Launch of GIZ in South Africa

On January 25, 2011, the new German development agency GIZ was launched at the German Ambassador's residence in Pretoria in front of about two hundred guests.

Enlarge image German Ambassador Dieter W. Haller at the GIZ launch (© GIZ) During his speech, German Ambassador to South Africa, Dieter W. Haller, said: “This is a great day for German-South African cooperation, which is strong, viable and future orientated on equal footing. GIZ brings together the long-standing expertise of the German Development Service (DED), the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and InWEnt Capacity Building International.”

“The tried-and-tested services delivered by DED, GTZ and InWEnt will not change as a result of the merger”, said GIZ's Country Representative for South Africa, Peter Conze.

“On the contrary, we can now provide a wide range of services from a single source, alleviating cooperation for our partners. At the same time, we will maintain our working efficiency, effectiveness and partner-orientation in order to improve the living conditions of the people in South Africa,” he added.

The Department of Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) and the National Treasury welcomed the formation of GIZ.

“We will forever remember the dynamic cooperation during and in the run-up to the first Football World Cup on African soil,” Vernie Petersen, Director General of SRSA said.

The financial and technical cooperation between South Africa and Germany amounts to about 135 million Euro annually. Currently the GIZ employs about 300 people, of whom 60 percent are South Africans.

Enlarge image Press Briefing at the GIZ launch (© GIZ) The main areas of the cooperation are 'Governance and Administration' (including violence prevention), 'HIV/Aids prevention' and 'Climate and Energy' – with special emphasis on renewables. In this sector, the GIZ supports the South African Department of Environmental Affairs in hosting the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change 2011 in Durban. GIZ is also engaged in international education work and runs an ambitious programme on skills development

On December 16, the merger of the German development agencies GTZ (German Technical Cooperation), DED (German Development Service) and InWEnt (Capacity Building International) was completed, forming the new GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH).

Under the new agency, German development cooperation will be more efficient and effective. The merger will simplify the complex network of German development agencies on the ground.