“Germany can be a bridge builder”

Minister Schulze, what are the key issues and tasks facing German development policy?

The issues that can only be tackled by increasing global cooperation are huge – from combating climate change to managing migration. At the same time, there’s growing crisis fatigue in a lot of countries, including Germany. More and more people are saying they think Germany can retreat into its shell – as if this would make the crises disappear. I can understand this at a certain level, but it would be wrong. That’s why for 2024 I’ve resolved to take a very proactive stance in favour of more global cooperation – both in Germany and internationally. At the UN Future Summit in September, for example, where the aim is to make the multilateral system more effective.

There are so many areas where increased cooperation benefits both ourselves in Germany and the people in our partner countries: whether skilled labour immigration, combating climate change, green hydrogen projects, or targeted support for the countries hosting the largest numbers of refugees. In a world of growing mistrust and increasingly widespread conflict, development policy provides an opportunity to build bridges and maintain stable partnerships.

One key source of leverage for more progress in the area of development is ensuring that women and girls have a more important role to play. For this reason, a commitment to gender equality will continue to be a priority of German development policy in 2024.

What strategy will be pursued in 2024?

It won’t be possible to tackle global challenges using public development funds alone. This is why we’re working on tapping new sources of funding. At the last climate conference we succeeded in persuading a wealthy Gulf state to contribute to a UN climate fund for the first time, namely the United Arab Emirates. This was a start, now other new donors have to follow. I also want to make more progress in implementing the World Bank reform in 2024: through the World Bank and other development banks we can mobilise large sums of money to tackle global problems.

Private companies have to do more to contribute to sustainable development as well. Having passed a Supply Chain Act in Germany, we now need to do the same for Europe, then the commitment to human rights and environmental protection will become the new standard.

Something that gives me hope for 2024 is the self-confident and active role that the countries of the Global South are increasingly taking on the international stage – such as the group of African states that are looking to strengthen the role of the United Nations in global tax policy. Or Brazil’s G20 Presidency: President Lula has set himself ambitious goals in the fight against poverty, hunger, climate change and inequality. Resolving the excessive number of violent conflicts around the world requires mediation by people who are trusted by all parties – and they are increasingly coming from emerging and developing countries.

What needs to happen internationally in these areas – and what role can Germany play?}

Germany can be a bridge builder, bringing together players from a wide variety of sectors. This is why we intend to establish a new global forum this summer – the Hamburg Sustainability Conference. The aim is to bring together all those from the Global North and the Global South – whether in governments, the private sector or civil society – who want to work together on solutions for sustainable development and a fairer financial architecture.

We also have an important co-hosting role along with the Ukrainian government at the conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine in Berlin in June.

Whatever the context: the solution is more international cooperation, not less. Germany’s prosperity depends on maintaining partnerships all around the world. An economy that relies on international value chains and global problem-solving can’t afford to be isolationist.