Innovation

: Innovation

We have been promoting sustainable development for more than 50 years and are currently operating in more than 120 developing countries. We finance, develop and implement development projects directly in the countries themselves. This means that we are in constant contact with the local target groups and develop innovations in collaboration with our partners. We support local start-ups, government and non-governmental organisations and have strong networks throughout the world.

In Germany and across the globe: where and how we develop our ideas

We currently have around 1,600 projects, in which we work on a daily basis on new solutions to society’s challenges. In doing so, we are increasingly using methods that focus on users, such as scrum, design thinking and lean start-up. In addition to new products and services, we create new cooperation formats, (internal) processes, methods and procedures as required. These innovations are usually incremental and enable us to make steady improvements to existing approaches.

At the same time, we create scope for innovation throughout GIZ by initiating pilot projects and innovation formats. Internal and external innovation calls strengthen the innovation culture at GIZ and allow us to develop innovative projects and services. Lab formats help us to work closely with external partners to explore the transformative potential of new technologies and topics beyond mere technological solutions for international development cooperation.

Data Service Center

In the Data Service Center, a team of data scientists advises GIZ projects on how they can collect, analyze, manage and use a wide range of data sets for their work. In this way, it makes an important contribution to anchoring data-based work at GIZ. The Data Service Center currently provides advice in three areas: Geodata, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), each of which is applied in a variety of sectors.

GIZ Data Lab

The GIZ Data Lab is a platform that brings together thinkers and practitioners to promote the effective, fair and responsible use of digital data for sustainable development
GIZ Innovation Fund

GIZ Innovation Fund

Developing, implementing and rolling out innovative ideas for products, services and business models – that’s the objective of the GIZ Innovation Fund.

techDetector

The techDetector serves as a guide for innovative technologies and offers a strategic and analytical assessment of their readiness level and potential relevance for sustainable development.
 



    

        

            
             Agile methods
            
        

        
Agile methods

        
Originally used in IT, agile methods of process management offer a degree of transparency that can also be used in international cooperation.

    






    
    
                    

                        
                            

                                
                            

                            
Digital Transformation

                            
GIZ defines digital transformation as the global and dynamic structural change triggered by innovations in the field of digital technologies and their social diffusion. This socio-technical change process shapes all areas of life and influences the economic, social and political spheres. The digital transformation therefore poses a major challenge, but at the same time it can be an important lever for achieving the goals of sustainable development.