What we offer

Implementing the Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD)
We help partner countries to implement the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. We promote the development of National Action Programmes and the implementation of concrete measures at local and regional level.

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
We foster the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. Our activities concentrate on equitable benefit-sharing and building the technical and organisational capacities needed to handle the risks posed by genetic engineering.

Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC)
The Kyoto Protocol establishes a set of climate protection mechanisms. To apply these mechanisms, specialists need to be trained and organisational structures created in the partner countries. In addition, we promote measures to adapt to climate change.

Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent (PIC) and Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
We help to build the HR and institutional capacities needed to manage toxic substances. We provide advice on how to implement international chemicals safety standards in developing countries.

Substituting ozone-depleting substances (Montreal Protocol)
We help developing countries to phase out the production and use of substances that destroy the ozone layer.

Supporting international forest-related processes
We help our partners to play a role in shaping the international forest regime. We foster the development of national forest policies and their implementation at local level.

Promoting national sustainability strategies in developing countries (Rio follow-up process)
We promote the development and implementation of national sustainability strategies in developing countries.

What you can achieve with us

The 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro became a defining moment in international environmental policy by adopting the Agenda 21 programme of action and reaching agreement on a set of global conventions. Core elements were the agreement to focus on “sustainability” and the pledge to link environment and development.
There can be no ecological sustainability without effective poverty reduction. German Development Cooperation is firmly committed to this promise of Rio. Implementing the agreements and objectives in practice needs political skill. It also requires an adequate institutional and organisational framework and practicable instruments.

Our work results in

• the implementation of international agreements at national level
• the development and execution of national implementation strategies
• improved capacity of partner countries to negotiate at international level and to engage with other relevant actors at national level
• the performance of concrete activities at subnational and local level enabling the implementation of international agreements.