The German Development Service is one of the leading European development services for personnel cooperation. Since its formation in 1963, DED has assigned over 16 000 experienced and commited technical advisers to improve the living conditions of people in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Together with its local partners DED works towards reducing poverty, achieving self-determined sustainable development and securing natural resources.

With some 2 000 technical advisers currently working in 47 countries, DED is working on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and cooperating in a range of different ways with other national and international development cooperation organisations.

DED has the following tasks:

• DED places technical advisers at the request of governmental and nongovernmental organisations in its partner countries and on the basis of framework agreements with the respective governments. These technical advisers are professionally experienced and socially committed specialists who engage mainly in training, advisory capacity and planning tasks.
• DED supports local civil organizations and municipal structures by providing specialist advice, if required supplemented by financial support. By increasing promotion of local skilled staff DED fosters capacity building for a self-determined development.
• DED offers qualified graduates up to the age of 28 the opportunity to gather development, professional, personal and intercultural experience during a one-year stay in a DED partner country.
• In 2007, DED established the secretariat for the new development volunteer programme "weltwärts". DED also participates in "weltwärts" as a volunteer assignment organisation and offers young adults between 18 and 23 the opportunity to work in a developing country for 12 months.
• Moreover, DED recruits German technical advisers wishing to serve as United Nations Volunteers (UNV) and coordinates and executes measures related to Civil Peace Service.
• DED promotes understanding for the situation of people in developing countries among the German public and draws attention to questions concerning the common interests and problems of the One World.

Fields of work:

• Promotion of Economic and employment promotion: support for professional training systems, promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises, co-operation with the private sector
• Promotion of democracy, civil society and local development: capacity building in local authorities, boosting of civil society organisation capacities, support for national processes on a local level
• Rural development and conservation of resources: support for the production, processing and marketing of agricultural and forestry products, resource management
• Water: water resource management, wastewater management
• Civil conflict management and promotion of peace: strengthening of local rule of law, social reintegration of soldiers and refugees, conflict counselling, strengthening of local conciliation committees
• Health: support for rural health systems, promotion of reproductive health, HIV/AIDS intervention

DED maintains offices in the partner countries, generally in the capital. They are run by directors who represent the DED vis-à-vis local partners and supervise DED programmes in these countries.

DED has the legal form of a non-profit-making, limited liability company owned jointly by the Federal Republic of Germany, represented by the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the working group "Learning and Helping Overseas", a registered association. DED is financed by the federal budget.

DED's supreme decision-making body is the Shareholders' Meeting. The latter appoints the Administrative Council whose members include, apart from the Federal Government and the working group "Learning and Helping Overseas", representatives of political parties and public life, the development workers and permanent staff. The Administrative Council determines the overall guidelines and principles for the work of DED.

DED's management is the supreme executive organ with Dr. Jürgen Wilhelm as Director General. Head of the Administration Department is Adelbert Eberhardt and Dr. Otti Stein is head of Department for Training, Returnee Management and Education, Quality Management. Winfried Hamacher heads the Sectoral Department, Klaus-Dieter Seidel the Regional Department.