It analyses political, economic, and social developments in Africa, Asia, Latin America, as well as the Middle East.

It combines its analysis with comparative research on international relations, development and globalisation, violence and security, and political systems.

[5] The researchers study the four global regions of Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East[6] and simultaneously work within the four research programmes on the following issues: Accountability and Participation, Peace and Security, Globalisation and Development, Global Orders and Foreign Policies.

It is represented on the boards of various academic networks, particularly those related to Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

Together with the president, the GIGA executive board comprises Asia researcher Patrick Köllner (GIGA vice president), Middle East academic Eckart Woertz, Africa academic Matthias Basedau, and Managing Director Peter Peetz.

As of July 2014[update], the GIGA is coordinating the International Diffusion and Cooperation of Authoritarian Regimes (IDCAR) network.