Many challenges in modern development cooperation do not stop at a nation’s boundaries. War, disease, drought and scarce resources such as water dominate life in entire regions. The same is true for global trends. Activities at country level can only succeed if accompanied by a transboundary strategic approach.
That is why GTZ not only implements projects in the priority and partner countries, but focuses on transboundary issues in line with the framework determined by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

GTZ's work is founded on BMZ policies that were developed at two Heads of State and Government summits.

When the Millennium Goals for 2015 were adopted at the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in September 2000, the German Federal Government responded by establishing its Program of Action 2015. This maps out the German contribution towards halving extreme poverty worldwide by 2015.
The 2002 G8 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada resulted in the G8 Africa Action Plan, BMZ’s response to which is set forth in the 'German implementation schedule'.

Both papers have had a decisive influence on the strategic orientation of BMZ’s development policy. From them, GTZ derived the following regional issues that are being addressed in projects with a transboundary scope:

• Focusing on the implementation plan of the G8 Africa Action Plan - Governance reform processes, peace and security
• New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), a programme to overcome Africa’s economic marginalisation and to reduce poverty
• Management of transboundary water resources - Integrated water resource management projects in Africa
• Development of participatory Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP)
• Promotion of initiatives to overcome female genital mutilation (FGM)
• Islam and technical cooperation in Africa - Integrating Islam as a socio-cultural aspect into development cooperation