Concrete experience is needed in matters concerning the utility and implementation of international regulations in developing countries – for example, in matters relating to the use of genetically modified organisms in agriculture. Thus GIZ – in Germany and partner countries – is often asked to help draw up practice-based political position papers.

In this context GIZ has been taking part in international negotiations since 1993, including the Conferences of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Cartagena Protocol and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (IT).

At European level many practical examples supplied by GIZ have contributed to EU coordination of biodiversity policy, underpinning negotiating positions and adjusting the situation in favour of the developing countries. In addition, in commenting on applications to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) GIZ has often been able to influence project design in order, for example, to make projects more efficient or to take account of important environmental or development-related aspects.

GIZ’s know-how is also sought after by other donors – such as the Dutch Foreign Ministry, who have called on GIZ in connection with the joint Capacity Development Initiative for Africa on the theme of access to genetic resources and benefit sharing (ABS). As a result of this initiative the African negotiating position on ABS was defined and thus significantly strengthened.
 
Representatives of GIZ have also been appointed to national and international bodies, where they have been able to influence the shaping of opinion. Such bodies include:

• the Traditional Knowledge expert group of the CBD,
• the Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) expert group of the CBD, 
• the Conservation Finance Alliance (CFA) working group, and 
• the working group of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) on access to genetic resources and equitable benefit sharing.