The GIZ approach is based on the policy of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) regarding the indigenous peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean. BMZ published its concept on this issue in 1996, and an updated version will be presented in the first half of 2006.

The active participation of indigenous peoples in national and international development processes presents an indispensable potential for broad-based realisation of political, civil, economic, social and cultural human rights. It facilitates the enhancement of social cohesion, the harnessing of the traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples for sustainable development, and the strengthening of the fragile legitimacy of democratic institutions in Latin America.

Working together with its partners, GIZ aims to help support indigenous peoples in better articulating, asserting and exercising their legitimate rights. In the process, GIZ sets out to adapt its promotional approaches even more to the needs of the indigenous peoples. 

GIZ makes every effort to ensure that its work is oriented to the specific and historically determined social situation in each country. Central to this is supporting an independent and self-determined development path. This includes the early involvement of indigenous peoples in all decisions pertaining to their country and way of life.

GIZ’s active support of indigenous peoples takes two forms:

• through inclusion and consideration of indigenous interests as far as possible in all German development cooperation projects in Latin America, and through the appropriate sharing in the benefits of these projects by indigenous peoples (cross-cutting function)
  
• through direct support for indigenous organisations. These can be small local interest groups, umbrella organisations or networks operating internationally, and indigenous authorities in the partner countries. 

GIZ’s regional priority areas are:

• countries and regions with a high percentage of indigenous population (Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala and Peru)
  
• regions of global significance from the thematic and environmental perspective (such as preservation of tropical forest in the Amazon region).

GIZ’s thematic priority areas are:

• democracy, civil society and public administration  
  
• management of natural resources, sustainable rural and agricultural development 
  
• peace-building and crisis prevention
  
• social development (education, water supply and sanitation, health)