Through cooperation with universities, research institutions and development cooperation (DC) organisations, GIZ can exchange, mobilise and update needs-oriented knowledge and practical experience for Technical Cooperation in the health sector. The steady increase in the number of binding agreements and cooperative undertakings in the health sector with various DC organisations at central or project level clearly shows GIZ’s commitment in this area.

Some examples of cooperation:

• BACKUP Initiative:
  In accordance with the Millennium Development Goals, the initiative promotes partnerships and cooperation in order to support partner countries, together with national and international organisations such as UNAIDS, WHO and ILO, in making better use of global financing mechanisms for combating AIDS, TB and malaria.

• Cooperation with private enterprises:
  GIZ supports and promotes cooperation between European companies and institutions in developing countries. Examples of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) are HIV/AIDS workplace programmes.

• Social health insurance:
  Since 2004, GIZ (former GTZ), in cooperation with ILO and WHO, has promoted innovative approaches to introducing social security systems or social health insurance in various countries: Kenya is one example.

• Cooperative agreements with WHO for South-East Asia (SEARO):
  In 2004, a cooperative agreement was reached between GIZ (former GTZ) and WHO for South-East Asia to strengthen regional cooperation in the health sector.

• Programme-oriented DC / Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp):
  The international discussion of programme-oriented DC and the “sector-wide approach” (SWAp) marks a paradigm change in international development cooperation. GIZ supports cooperation and capacity-building measures in the scope of a SWAp in several countries in Africa and Asia.

The following pages provide further information.