Partners and Project Structure

As a service provider for international cooperation in sustainable development and international education work, GIZ is committed worldwide to creating a livable future.

Together with its clients and partners, GIZ develops and plans ideas for political, social, and economic changes and implements them in collaboration.

As a federal enterprise, GIZ upholds German and European values. It supports the German government in achieving its goals in international cooperation for sustainable development.

GIZ works on effective and efficient solutions that offer people perspectives and permanently improve their living conditions. The 2030 Agenda serves as the overarching framework that guides GIZ’s work in collaboration with partners and clients.

In Connective Cities, GIZ is primarily responsible for collaborating with international partners and organizations, implementing activities, and networking municipal practitioners in the partner countries.

The mission of Engagement Global is to promote and strengthen the development policy engagement of schools, associations, foundations, individuals, businesses, and civil society in Germany. The SKEW (Service Agency Communities in One World) is a division of Engagement Global and, since 2001, has served as the competence center for municipal development policy on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and co-financing federal states. It informs, advises, networks, promotes, qualifies, and motivates municipal actors—targeted, non-profit, and free of charge.

The key topics of the SKEW are municipal partnerships, fair trade and fair procurement, as well as the implementation of the Agenda 2030 at a municipal level.

The SKEW is responsible for activating German partners for international exchange in Connective Cities and coordinates the activities carried out in Germany.

The DST is an association of independent cities and towns in Germany. In the components of the DST, numerous representatives from the approximately 3,200 German member cities and municipalities are actively involved.

The German Association of Cities represents the interests of all independent cities and most of the towns belonging to districts. It engages in dialogue with the federal government, the Bundestag, the Bundesrat, the European Union, and numerous organizations, influencing legislation and ensuring the protection of municipal self-governance as guaranteed by the Basic Law (Grundgesetz). Above all, the DST advises its member cities, keeps them informed about significant developments, and fosters active exchanges between them.

The German County Association (DLT) is the national association of all 294 German counties. Its direct members are the county associations of the 13 federal states, each representing local interests at the state level. The DLT represents three quarters of all municipal service providers, around 96% of Germany’s territory, and—with 57 million residents—68% of the country’s population. Key areas of work include public services, secondary education and vocational schools, economic development, local labor market policy, social welfare, youth and healthcare systems, as well as e-government and administrative modernization.

The German Association of Towns and Municipalities (DStGB) represents the interests of German towns and municipalities at the state, federal, and EU levels. Through its 17 member associations, it connects and represents 11,000 large, medium-sized, and small municipalities. Core activities include political advocacy with decision-makers at federal and EU level, raising awareness of municipal concerns through media outreach, ongoing exchange of experience and information among member associations, and representation in central organizations that promote municipal interests.

The Association of Local Public Utilities (VKU) represents the interests of municipal utilities and waste management companies in Germany. Its more than 1,600 member companies operate in energy supply, water and wastewater management, waste management and public cleansing, as well as telecommunications. With their technical expertise, VKU members make substantial contributions to climate adaptation, renewable energy, and circular economy solutions. In 2023, these companies employed around 319,000 people, generated more than EUR 213 billion in revenue, and invested over EUR 19 billion.