Report on the reality of German development policy calls for greater commitment to upholding human rights and overcoming hunger
Threatened budget cuts in 2024 from the Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development would send a devastating signal
Berlin, June 15, 2023. Welthungerhilfe and terre des hommes , in their 30th report on the reality of German development policy, see the German government facing enormous challenges. In light of the dramatic increase in wars, violent conflicts, famines, extreme weather events resulting from climate change, and the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, more, not less, financial resources are needed to support people in the poorest countries. In addition to reliable funding to support those most affected, the German government primarily needs a decisive policy to overcome hunger, uphold human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, and to support civil society organizations.
“In 2022, German ODA reached its highest share of gross national income to date, at 0.83 percent. This is encouraging; however, according to the current medium-term financial plan, drastic budget cuts are planned for the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Federal Foreign Office starting in 2024,” explained Joshua Hofert, spokesperson for the board of terre des hommes . “This decline would be disastrous, as the situation in Afghanistan demonstrates, where less than ten percent of the emergency aid identified by the United Nations has arrived. Funding for development cooperation must not be allowed to decrease again under any circumstances; only then can Germany fulfill its role as a reliable partner.”
Joshua Hofert expects the German government to ensure that German development policy serves the promotion of democracy and the rule of law across all ministries. "Human rights must not be subordinated to economic interests. In authoritarian countries, many children and young people stand up for human rights and consequently experience intimidation, imprisonment, and displacement. We expect that local protection mechanisms and support services will be established for them as an active and particularly vulnerable group, safeguarding them from violence and exploitation," Hofert stated.
2023 marks the halfway point of the 2030 Agenda, adopted in 2015. However, halfway through, the Agenda's sustainability goals seem almost unattainable. "The German government has responded well to the current crises with a further increase in funding to a record high of €33.3 billion. Nevertheless, up to 828 million people still suffer from chronic hunger, and the number of acutely malnourished people rose for the fourth consecutive year in 2022," emphasized Mathias Mogge, CEO of Welthungerhilfe(World Hunger Aid). "Not only has the number of armed conflicts more than doubled since 2010, but the number of extreme weather events has also increased dramatically as a result of the climate crisis. Therefore, more investment is needed in the poorest countries, especially their rural areas. The development of social security systems must be supported, and both climate protection and adaptation measures must be expanded. Human rights in agricultural supply chains must be respected, and women must finally be able to contribute to the planning and implementation of development strategies on an equal footing. The German government has already developed strategies and targets for many of these demands." "Now we need the political will at all levels to implement these goals. Words must finally be followed by action!" demanded Mathias Mogge.
The "Compass 2023" is a further development of the annual report on the "Reality of Development Policy," published by terre des hommes and Welthungerhilfe since 1993. It continues to subject German development policy to critical analysis, but in doing so, it takes particular account of the requirements for German policy set out in the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted in 2015.