Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

GIZ has been working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) since 1978. This work had to be halted in 1994 due to the civil war and the associated security risks. When cooperation with the European Union (EU) was resumed in 2002, German involvement was also stepped up again. Our country office is located in the capital Kinshasa. 

As a result of the tense political situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, since 2017, GIZ’s work on behalf of BMZ and the German Federal Foreign Office has taken a development cooperation approach that is independent of government involvement, concentrating on activities with the target groups themselves.

The main areas of GIZ’s work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are:

• Conservation and sustainable use of natural resources
  
• Drinking water/sanitation
  
• Sustainable economic development
  
• Peace and security
  

The creation of a sustainable and affordable drinking water and sanitation system in line with hygiene standards has so far given over a million people access to clean drinking water. The economic and social situation of the population has been improved by a more stable, more inclusive range of financial services. The conservation of natural resources focuses on supporting the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation in managing six conservation areas.