Data Privacy Policy

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, subscribe to newsletters or press releases or use other GIZ online services
  • how they can opt out of the storage of data
  • what rights they have with respect to us

1 Data controller and data protection officer

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

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

2 Information on the collection of personal data

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 GIZ 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 below.

Log file fields

Field

Displayed as

Description

Date

date

The date on which the activity occurred.

Time

time

The time, in coordinated universal time (UTC), at which the activity occurred.

Server IP address

s-ip

The IP address of the server on which the log file entry was generated.

Method

cs-method

The requested action, for example, a GET method.

URI Stem

cs-uri-stem

The target of the action, for example, Default.htm.

URI query

cs-uri-query

The query, if any, that the client was trying to perform. A Universal Resource Identifier (URI) query is necessary only for dynamic pages.

Server port

s-port

The server port number that is configured for the service.

User name

cs-username

The name of the authenticated user who accessed your server. Anonymous users are indicated by a hyphen.

Client IP address

c-ip

The IP address of the client that made the request.

User agent

cs(User-Agent)

The browser type that the client used.

Referrer

cs(Referrer)

The site that the user last visited. This site provided a link to the current site.

HTTP status

sc-status

The HTTP status code.

Protocol substatus

sc-substatus

The substatus error code.

Win32 status

sc-win32-status

The Windows status code.

Time taken

time-taken

The length of time that the action took, in milliseconds.

The data in the log file is deleted after seven days.

Further information on data storage and transfer:

GIZ is obliged to store the data beyond the time of the visit in order to ensure protection against attacks against GIZ’s internet infrastructure and federal communications technology (legal basis: Article 6 (1) e GDPR in conjunction with Section 5 of the German Act on the Federal Office for Information Security (BSIG). In the event of attacks on communications technology, this data is analysed and used to initiate legal and criminal action.

Data that is logged when accessing the GIZ website is only transferred to third parties if there is a legal obligation to do so or if the transfer is necessary for legal or criminal prosecution in the event of attacks on federal communications technology. Data will not be passed on in any other cases. This data is not merged with other data sources at GIZ.

3 Processing of personal data when contacting us

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:

  • Email
  • Letter

3.1 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. On the “Contact us” page of this website, you will find the contact details.

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

3.2 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. On the “Contact us” page of this website, you will find the contact details.

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

4 Processing of personal data in connection with the participation in events

In order to participate in an (online) event for which you can register via our website, the processing of personal data is required. The processing of your data is necessary for registration purposes and for the implementation of the event. Personal data that will be processed is title, name, organisation, e-mail address, and country.

Your data will be used exclusively for the coordination of the event, the provision of information about the event and its results. The processing of personal data in connection with the participation in events is Artikel 6 (1) b GDPR.

The data will be used exclusively for the purpose of providing the service. Any other use always requires your renewed consent. All data provided by participants when registering for the event will be deleted 24 hours after the event.

5 Processing of personal data in connection with registration in the log-in area


This website has a login area for which you can register.

You can delete the user profile you created during the registration at any time (in your own user profile under "Edit" and "Cancel account"). Users can also send an informal message to delete the account via e-mail to info@sia-toolbox.net.

The data you enter in the login mask will be stored on the platform until you request us to delete it or the purpose for storing the data no longer applies (e.g. after logging out for the session cookie or when closing the platform). Mandatory legal provisions - in particular retention periods - remain unaffected by this.

All data provided by the platform users will be automatically deleted when the platform is closed. In addition, the data is deleted when a user has not been active on the platform for one year. 

The legal basis for this data processing is Article 6 (1) lit. a GDPR, your consent.

When registering in the login area, users are required to enter their name, organisation, and e-mail address. This is necessary for the double opt-in procedure. All other data is voluntary and serves to specify the profile for effective networking. The information entered in the user profile is visible to all other platform users. The only exception is the password, which is only visible to the user himself.

When registering, you have the option to opt-in to receive updates from your chosen Communities of Practice by email. (I agree to receive updates from my Communities of Practice by email). This consent allows us to reach out to you personally. You can withdraw your consent at any time (under "My Account" and "Edit").

When registering in the login area, a cookie is set. This is only set temporarily during the login session and is mandatory, as without this cookie, no user verification takes place and logging in would therefore not be possible. The cookie does not require consent, as it is needed for the login session. The cookie is encrypted by token and is deleted when the user logs out.

Cookies that are required to carry out the electronic communication process or to provide certain functions in the log-in area that you have requested are stored on the basis of Art. 6 (1) lit. e DSGVO. The website operator has a legitimate interest in storing cookies for the technically error-free and optimized provision of its services.”

6 Creating and using video recordings of digital events

We record some digital events for documentation and evaluation. The recording includes audio and/or video of you, provided you have actively participated in the event as a presenter or participant and by voluntarily enabling the microphone and camera functions on your terminal device.

If you register for a digital event, you will be notified of the recording and have the option to participate anonymously by leaving your camera and microphone deactivated when you register. The legal basis for this data processing is Article 6 (1) lit. a GDPR combined with our legitimate interest in documenting and evaluating the event. We would like to use the made video recording for documentation and external presentation for interested persons on our knowledge platform. Video recordings of digital events may contain your name, provided that you have actively participated in the chat or with sound and, if applicable, video as a participating person in the event. The respective websites are freely accessible on the Internet and thus worldwide. As soon as the content is posted on the platforms, third parties (e.g. other registered users of the platforms) can take note of the content. In the event that the recording is published, you will be informed of this prior to the start of the event.

7 Processing of personal data in connection with social network use

On its website, GIZ invites users to visit its company presence on social networking sites and platforms including, but not limited to, Twitter, 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 GIZ presence on the respective network.

When users visit the platforms or start a video on this platform, 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 on the links below for the contact details and links to the data privacy policies of the social media on which GIZ maintains a presence.

GIZ on social media

8 Social media plug-ins

Please note that displaying social media content may involve tracking and profiling activities by Instagram and/or Twitter. Please give your consent by checking ‘I agree’. Then, as long as the checkbox is activated, social media content will be displayed.

Please note that GIZ has no control over the terms of use of the specified services and their providers.

For our part, we shall also always take due care when handling your data, but cannot accept any liability for the behaviour of the providers or third parties.

We also wish to expressly point out that providers of the social networks we use store data outside Germany permanently and use it for commercial purposes. We have no means of knowing the extent and duration for which the data is stored.

Please consider carefully which personal data you reveal as a social media user. Please check your social network privacy settings regularly.

9 Disclosure to third parties

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

10 Transfer of data to countries outside Germany

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

11 Duration of data retention

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

  • they are no longer needed for contractual purposes (e.g. for employment, top-ups, rental, sale or service contracts)
  • when the individuals concerned have not given any separate authorisation
  • when statutory data storage obligations and periods have expired.

12 IT security of user data

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.

13 Protection of minors

Persons under the age of 16 may not transfer any personal data to us without the consent of their parents or legal guardians.

14 Reference to user rights

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)

Last updated: 17. 5. 2022