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FOREIGN POLICY
TOPIC
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
German development policy is geared as a
Global development in the coming years
cornerstone of a global structural and peace
will be decisively influenced by the 2030
policy to helping improve living conditions
Agenda as resolved by the 70th Session of
in partner countries. It aims to overcome
the UN General Assembly at the end of Sep-
hunger and poverty worldwide and strength-
tember 2015. The 2030 Agenda will replace
en democracy and the rule of law. The Federal
the United Nations’ Millennium Develop-
Ministry of Economic Cooperation and De-
ment Goals, which defined development in
velopment draws up the guidelines and con-
developing and emerging nations for the
cepts. Politically and financially, the main
period 2000 to 2015, and indeed go far be-
emphasis is on bilateral cooperation with
yond them.
partner countries. As part of government development cooperation, G ermany works
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
with 50 partner countries in jointly agreed
Development
country programmes that can involve all the
various government tools for development
Even though by 2015 efforts in pursuit of
cooperation. Africa is a key region, but Ger-
the Millennium Development Goals had
many also works extremely closely with
succeeded in halving starvation worldwide
countries in Asia, southeast Europe, and
and, among other things, improving access
Latin America.
to drinking water and education, almost 1.3
billion people live on less than 1.25 dollar a
Germany has increased the budget for devel-
day. Other problems such as the overly great
opment cooperation by 8.3 billion euros
use of resources, ongoing climate change
through 2019. This means that in 2016 a good
and the destruction of the environment,
0.4 percent of the gross domestic product will
high unemployment and social inequality,
be channelled into development coopera-
likewise remain urgent.
tion. On an international scale, the 16.25
billion dollars Germany allocates annually
The new September 2015 goals are intended
puts it third among the largest donor coun-
to boost a worldwide change in favour
tries for public development cooperation, be-
of more sustainability – in the economic,
hind the USA and Great Britain. As a rule,
ecological, and social dimensions, and tak-
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale
ing the existing links between the three
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the KfW Group
into consideration. From now on the idea is
are the implementing organisations and
for there to be a “universal” agenda, in other
manage the projects in the various countries.
words one applicable to all countries. The