Think Global, Act Local: How to implement the GIZ Gender Strategy in the Middle East

The new GIZ Gender Strategy (2025-2029) was launched in a company-wide event on February 10th. It provides strategic direction and key interventions to lead the way for the coming years: Addressing gender-based discrimination by focusing on the structural and underlying root causes; Working with change agents from the state sector and civil society and strengthening them in their roles; Enhancing GIZ’s ability to achieve greater gender equality.

During this internal event, we aim to discuss how even in fragile contexts, gender-activities can be implemented by tailoring them to local cultural and social contexts and supporting partners in advancing equal opportunities and diversity. After some introductory words by the Head of Division Middle East II, we will briefly present the new GIZ Gender Strategy. This will be followed by a short input from projects from Iraq, Yemen, and Palestine, in which we will discuss how elements of the strategy can be implemented in practice. We will then open the discussion in small groups to hear your thoughts on the topic as well.