In June, I shared a vision for the future of German government-funded development cooperation. The response was very positive, sparking many insightful discussions. Thank you for your engagement and valuable contributions!
Encouraged by your feedback, I am preparing a revised and refined version in German to continue this important dialogue.
My initial argument centred on the need to distinguish between different approaches to international cooperation in the German context. I proposed three pillars to focus the ministry of economic cooperation and development’s portfolio:
- Community-based work to unlock positive economic and social dynamics - the concept that replaces the traditional „development cooperation“ approach.
- Economic cooperation based on mutual benefit and high ethical standards.
- Support for low-resource countries to exercise “smart sovereignty” in international governance.
I believe that separating these pillars can help better align expectations of all involved parties aligned, which helps to consistently design the modes of cooperation and processes with the different stakeholders.
However, I was also told that some of my messages could be clearer. In the first pillar, I linked the argument for creating this specific pillar with the recommendation to fundamentally change the whole concept of ‘development cooperation’. Therefore, in my revision, I will separate these elements to present a more structured argument.
Interestingly, one aspect that was agreed upon without much debate was the suggestion to focus one column on economic cooperation involving, and even promoting, German and European companies based on high ethical standards.
The most significant revisions will be made to the third pillar, which I initially proposed should focus on the fair participation of low-resource countries in international governance. I intend to expand this perspective to include a broader view covering global public goods in areas such as climate and health. As governance is also a key component there, additional elements may be required to ensure the provision of these goods. This could include financing mechanisms for global public goods, such as health and vaccination initiatives.
I look forward to sharing my revised thoughts with you soon in both German and English, and continuing a productive discussions. Stay tuned!
#DevelopmentCooperation #InternationalGovernance #GlobalPublicGoods #FutureOfCooperation
