In the early years of this new millennium, it is evident that the world has not become a more peaceful place than the one we knew in the 20th century. Violent crises and conflicts are neither less frequent, nor less intense. Instead of wars between countries, we are now confronted with numerous civil wars, "markets of violence" in disintegrating states and global terrorist threats. These conflicts deprive people of their livelihoods, cause massive individual and macroeconomic costs, and inflict severe psychological suffering and physical harm on millions of people.

Development Cooperation is also affected: War and violence make sustainable development difficult or even impossible.

In order to increase awareness of the connection between Development Cooperation and conflicts, and to enhance the potential of Development Cooperation in this field, GIZ has launched the Crisis Prevention and Conflict Transformation Programme on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The programme's main focus is to develop concepts and instruments for crisis prevention, conflict transformation and peace building and to apply these in Development Cooperation, with the aim of institutionalising this important trans-sectoral theme.

BMZ short documentary: Promoting peace and security in Cambodia

This film shows how development cooperation is helping the country to deal with the legacy of four years of the Khmer Rouge regime, while also promoting security in the country.