Evaluating GIZ’s cooperation with the academic and research community

Technopolis Group together with the GIZ’s internal evaluation unit conducted an evaluation of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH’s collaboration with academic and research institutions. The assessment aimed to understand the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of these partnerships and provide actionable recommendations for enhancing their impact.

Key objectives of the evaluation

The study focused on three primary areas:

• Strategic relevance: Assessing how well GIZ’s partnerships align with its mission and strategic priorities, particularly in leveraging academic expertise to address global challenges.
• Operational effectiveness: Evaluating the extent to which these collaborations achieve intended outcomes, such as fostering innovation, capacity building, and knowledge dissemination.
• Sustainability: Investigating how the results of these partnerships endure over time, particularly their influence on policy frameworks and institutional development.

Findings and insights

The evaluation highlighted the significant value of GIZ’s partnerships with the scientific community, underscoring their alignment with the strategic priorities of the GIZ and the contribution that such partnerships can make towards sustainable development goals. These collaborations have proven particularly relevant in addressing complex issues requiring specialised knowledge and innovative approaches. They are well-integrated into GIZ’s broader objectives, ensuring that the partnerships contribute meaningfully to the organisation’s mission.

In terms of effectiveness, the study found that many of these partnerships have successfully achieved their intended outcomes. Notable achievements include fostering capacity development within partner institutions and facilitating the use of research outputs in practical and policy-oriented contexts. However, there are opportunities to further enhance the operational efficiency and strategic orientation of these collaborations. While many partnerships have been resource-efficient, improved coordination and streamlined communication processes could amplify their impact.

The sustainability of results emerged as a critical strength of GIZ’s academic partnerships. The evaluation found that these collaborations often leave a lasting legacy, particularly through the strengthened capacities of partner institutions and the integration of research findings into policy frameworks. These outcomes not only support immediate project goals but also contribute to longer-term development objectives, ensuring that the benefits of the partnerships endure well beyond their initial implementation.

Recommendations for future collaborations

To maximise the impact of its academic partnerships, GIZ is advised to:

• Enhance strategic alignment: Focus collaborations on priority areas where academic expertise can deliver the greatest value.
• Strengthen capacity building: Invest in partner institutions to ensure that knowledge transfer translates into sustainable outcomes.
• Improve knowledge management: Develop mechanisms to better capture, share, and apply the insights generated through partnerships.
• Implement robust monitoring: Establish systematic monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track progress and inform adjustments.

Conclusion

GIZ’s cooperation with the academic and research community is instrumental in advancing its mission of sustainable development. By refining its approach based on the evaluation’s findings, GIZ can ensure that these partnerships continue to address critical global challenges while fostering innovation and institutional growth.

Download the report in English.

Download the report in German.