Das Politikfeld Entwicklungszusammenarbeit befindet sich im Umbruch. In Deutschland wird im Vorfeld der Bundestagswahlen im Herbst 2017 die Rolle und Bedeutung der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit einen wichtigen Platz in der politischen Diskussion einnehmen. Fragen zu globalen Herausforderungen und politischen Entwicklungen wie der Agenda 2030 sollen auf unserer Blog-Plattform von unterschiedlichen Perspektiven unter dem Titel „Zukunft der deutschen Entwicklungszusammenarbeit“ öffentlich diskutiert werden. Bis zu den Bundestagswahlen werden dazu Stimmen von Vertreterinnen und Vertretern der Wissenschaft, der im Bundestag (derzeit und in der letzten Legislaturperiode) vertretenen Parteien, der Bundesregierung, des Europäischen Parlaments und der Europäischen Kommission, den entwicklungspolitischen Durchführungsorganisationen, der Zivilgesellschaft und der Privatwirtschaft beitragen.

Image of the Square in Seville, “4th International Conference on Financing for Development 30 June–3 July 2025 Seville, Spain”

How Seville Can Sow the Seeds for a New Spring: Financing (Sustainable) Development Must Turn Universal!

These are not easy times to think about reforming or even rebuilding the international cooperation architecture to meet the challenges facing humanity. When international law is bluntly disregarded, multilateral institutions get openly attacked and institutions for global solidarity are dismantled, it is only natural to defend what has been achieved as far as possible and,…

A small river in the jungle of Indonesia

A lifeline for biodiversity – Why rich countries must cancel debt to save nature

Biodiversity loss is accelerating at an alarming rate. From deforestation in the Amazon to coral reef degradation in the Indo-Pacific, ecosystems that sustain life on Earth are vanishing. Despite global commitments, the world is failing to meet conservation goals. The problem is not only slow policy responses but a lack of financial resources, particularly in…

Image of the Square in Seville, “4th International Conference on Financing for Development 30 June–3 July 2025 Seville, Spain”

Trump and FfD4 – the Elephant in the Room Starts to Speak (and Destroy)

The first two sentences delivered by the U.S. representative at the 3rd session of FfD4 Preparatory Committee (3rd PrepCom) last week were already tough ones: “At the outset, I underscore that the United States is currently evaluating its membership and participation in all international organisations and processes. Thus, we are reserving on the whole draft…

Image of the Square in Seville, “4th International Conference on Financing for Development 30 June–3 July 2025 Seville, Spain”

Rationalising Tax Expenditures – a Core Element of Financing for Development

The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) needs to address the issue of tax expenditures. These preferential tax treatments cause huge immediate public revenue losses while their effectiveness is often in doubt. Governments worldwide use preferential tax treatments – called tax expenditures – to pursue different policy objectives, such as attracting investments, promoting…

Forging Consensus: Navigating Trade Controversies in the FfD4 Zero Draft

Image of the Square in Seville, “4th International Conference on Financing for Development 30 June–3 July 2025 Seville, Spain”

The role of international trade as a key driver for sustainable development has been a recurring theme since the First International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD) in Monterrey, Mexico in 2022. Building on this established consensus, the “Zero Draft” of the FfD4 Outcome Document emphasizes the transformative potential of international trade in driving sustainable development, particularly for developing countries.…