The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH attaches great importance to responsible and transparent management of personal data.

Below we provide users with information as to

• who they can contact at GIZ on the subject of data protection
• what data is processed when they visit the website
• what data is processed when users contact us or use other GIZ online services
• how they can opt out of the storage of data
• what rights they have with respect to us

Data processing is the responsibility of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

Address:
Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 32 + 36, 53113 Bonn, Germany
Dag-Hammarskjöld-Weg 1–5, 65760 Eschborn, Germany

Contact:
info@giz.de

Grüner Knopf Secretariat:
info@gruener-knopf.de

Please contact GIZ’s data protection officer if you have questions specifically about how your data are protected: datenschutzbeauftragter@giz.de

2.1. General

GIZ processes personal data exclusively in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the German Federal Data Protection Act (Bundesdatenschutzgesetz, BDSG).

Personal data are, for example, name, address, email addresses and user behaviour.

GIZ only processes personal data to the extent necessary. Which data is required and processed for which purpose and on what basis is largely determined by the type of service you use or the purpose for which the data is required.

2.2 Collection of personal data when visiting our website 

When visiting the website, the browser used automatically transmits data that is saved in a log file. GIZ itself processes only the data that is technically required in order to display the website correctly and to ensure its stability and security.

Each time the website is accessed, the data stored includes, but is not limited to, the page that is viewed, the IP address of the accessing device, the page from which the user was redirected, as well as the date and time of access. A detailed list of the data stored is shown here.

2.3 Cookies

When you visit the GIZ website, small text files known as ‘cookies’ are stored on your computer. They are used to make the online presence more user-friendly and effective overall. Cookies cannot run programs or infect your computer with viruses.

The GIZ website uses cookies that are automatically deleted as soon as the browser on which the page is displayed is closed (referred to as temporary cookies or session cookies) This type of cookie makes it possible to assign various requests from a browser to a session and to recognise the browser when the website is visited again (session ID).

2.4 Matomo (User analysis)

On its website, GIZ uses the web analysis service "Matomo” to analyze usage data. The data is stored and evaluated completely anonymously.

Cookies are used to collect information on the usage behaviour of this website, including the IP address of the requesting computer, which is stored in abbreviated form, and transmit this information to the server. The data is made anonymous there and stored for the purpose of usage analysis. After the anonymization, an assignment to the inquiring computer or connection is no longer possible according to the current state of technology. The information generated by the cookie is only passed on to the internally operated server. It will not be passed on to third parties.

We only collect your usage data if you consent to the use of cookies by accepting it either via the cookie banner that is displayed when you access our website or by following the link under "information on opting out". Therefore, our processing is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a) GDPR.

Webinars and webinar series are offered on the website. When users want to participate in a webinar, they are asked to complete a registration form by indicating their contact information (name, e-mail address, country) as well as information about their organization (e.g., name, type of organization).

GIZ uses the contact information to conduct the webinars (e.g., for sending invitations, preparing a participant list, etc.) and to inform participants about future webinars which are similar to the ones they have registered for. In addition, information about the organization as well as answers to topical questions in the registration form are anonymized and analyzed to learn more about the participants’ background and interests.

For conducting the webinars GIZ uses the third-party video conference solutions Cisco Webex and Microsoft Teams. Microsoft and Cisco are engaged as GIZ’s sub-processors in a GDPR-compliant manner. We refer to Cisco’s privacy policy and Microsoft’s privacy policy for information on how they process personal data.

The processing of personal data for conducting the webinars is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b) GDPR (performance of our contractual duty to conduct the webinar) and lit. e) GDPR (processing is necessary for performing a task in the public interest).

Webinar recordings

Webinars are recorded to provide information shared in the webinars. This also means that the audio and video signal of participants will be recorded. Therefore, at the beginning of each webinar and/or webinar series, we will ask for the participants’ consent to the recording of their audio and video signal. If a participant does not consent to the recording, he/she may not share his/her audio and/or video signal during the webinar.

The recording of the video and/or audio signal in the context of webinars is based on your consent in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a) GDPR where it concerns providing information. It is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. e) GDPR (performance of a task in the public interest) where GIZ processes the recording internally to provide information shared in the webinar.

When users contact us, the data provided is processed in order to be able to respond to the enquiry. The following contact options are available:

• Contact form
• Email
• Letter
• Phone

1. Contact form

GIZ provides a link to the contact form of the issuing body of the Grüner Knopf certification mark. The website of the issuing body is operated by RAL gGmbH. Therefore, the data protection policy of RAL gGmbH applies when using the contact form.

2. Contact by email

Alternatively, it is possible to contact GIZ via the email addresses provided. In this case, at least the email address but also any other personal user data transmitted with the email (e.g. family and given name, address) as well as the information contained in the email are stored solely for the purpose of contacting the user and processing the request.

The legal basis for the processing of data in connection with email communication is Article 6 (1) e GDPR.

3. Contact by letter

When contacting us by letter, the personal data transmitted (e.g. family and given name, address) and the information contained in the letter is stored for the purpose of establishing contact and processing the enquiry.

The legal basis for the processing of data in connection with communication by letter is Article 6 (1) e GDPR.

4. Contact by phone

When contacting us by phone, personal data will be processed to the extent necessary in order to handle the enquiry.

The legal basis for the processing of data in connection with communication by phone is Article 6 (1) e GDPR.

On its website, GIZ invites users to visit its company presence on social networking sites and platforms including, but not limited to, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and Facebook.

These online presences are operated in order to interact with the users that are active on these sites and platforms and to inform them about projects and services. By clicking on a social network’s logo, the user is redirected to the Grüner Knopf (Green Button) presence on the respective network.

When users visit the platforms, personal data is collected, used and stored by the operators of the respective social network, but not by GIZ. This is also the case even if the users themselves do not have an account with the respective social network.

The individual data processing operations and their scope differ depending on the operator of the respective social network. GIZ has no influence on the collection of data or its further use by the social network operators. We are not fully aware of the extent to which, where and for how long the data is stored; to what extent the networks comply with existing obligations regarding erasure; what analyses are conducted and links established with the data; and to whom the data is disclosed.

Access to GIZ social media sites is subject to the terms of use and privacy policies of the respective operators. Click here for the contact details and links to the data privacy policies of the social media on which GIZ maintains a presence.

GIZ does not pass on personal data to third parties unless it is legally obliged or entitled to do so by law. 

GIZ does not transfer personal data to third countries. When using social media, the privacy policies of the respective providers apply. 

User data will not be kept any longer than is necessary for the purpose for which it is processed or as required by law.

GIZ accords great importance to protecting personal data. For this reason, technical and organisational security measures ensure that data is protected against accidental and intentional manipulation and unintended erasure as well as unauthorised access. These measures are updated accordingly based on technical developments and adapted continuously in line with the risks.

Visitors to the GIZ website have the right

• To obtain information about their data stored by us (Article 15 GDPR)
• To have their data stored by us rectified (Article 16 GDPR)
• To have their data stored by us erased (Article 17 GDPR)
• To obtain restriction of processing of their data stored by us (Article 18 GDPR)
• To object to the storage of their data if personal data are processed on the basis of the first sentence of Article 6 (1) 1 f and e GDPR (Article 21 GDPR)
• To receive their personal data in a commonly used and machine-readable format from the controller such that they can be potentially transmitted to another controller (right to data portability, Article 20 GDPR)
• To withdraw their consent to the extent that the data has been processed on the basis of consent (Article 6 (1) a GDPR). The lawfulness of the processing on the basis of the consent given remains unaffected until receipt of the withdrawal.

Users also have the right in accordance with Article 77 GDPR to lodge a complaint with the competent data protection supervisory authority. The competent authority is the Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI).