ Managing Director, speak with us about why Europe and Africa must act together and why both continents have more to gain than they realise.

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Close-up of a hand holding a purple smartphone while the other hand holds a pen. A notebook is visible in the background, with the focus on the hands.

Report

Learning with India: AI language assistants for digital inclusion

When it comes to artificial intelligence (AI), German and Indian interests are aligned. A visit to the subcontinent highlights why it is essential for AI systems to be trained in multiple languages.

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Stories by Topic

Democracy and the rule of law Digital transformation Peace and security Climate and environmental protection Agriculture and nutrition Sustainable infrastructure Social development Economy and employment

Stories by Region

Africa Asia Europe Latin America and the Caribbean

Spotlight on water

Infographic

Water for all

Clean water cannot be taken for granted. Water scarcity threatens billions of people. Our infographic highlights the challenges and possible solutions.

Grafik mit einer Weltkugel in einer Landschaft

Background

The most important questions on the global water crisis

The world is overusing its water resources. At the same time, many people still do not have an adequate clean water supply. The 2026 UN Water Conference aims to find solutions. Answers to the most important questions on the water crisis:

water canister

Interview

‘Water cooperation can greatly defuse conflicts’

Susanne Schmeier is Professor of Water Cooperation, Law and Diplomacy in the Netherlands. Her research shows that conflicts over water can be managed proactively – ideally with international support.

Susanne Schmeier

Background

The global water crisis affects us all

Climate change and overuse are making water a scarce resource. Our colleague Dieter Rothenberger explains how GIZ is working to tackle this crisis. He coordinates the projects with which we improve water and sanitation provision across the globe.

Illustration einer Person im Profil mit überlagerten Recycling-Pfeilen und Globus-Symbol, umgeben von Wellenlinien, Wolken, Sonne und Blättern als Darstellung der globalen Wasserkrise.

Introducing: Faces of GIZ

A smiling woman wearing a yellow scarf stands on a narrow path in a lush green garden filled with plants and flowers.

Hello from Suva

My name is Anina Vontobel. I am from Switzerland and have been working for GIZ for more than ten years now.

Portrait of a smiling person with long dark hair holding a soccer ball under one arm against a gray background.

Hello from Amman

My name is Maryana Al-Haddad. My path to GIZ has been rather unusual: for almost ten years, I played as goalkeeper for the Jordanian national team.

Ein Mann mit Bart in beigem Blazer und weißem T-Shirt spricht gestikulierend vor einem blau-schwarz gemusterten Wandgemälde.

Hello from Brasília

My name is Anderson Falcão. I am responsible for the strategies in the areas of communication, digital transformation and information technology at GIZ Brazil.

Diversity sustains our lives – biodiversity around the globe

Close-up of a reddish-brown orangutan sitting among green leaves in a forest. — Orangutans are a symbol of Indonesia’s rich biodiversity: only around 12,000 still live in in the north of Sumatra – deforestation and poaching are threatening their habitat. As ‘gardeners of the forest’, the animals spread seeds and help to regenerate the rainforest. People, too, benefit from their protection: intact forests store carbon, safeguard water and livelihoods. GIZ supports the South-East Asian country in preserving its biodiversity on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE).
© Nina Giese

Aerial view of a branching, winding river system snaking through dense green mangrove or wetland vegetation. — The Amazon region is much more than just rainforest: it is one of Earth’s largest living biological libraries – and is still teeming with secrets. The Amazon Basin spans nine countries and combines forests, rivers, wetlands and unique ecosystems. Brazil is home to the largest share. Knowledge held by Indigenous Peoples and insights from this unique natural environment benefit the whole of humanity. The Amazon Fund, which GIZ supports on Germany’s behalf, shows how protection and sustainable development can work successfully.
© Curioso.Photography/Adobe Stock

A young woman wearing an orange headscarf sits on a bed in a simple room and holds up a drawing of trees and a wide blue river toward the camera. — A young neighbour to the world’s largest mangrove forest: Lamia lives on the edge of the UNESCO World Heritage Site the Sundarbans in Bangladesh. She knows how important this habitat is and that humans are part of its biodiversity. The Sundarbans provide a livelihood in Bangladesh for more than 3.5 million women, men and children. GIZ has supported communities in using forests sustainably and empowering women in villages. In this way, nature conservation has boosted future prospects for all.
© GIZ/Tapash Paul

A person stands in a narrow canoe and poles through shallow water covered with floating plants dotted with small purple flowers. — The Kafue River is considered the lifeblood of Zambia. Around half of the people in its catchment area rely on its water – for agriculture, industry and to drink. Floods in the Kafue Flats are also important for preserving biodiversity. However, overuse, environmental degradation and climate change are endangering the river and thus the resources that are vital for human and animal life. On behalf of BMZ and the EU, GIZ supports the government, civil society and the private sector in protecting the Kafue River, restoring degraded landscapes and using water equitably and sustainably in the long term.
© TOMCHIPONGE/pixabay

Underwater view of a seagrass meadow with yellow-orange tube sponges rising from the vegetation in the center. — Seagrass might seem unspectacular, but it is an important component of marine nature in the eastern Caribbean. Underwater prairies provide countless animals with food and shelter and contribute to the stability of the coasts. However, climate change, pollution and overuse of coastal regions is putting them under pressure. GIZ works with three Caribbean island countries – Dominica, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – to combine marine conservation with economic development. This creates a sustainable blue economy that protects marine and coastal biodiversity while generating new income opportunities.
© dam/Adobe Stock

A hand grips the trunk of a young tree in a forest, with branches and leaves framing the foreground. — Handling timber responsibly: in Laos, forests provide a living space and a source of food and income for many people. The government has pledged to increase forest cover to 70 per cent. GIZ supports sustainable agriculture and forestry. The population thus protects its tropical forests, preserves biodiversity and binds harmful CO₂ – to the benefit of all. Laos was one of the first countries worldwide to commit to the goals of the Paris Agreement.
© GIZ/Peter Livermore

A person hikes along a pale rocky ridge with hazy blue mountain ranges stretching into the distance behind. — The Peaks of the Balkans long-distance hiking trail winds its way through the impressive mountains of Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo. The route allows visitors to experience biological diversity and generates income for people locally – for example through family-run accommodation, hiking tours and regional products. Sustainable tourism combines recreation with nature conservation and promotes understanding across borders. GIZ initiated the trail with local partners: How an idea got off the ground.
© Max Bosse

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Integrated Company Report 2025

Successful and sustainable international cooperation requires intensive collaboration.

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