Measures implemented in the third priority area, education and training, are intended to help build up the human capacity which will enable our partner countries to achieve sustainable development. Education and knowledge are fundamental prerequisites for development. There are deficits in all partner countries which stand in the way of the free development of practical vocational skills, creativity and self-reliance. Development cooperation supports in particular the provision of an adequate basic education and the improvement of vocational training. The idea is to communicate to people basic knowledge, and above all the practical application thereof, and thus help them directly in living their own lives. Especially in the area of vocational training, German concepts have spread worldwide.

Other, in some cases cross-sectoral, fields in which German development cooperation is active are the promotion of the private sector, technology transfer, rural development and food security, health and population policy, women in development, crisis prevention and emergency relief measures. These areas are closely related to one another and to the three priority areas.