Development is inconceivable if its cultural dimension is not taken into account. There is broad agreement about that in the international research community and in the debate on development policy. The UNESCO Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, ratified in 2005, has turned the spotlight on ‘Culture and Development’ in the debate on development policy in Germany and in GIZ’s work.

But what role does culture play in the day-to-day reality of Germany’s development cooperation with its partner countries? To what extent is it helpful to take cultural aspects into account when promoting sustainable development? And how do we deal in this context with our own cultural background, values and traditions?

GIZ discusses these issues with its partners at home and abroad. The resulting insights are an important element of our work on the ground. Theatre, photos and cartoons, for example, are all used in GIZ projects to convey specific themes. But the question of how the cultures of our partner countries can be preserved and promoted is one we also address, together with our partners.

Culture can also contribute directly to a country’s economic development, and thus to poverty reduction. The creative economy offers huge potential for the people in our partner countries to find work – this is particularly true for women. GIZ uses existing programmes to assist its partner countries in developing different sectors of the creative economy.

Find out more

• The creative economy as an engine of development
  The creative economy
• Networking the creative industries
  Creative networks
• The time factor
  Time and development
• The concept of progress in different cultures
  Progress
• Focus on culture and development
  Culture and development