Data Privacy Policy

Data Controller and Data Protection Officer

Data processing is the responsibility of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the entity that manages the IKI Central America and Caribbean website.

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

Contact: iki.interfaz.cac@giz.de

Please contact the GIZ Data Protection Officer if you have specific questions about how your data is protected: datenschutzbeauftragter@giz.de

Information on the collection of personal data

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. 

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.

GIZ is obliged to store the data beyond the time of the visit in order to ensure protection against attacks on GIZ’s internet infrastructure and federal communications technology (legal basis: Article 6 (1) e GDPR in conjunction with Article 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 prosecutions.

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.

Contact by email

It is possible to contact us 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.

Provision of information for newsletter subscription

On our website it is possible to subscribe to a newsletter. Personal data is used for the purpose of processing the subscription to each respective newsletter. The data is processed and used exclusively for sending the newsletter. In this case, the data entered in the newsletter registration form is forwarded to us.

After entering their email address, users receive an email containing a link for confirming the authenticity of the address and the subscription (‘double opt-in’). If users do not confirm the registration by clicking on the link contained in the email, the data is deleted immediately.

The legal basis for the processing of data in connection with the dispatch of newsletters is users’ consent in accordance with Article 6 (1) a GDPR.

The newsletter subscription can be cancelled at any time. If the subscription is cancelled, all personal data is deleted from our database.

Processing of personal data in connection with social network use 

On this website, we provide links to the social media presence of GIZ Central America as well as diverse implementing organisations of IKI projects on X (Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube.

By clicking on a social network’s logo or link, the user is redirected to corresponding profile on the social networks mentioned previously.

When users visit these platforms, personal data is collected, used and stored by the operators of these social networks, 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 linked social media sites is subject to the terms of use and privacy policies of the respective operators. These are the contact details and links to the data privacy policies of the social media sites:

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. 

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.

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.

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: January 2026