Only organisations which meet the specific requirements of the Development Workers Act (EhfG) are recognised by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) as a development service.

These services are required to:

• solely or predominantly prepare, second and provide personnel support services for development workers,
• provide assurance that they shall fulfil their tasks in the long term and comply with the obligations incumbent on them pursuant to the development workers act,
• undertake to second development workers only to such projects/programmes as are compatible with the promotion measures of the Federal Republic of Germany for developing countries,
• serve solely and directly public benefit purposes
• have their registered office in the area of applicability of the Grundgesetz (German Basic (constitutional) Law).

The common goal of the development services is to support disadvantaged population groups in their efforts to improve their living conditions. Several also offer an opportunity for qualified local experts to be assigned and funded in joint development projects as a contribution towards developing national potential in skilled labour and experts.

A particular area of work among the development services is the Civil Peace Service (ZFD/CPS).

The following institutions are recognised as project executing agencies for development services:

• Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Entwicklungshilfe e.V. (AGEH - Association for Development Cooperation)
• Brot für die Welt – Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst
• Christliche Fachkräfte International e.V. (CFI- Christain Services International)
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
• EIRENE - Internationaler Christlicher Friedensdienst e.V. (International Christian Service for Peace)
• Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst e.V. (forumZFD - Civil Peace Service Forum)
• Weltfriedensdienst e.V. (WFD - Civil Peace Service)