In many of GIZ’s partner countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, poverty and injustice determine the lives of indigenous peoples and other ethnic minorities. For decades they have sought a more comprehensive political role and called for support in claiming their rights: above all, the rights to self-determination and to political recognition. A large number of indigenous organisations at local, regional and national levels support and work toward these goals. 

In order to make more efficient use of its many years of experience and professional expertise in working together with indigenous peoples, GIZ (former GTZ) in 2002 established the Coordination Office for Indigenous Peoples in Latin America and the Caribbean (KIVLAK). 
KIVLAK contributes to gearing the promotional approaches of German Development Cooperation more to the needs and expectations of indigenous peoples.

Appropriate starting points for strengthening the rights of these people include supporting democracy and public administration, management of natural resources, peace-building and conflict transformation, and social development. The principal client for the projects which GIZ itself implements is the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
KIVLAK’s work includes: 

• supporting and advising BMZ in its positioning and in devising development policy strategies for addressing indigenous issues 
• advising on and improving the coordination of TC projects in Latin America that work with indigenous peoples
• more effectively networking the promotional approaches of the whole of German DC for indigenous peoples in Latin America
• addressing the topic of indigenous peoples in Latin America in the inter-institutional and international dialogue
• collaborating in the Indigenous Peoples Network of the GIZ sector network Rural Development/Management of Natural Resources in Latin America and the Caribbean
• public relations for indigenous peoples through events, print and electronic media and documentation
• supporting the umbrella organisation of indigenous organisations in the Amazon Basin (COICA).