Privacy Policy / Data Protection

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH attaches great importance to responsible and transparent management of personal data.

Below we provide users with information as to 

  • who they can contact at GIZ on the subject of data protection
  • what data is processed when they visit the website
  • what data is processed when users contact us, subscribe to newsletters or press releases or use other GIZ online services
  • how they can opt out of the storage of data
  • what rights they have with respect to us

 

Information on the collection of personal data

General

H2A 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.

 

Contact

Data controller and data protection officer

Please contact GIZ’s data protection officer if you have questions specifically about how your data are protected
datenschutzbeauftragter@giz.de

Adress

Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 32 + 36, 53113 Bonn Dag-Hammarskjöld-Weg 1–5, 65760 Eschborn
info@giz.de
wasserstoff@giz.de

Data processing is the responsibility of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

H2A 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 H2A website, the browser used automatically transmits data that is saved in a log file. H2A itself processes only the data that is technically required in order to display the website correctly and to ensure its stability and security.

Each time the website is accessed, the data stored includes, but is not limited to, the page that is viewed, the IP address of the accessing device, the page from which the user was redirected, as well as the date and time of access. A detailed list of the data stored is shown here.

The data in the log file is deleted after five days.

 

Cookies

When you visit the H2A website, small text files known as ‘cookies’ are stored on your computer. They are used to make the online presence more user-friendly and effective overall. Cookies cannot run programs or infect your computer with viruses.

The H2A website uses cookies that are automatically deleted as soon as the browser on which the page is displayed is closed (referred to as temporary cookies or session cookies) This type of cookie makes it possible to assign various requests from a browser to a session and to recognise the browser when the website is visited again (session ID).

 

Matomo (user analysis)

H2A evaluates information about the use of its website for statistical purposes as part of its public relations work and for demand-based provision of information about the responsibilities of GIZ based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. e GDPR in conjunction with Section 3 of the BDSG. On our website, we do this using the open source Matomo web analytics service (www.matomo.org).

Matomo uses cookies (small data files transferred onto computers or devices by sites) to allow for an analysis of the site’s usage. Matomo cookies do not contain any information that could identify a user. Each time a user accesses the website and each time a file is downloaded, data on this process is temporarily stored and processed in a log file. Prior to storage, each data record is anonymized. This means Matomo stores in the database each new visitor IP address (ipv4 or ipv6 format) with the last components removed to protect user’s privacy.

The data generated with Matomo is processed and stored by Matomo on our behalf exclusively in Germany.
Further information on data protection at Matomo can be found here: https://www.matomo.org/privacy-policy

If you want to prevent cookies from being installed at all, you can ensure this by configuring your browser software accordingly (see our cookie policy). However, please note that you may not be able to use all functions of this website in full if you do so.

All visitor IP addresses are anonymized.

For the purposes of project evaluation and website management, we share the aforementioned web analytics data with our project partner, the United Nations Environment Programme. For a more detailed description, please refer to “8. Transfer of your data to third parties”.

Information on opting out 

Users who do not agree with the completely anonymous storage and evaluation of the data from their visit can opt out of the storage and use of the data at any time, when you click the checkbox below.

You may choose to prevent this website from aggregating and analyzing the actions you take here. Doing so will protect your privacy, but will also prevent the owner from learning from your actions and creating a better experience for you and other users.


Processing of personal data when contacting us

When users contact us, the data provided is processed in order to be able to respond to the enquiry. The following contact options are available: 

  • Email

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

On the H2A website it is possible to join a press mailing list. Personal data is processed depending on the way in which information is provided. 

Users can register on the H2A website to receive H2A press releases by email. The personal data collected in connection with the press mailing list as well as other information contained in the message, is used for the purpose of processing the registration to the press mailing list and dealing with enquiries. Data beyond the scope of basic address details, including but not limited to position and media outlet/institution, is collected solely for the purpose of enabling systematic communication of journalistic topics to editorial offices. Providing the postal address is optional and allows, if requested, a reply to the enquiry by post. 

If the subscription is cancelled, all personal data is immediately deleted from our database.

Press mailing list

The legal basis for the processing of data in connection with the press mailing list is Article 6 (1) e GDPR.

Disclosure to third parties

H2A does not pass on personal data to third parties unless it is legally obliged or entitled to do so by law. 

Transfer of data to countries outside Germany

H2A does not transfer personal data to third countries. When using social media, the privacy policies of the respective providers apply. 

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

H2A 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 H2A 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). 

 

Hosting

The website is hosted on servers of a service provider commissioned by us.

Our service provider is:

Mittwald CM Service GmbH & Co. KG

Königsberger Straße 4-6

32339 Espelkamp

Germany

The servers automatically collect and store information in so-called server log files, which your browser automatically transmits when you visit the website. The information stored is:

  • Browser type and version
  • Used operating system
  • Referrer URL
  • Hostname of the accessing computer
  • Time and date of the server request
  • IP address of the user’s device

This data will not be merged with other data sources. The data is being collected based on the regulations of Art. 6 (1) (1) (f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in the technically error-free presentation and optimization of his website – and server log files are therefore recorded.

The server of the website is geographically located in the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA).

 

Usage of Plugins

Through the use of our plug-ins, some of your personal data is sent to the USA or other third countries outside the EU. To ensure appropriate guarantees for the protection of the transfer and processing of personal data outside the EU, the transfer of data to and processing of data by our plug-in operators takes place on the basis of appropriate guarantees pursuant to Art. 46 et seq. GDPR, in particular by concluding so-called standard data protection clauses pursuant to Art. 46 (2) lit. c GDPR. These are linked at the end of the respective section “1. Scope of processing of personal data”.

We use plug-ins for various purposes. The plug-ins used are listed below:

 

Use of YouTube

Scope of processing of personal data

We use the plug-in operated by Google from YouTube, YouTube LLC, 901 Cherry Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066, USA and their representatives in the Union Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland (Hereinafter referred to as Google). We use the plug-in from YouTube to embed videos from YouTube on our online presence. When you visit our website, your browser connects to YouTube’s servers. It may be used to store and analyze personal data, in particular user activity (in particular, which pages have been visited and which elements have been clicked on) and device and browser information (in particular IP address and operating system). We have no influence on the content of the plug-in. If you are logged into your YouTube account during your visit, YouTube can assign your online presence visit to this account. By interacting with this plug-in, this corresponding information is transmitted directly to YouTube and stored there. \Further information on the collection and storage of data by Google can be found here: https://policies.google.com/privacy?gl=EN&hl=en

Purpose of data processing

The use of the YouTube plug-in serves the improvement of the user friendliness and an appealing representation of our on-line operational readiness level.

Legal basis for the processing of personal data

The legal basis for the processing of personal data is the user’s given consent in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (1) (a) GDPR.

Duration of storage

Your personal information will be stored for as long as is necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy or as required by law, e.g. for tax and accounting purposes.

Possibility of revocation of consent and removal

You have the right to revoke your declaration of consent under data protection law at any time. The revocation of the consent does not affect the lawfulness of the processing carried out on the basis of the consent up to the revocation. You may prevent the collection and processing of your personal data by Google by preventing the storage of cookies from third parties on your computer, by using the “Do Not Track” function of a supporting browser, by deactivating the execution of script code in your browser or by using a script blocker such as NoScript (https://noscript.net/) or Ghostery (www.ghostery.com). With the following link you can deactivate the use of your personal data by Google: https://adssettings.google.de Further information on objection and removal options against Google can be found at: https://policies.google.com/privacy?gl=EN&hl=en

 

Use of Wordfence

We have integrated Wordfence on this website. The provider is Defiant Inc, Defiant, Inc, 800 5th Ave Ste 4100, Seattle, WA 98104, USA (hereinafter Wordfence).

Wordfence is used to protect our website from unwanted or malicious access cyber attacks. For this purpose, our website establishes a permanent connection to the Wordfence servers so that Wordfence can compare and, if necessary, block its databases with the access made to our website.

Wordfence is used on the basis of Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in protecting its website from cyber attacks as effectively as possible. If a corresponding consent has been requested, the processing takes place exclusively on the basis of Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR; the consent can be revoked at any time.

Data transfer to the USA is based on the standard contractual clauses of the EU Commission.

Details can be found here:

Wordfence and GDPR – General Data Protection Regulation


Conclusion of a contract for order processing

We have concluded an order processing contract with Wordfence. This is a contract required by data protection law, which ensures that Wordfence only processes the personal data of our website visitors according to our instructions and in compliance with the GDPR.

 

Use of Font Awesome

This site uses Font Awesome for the uniform display of fonts and symbols. The provider is Fonticons, Inc., 6 Porter Road Apartment 3R, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

When you call up a page, your browser loads the required fonts into your browser cache in order to display text, fonts and symbols correctly. For this purpose, the browser you are using must connect to the Font Awesome servers. This gives Font Awesome knowledge that this website was accessed via your IP address. Font Awesome is used on the basis of

Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. f GDPR. We have a legitimate interest in the uniform presentation of the

typeface on our website. If a corresponding consent was requested (e.g. consent to the storage of cookies), processing takes place exclusively on the basis of Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR; the consent can be revoked at any time.

If your browser does not support Font Awesome, a standard font will be used by your computer.

For more information about Font Awesome, see Font Awesome’s privacy policy at: https://fontawesome.com/privacy.

Bonn, 2023

Contact

Please send a mail to h2-business-alliance@giz.de

or use the contact form on our news page