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The private sector is increasingly cooperating with the public sector in development cooperation (DC) measures in order to mobilise additional funds for the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda 2030. A number of positive effects are expected from the engagement of private companies, such as an increase in entrepreneurial innovation and creativity as well as the increased implementation of social and ecological standards in private companies in partner countries.

German development cooperation is increasingly taking place in fragile contexts, as more than half of its partner countries are now affected by violence, conflicts and a lack of state authority/legitimacy. As a result of these particular challenges, specific strategies are needed in order to implement development policy measures effectively and sustainably.

With the 2030 Agenda, sustainability became the guiding principle for human development. The Agenda also provides the central framework for German development cooperation. All interventions and activities should be designed to promote sustainable development in the partner countries in keeping with the 2030 Agenda.

Due to their geographical location, developing countries are particularly affected by the impacts of climate change: droughts, floods and hurricanes occur with ever increasing frequency and destroy the human life-support base. There is a lack of financial resources to fund adaptation to changing climate conditions. German development cooperation supports countries in strengthening their resilience to the impacts of climate change.

German development cooperation has many tools at its disposal, including development loans, promotional loans, subsidies, training seminars and the deployment of experts. Tailored diversity or wasteful fragmentation?

The 2030 Agenda of the United Nations adopted in 2015 has made the involvement of citizens in development cooperation (DC) more important than ever. The Agenda’s ambitious goals cannot be achieved without broad public support. In many places, however, public criticism of international cooperation is increasing. With its Opinion Monitor for Development Policy project, DEval has carried out regular studies since 2017 to track public opinion on these issues in Germany.