Case Studies

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in China

The federally owned Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH*, an international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations, has been operating in China for almost 30 years. As an instrument of bilateral cooperation, we act on behalf of the German government and in the interests of both Germany and China.

GIZ provides policy advice to support China’s reform process to build a harmonious, resource-saving society which strives for a balance between economic growth, social equality and environmental protection. The challenges related to a low carbon economy feature highly on GIZ’s agenda. Capacity building for partner-country experts is a key component of our services.

We constantly adjust the performance profile of GIZ to accommodate the pace of change in the Chinese reform process. Often the distinct German social and ecological market economy serves as a model. In China, GIZ operates in fields where German participants have solid experience and competitive advantages.

Cooperation with German businesses is a key component of our projects. By virtue of the longstanding nature of its cooperation, GIZ has developed close ties with Chinese networks and is building upon this relationship to foster German-Chinese cooperation.

As a for public-benefit, federally owned enterprise, we support the German Government in achieving its objectives in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. GIZ operates on behalf of the German government and other public and private sector clients in more than 130 countries worldwide. These include the governments of other countries, international organisations and private companies. We are also engaged in international education work around the globe.

GIZ in China is uniquely positioned as a partner for CSR-related activities in China because of its:

• Capacity to achieve improvements both in the regulatory framework conditions regarding environmental and social standards, and in private sector sustainability performance.
• Abundant experience in conceiving and implementing complex and effective capacity development measures.
• Almost 30 years of close cooperation with relevant Chinese government bodies at central, provincial and local levels in a multitude of fields, such as CSR and climate change.
• Acknowledged reputation by government institutions and the private sector for its credible delivery of effective and sustainable solutions.
• Not-for profit organization status with no primary business interest, becoming effectively the ideal neutral partner.

 

GIZ Consultancy Services on CSR in China

The Sino-German CSR Project is the first bilateral cooperation to focus exclusively on CSR in China an is the backbone of GIZ's CSR consultancy services. The Project is at the core of the operations related to sustainability and organisational improvement.

Sustainability is one of the crucial characteristics of GIZ’s unique approach in the area of consultancy services. The objective of GIZ’s services is to enable local companies carry on with the measures required to improve their performance without external support after the end of the consultancy process. Moreover, GIZ aims to empower local companies to also identify and implement new measures for continuous internal self-improvement. This unique approach creates positive results with relatively little input.

In China, GIZ has cooperated with numerous leading multinational and international companies, particularly in the fields of CSR, supply chain management and capacity building. As an example, in the case of a well-known global retail brand, GIZ implemented innovative and effective dialogue concepts to improve social standards in strategic partner companies of their supply chain.

It is necessary to underline that the consultancy approaches applied by GIZ in China can be introduced to all industrial sectors, drawing from an international, top quality pool of technical consultants and experts. Most importantly, through its unique consultancy methodologies, GIZ facilitates self-improvement and self-regulation processes within companies. This is based on the principle that company staff, if empowered in the proper way, will be able to elaborate efficient solutions by themselves and will look for expert assistance when required.

GIZ in China and International Cooperation on CSR

GIZ in China has collaborated with major international governmental and non-governmental organisations to improve sustainability issues at a global level.

The following is a selection of GIZ’s international collaborations in the field of CSR work in China:

• Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC)
  A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between GIZ and the US-based ISC in May 2010 on the long-term cooperation on CSR, with a focus on environmental protection and energy efficiency.
• Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
  GIZ cooperates with GRI in the capacity building of companies on CSR reporting and the facilitation of long-term cooperation partnerships with Chinese organisations.
• AccountAbility
  GIZ works with AccountAbility in the areas of research and promotion of standards, including the AA1000 Series of Standards.

Please feel free to contact us for more detailed information.

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Sino-German Corporate Social Responsibility Project

Suite 505, Entrance C, Yong He Plaza, 28 An Ding Men Dong Da Jie
Dongcheng District, 100007 Beijing, PR. China

Rolf Dietmar, Project Director

T +86 (0)10 8419 5686
F +86 (0)10 8419 5996
E rolf.dietmar@giz.de
I www.chinacsrpoject.org

 

*The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) was established on 1 January 2011 and brings together under one roof the long-standing expertise of the Deutscher Entwicklungsdienst (DED) GmbH (German development service), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH (German technical cooperation) and InWEnt – Capacity Building International, Germany.