Within the framework of financial cooperation, financing is provided for materials and installations. This financing takes the form of low-interest loans for specific projects and, generally for the world’s poorest countries, interest-free and non-repayable grants.

Technical cooperation sets out to improve the capacity of persons and organizations, particularly those of poorer population groups, in the developing countries by transferring or mobilizing know-how and skills or by improving the conditions for their application. Experts, advisers, appraisers and instructors are seconded to developing countries and paid by the German government; equipment and material for the promoted institutions are either supplied or financed; and training is provided for local experts and managerial personnel who are to carry on the tasks of the German experts.