The gender approach, i.e., ensuring equal rights and opportunities for boys, girls, men and women is a quality characteristic of GTZ work in developing countries.

Women and men are to have equal access to project services and be able to participate equally in project design and development. There has been a change of approach here in recent years: more projects are being systematically targeted at several levels in order to establish political structures and framework conditions that promote gender equality. The current priority is thus to provide advisory services to partner countries wishing to integrate gender into policy and decision-making at national level (gender mainstreaming).

Over recent years, GTZ has developed a range of practical instruments designed to integrate gender into a variety of sectors. The basis for GTZ public-benefit operations is the BMZ "Concept on Gender Equality" (2001).

Gender equality is an imperative for GTZ as an employer as well. It is promoted through measures laid down in the in-house gender equality plan. The plan is one element of gender mainstreaming at GTZ. The integration of gender aspects in processes and procedures and the further strengthening of our gender competence are part of the new "Corporate Strategy on Gender Mainstreaming 2006 - 2010" which was approved in December 2005. You will find the electronic version of the Strategy in English, German, Spanish, French, and Portuguese in the Publications list under "Gender".

Please visit the following pages for further information about GTZ's work: