According to preliminary OECD figures, Germany was the second largest European government donor in 2012, spending US$13.1 billion (€10.2 billion) on net official development assistance (ODA). The ODA share slightly decreased from 0.39% of gross national income (GNI) in 2011 to 0.38% in 2012. As the budget of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany’s main ODA provider, is expected to decrease through 2016, it is unlikely for Germany to meet the 0.7% by 2015.

German development policy aims at reaching the MDGs and is based on a human rights and gender equality approach. The current conservative-liberal government places a stronger focus on linking foreign and economic interests with development cooperation, and on private sector involvement. The government has committed to channelling two-thirds of German ODA bilaterally in the future, to increase the visibility of German development assistance.

Germany spent US$1.03 billion (€743 million) on global health in 2010, accounting for 6.8% of total German ODA. At the G8’s 2010 summit, Germany pledged €400 million (US$530 million) for the Muskoka Initiative on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health. Key priorities of German global health policy are HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, health systems strengthening, and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Germany is the 4th largest donor to the Global und to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund).

In 2010, Germany spent US$947 million (€681 million) on ODA to agriculture and rural development, making it the largest European government donor. Funds have increased by 37% since 2008 and accounted for 6.2% of total German ODA in 2010. Germany pledged US$3 billion to the L’Aquila Food Security Initiative for 2010 to 2012. A new sector strategy on sustainable agriculture was released in late 2012, focusing on poverty reduction in rural areas and food security. Moreover, collaboration with the German private sector is gaining weight.