The German development cooperation is either initiated and organised by the German government, or devised and implemented independently by NGOs.
Development policy projects for concrete realisation are commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The two most important organisations responsible for the implementation of financial and technical cooperation projects are the KfW Entwicklungsbank (development bank) and GTZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit).
KfW finances investments and accompanying consulting services in developing countries. It is committed to the primary goal of German development cooperation, to sustainably improve the economic and social conditions of the people in developing countries. Through its financial cooperation it contributes to reducing poverty, protecting natural resources and securing peace worldwide.
The main focus of GTZ is on so-called technical cooperation. Far from being centered on transferring technical knowledge, this involves primarily communicating knowledge that enables people to shape their present and future on their own. As a result, this should ensure sustainable development. The projects of both organisations are mainly funded by BMZ.
Non-government cooperation, on the other hand, is funded by various groups and organisations, and implemented by them on their own responsibility. In Germany alone, there are several thousands of NGOs working in the field of development. Most of them are private, church-funded or politically-oriented providers of development programmes and projects. Many of them are members of the Verband Entwicklungspolitik Deutscher Nichtregierungsorganisationen, VENRO (Association of German NGDOs), representing a considerable part of German civil society.
