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Making a difference with technology: How GIZ uses OpenProject for development in Rwanda

Published by Corinna Günther July 12, 2024 Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

At OpenProject, we are always proud to support organizations that drive meaningful projects. One of these organizations is GIZ - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, a renowned German non-profit organization that uses OpenProject to advance development work in Rwanda. To learn more about GIZ and how they use OpenProject to manage their projects, we spoke with Thomas Wiemann, program manager and IT architect for GovStack, digital Convergence and ICGLR.

Quote by Thomas Wiemann, GIZ: OpenProject offers us an integrated, sophisticated project management system with many collaboration features. The option of an on-premise version was essential for our projects in Rwanda.

About GIZ

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) is a German organization that provides international cooperation services for sustainable development. GIZ has been working in Rwanda for several years, focusing on various social and development projects aimed at improving the quality of life and fostering sustainable development in the region.

How GIZ uses OpenProject

Over the years, GIZ has successfully executed over 30 projects with OpenProject, most of which are based on agile project management principles, using larger iterations divided into smaller, manageable sprints. GIZ currently utilizes two OpenProject instances – a cloud-based Enterprise version and a free Community version hosted on-premises in Rwanda.

GIZ uses OpenProject in multiple ways to drive social development:

Developing software like the Tree Tracker and the Corona Warning App.
Managing various social projects.
Training locals to become proficient project managers.

Learn more about OpenProject as project management software for NGOs and foundations.

GIZ has used OpenProject to drive a variety of social projects in Rwanda, demonstrating its versatility and impact across different sectors. Here are some outstanding examples of these initiatives.

For more than five years, RISA (Rwanda Information Society Authority) has been at the forefront of overseeing IT projects for the Rwandan government. Together with GIZ, they use OpenProject to achieve key milestones, for example:

Central Data Warehouse: Establishing a centralized data repository for Rwanda.
Government Website Standardization: Consolidating approximately 200 government websites onto a unified platform.
Corona Warning App: Developing an application to enhance public health safety during the pandemic.
Tree Tracker: Creating a tool for the Rwanda Forest Authority to manage reforestation seedlings centrally.

A woman with a tablet in a melon plantation

Pioneering digital mining

Together with the Rwandan mining authority, GIZ is also doing pioneering work in the field of digital mining: The ‘Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board’ (RMB) is a comprehensive digital traceability system that will monitor the entire life cycle of mined raw materials from extraction to export and ensure that they comply with international standards for sustainability and ethical sourcing.

Supporting the ICGLR

GIZ supports the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) through several critical initiatives, utilizing OpenProject to enhance their effectiveness:

ICGLR Development Roadmap: GIZ uses OpenProject to assist the ICGLR with strategic planning and development activities. The roadmap helps member states coordinate their development efforts and achieve shared goals.
Output Indicator Management: GIZ uses OpenProject to monitor and evaluate various sub-projects and ensure that they are in line with ICGLR objectives. This includes tracking progress, analyzing data and providing regular reports to improve project implementation and impact.

Building skills through project management training

In addition to facilitating impactful projects, OpenProject serves as a vital training tool for GIZ employees. By engaging with our project management software, employees gain hands-on experience in agile project management, learning to:

Carry out projects efficiently.
Define and complete tasks effectively.
Communicate seamlessly to ensure team alignment.

This training empowers local employees in Rwanda to become proficient project managers, equipped to disseminate agile project management techniques within their communities, thus contributing to long-term capacity building.

Why GIZ chooses to work with OpenProject

Flexible configuration: Easily configurable to enable a smooth start for employees with minimal barriers.
Self-Hosting options: For RISA, hosting the instance locally in Rwanda is important, whereas for ICGLR, a cloud-hosted solution is preferred. OpenProject provides the flexibility to accommodate both.
Freemium version as fallback: The availability of a free Community version ensures continuity for NGOs reliant on external funding, safeguarding data integrity even when financial support fluctuates.
Outstanding support: As an Enterprise customer, GIZ receives prompt and effective responses to their queries, ensuring uninterrupted project flow.

Key project management features utilized by GIZ

Work Packages: Facilitating task management and team collaboration, allowing team members to edit tasks, communicate, and update statuses seamlessly.

Backlogs: Supporting agile project management with versions, incorporating the “Definition of Done” into the workflow, and organizing projects into larger iterations and smaller sprints.

Time Reports: Enabling accurate tracking and documentation of working hours for tasks and projects via the Time and Costs module, helping GIZ maintain transparency and efficiency.

Take a look at our case study with GIZ to see examples of these project management features.

Join GIZ and many other organizations and benefit from the powerful features of OpenProject for your project management needs. Whether you are managing IT projects, driving social initiatives, or training the next generation of project managers, OpenProject offers the tools and flexibility you need to succeed.

To test all features of OpenProject right away, create a 14 days free trial instance for the OpenProject Enterprise cloud. All you need is an e-mail address and a password - no credit card or other restrictions.