GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies

GIGA is an independent social science research institute based in Hamburg. It examines political, social, and economic developments in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, as well as global issues. As a Leibniz Institute, GIGA combines excellent research with practice-oriented knowledge transfer ("theoria cum praxi") and advises decision-makers in politics, business, and civil society. The institute is jointly funded by the Federal Foreign Office, the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, and other federal states, with approximately 25% of its budget coming from third-party funds, and has an annual budget of around 13 million euros.

GIGA is committed to excellence in research and consistently implements the Leibniz motto “theoria cum praxi”: science for the benefit of society. Based on its comparative regional research, the institute exchanges knowledge with political decision-makers, practitioners, and the public, promotes inter- and intraregional dialogue, incorporates voices from the world regions studied, and develops innovative analyses for shaping global orders.

The funding and advisory services of GIGA are aimed at social science researchers, doctoral candidates, and postdocs both domestically and internationally, political decision-makers at the national and international levels, as well as the interested public. Furthermore, the institute supports early-career researchers within the framework of the GIGA doctoral program and research projects, and promotes exchange through guest stays and collaborations.