Democracy

Strengthening democracy and promoting human rights are central objectives of Germany’s development policy. GIZ helps its partners to establish democratic systems and network all civil society actors. Together we find solutions to political, economic and societal challenges.

GIZ/Iris Felicia Haidau

‘Investment in our common future’

Heidy Rombouts, Director General of Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid at the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, in an interview on Belgium’s EU Council Presidency

‘Inspiring women’

The three women presidents of the human rights courts in Africa, Europe and the Americas in an akzente interview.

Top trio for human rights

A signal for equality: since the start of 2024, all three regional human rights courts have been led by women.

Interamerikanischer Gerichtshof für Menschenrechte

A driving force behind ‘green’ case law

We visit the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the Human Rights Institute in San José, where human rights, nature and the environment are viewed in a new light.

‘An amazing change’

Indonesia is one of the most stable countries in Asia. GIZ Country Director Martin Hansen explains the reasons for this stability and why the company continues to operate there.

Learning progress

Omar Alkadamani fled to Germany from Syria as a child. He knows exactly how important the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 ‘Quality education’ is – for him personally and for every country that strives for a better future.

‘A historical chance to build a powerful region’

Lviv, revisited: In 2020, akzente spoke with its mayor Andriy Sadovyj for the first time. Since the Russian invasion, his world is a different one.

Revisiting strong women in Jordan

Five years ago, akzente interviewed women elected to Jordan’s regional councils. Now we’re back in Jordan to visit them again.

African perspectives

Information is a powerful tool in democratic opinion forming. The African Union Media Fellowship enhances the capacity of African journalists to tell stories for and about their continent.

Fair, smart and current

All over the world, women face disadvantages. Feminist development policy aims to address the causes of this inequality.

‘We’re ready to go as soon as we can work again.’

An interview with GIZ Country Director in Ethiopia Peter Palesch on working under difficult circumstances.

Keeping the dialogue going

akzente accompanied Peter Palesch, the experienced GIZ country director in Ethiopia, for one day.