Policy Updates

On September 6, 2026, the far-right German AfD won the Saxony-Anhalt state election , securing 39 seats in the 83-member state legislature but falling three seats short of the absolute majority needed to govern alone.

The AfD, which Germany's domestic intelligence agency classified as "right-wing extremist," sought an outright majority to circumvent the so-called firewall, mainstream parties' longstanding refusal to enter into coalition with the party. AfD candidate for state governor Ulrich Siegmund stated the party would not pursue a minority government. Though the CDU, led by Friedrich Merz, does not appear to face an immediate threat, the election raises questions about its authority and the coalition’s ability to deliver its planned reforms.

The result reflects deep political and economic dissatisfaction in parts of Germany, extending beyond a regional outcome. Democratic parties, businesses, and CSOs face a growing challenge in responding to the shift. For international actors, the election signals a more difficult environment for defending international cooperation, development programs, and migration policies.

On August 20, 2026, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Reem Alabali Radovan announced Germany’s EUR100 million (US$116 million) contribution to ECW, which aimed through Hope Starts Here to mobilize US$600 million over four years to provide safe, quality education to 10 million children and adolescents affected by crises.

Alabali Radovan said education expanded opportunities, dignity, and life prospects, and that cooperation among governments and partners could reach millions more children. Germany remains ECW’s largest donor, while the contribution reinforces the country’s commitment to education during crises through the BMZ.

On August 17, 2026, Germany presented its complete draft federal budget for 2027, allocating EUR9.5 billion (US$11.0 billion) to BMZ, EUR587 million (US$681 million) 6% below 2026, while federal debt is projected to reach EUR1 trillion (US$1.2 trillion) by 2030.

The draft budget projects BMZ funding will fall to EUR9.2 billion (US$10.7 billion) by 2030, with a further 3% cut in 2028. Nevertheless, Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said Germany will remain a reliable development partner. Meanwhile, the BMFTR budget has increased 1% to EUR21.9 billion (US$25.4 billion) in 2027, while the BMG global-health budget has fallen 7% to EUR106 million (US$123 million). However, the AA budget for humanitarian assistance and crisis prevention rose 0.2% to EUR1.1 billion (US$1.3 billion).

Moreover, Germany has budgeted EUR16.2 million (US$19 million) for GPEI, EUR26.2 million (US$30 million) for UNFPA, EUR13.6 million (US$16 million) for IPPF, and EUR22.5 million (US$26 million) for GFF. Germany remains on track to honor its commitments to GFATM, Gavi, and CEPI. Germany’s IDA21 remains at EUR1.5 billion (US$1.7 billion) overall while annual disbursements are set to fluctuate.

Parliamentary debates are scheduled to begin in September, with the Budget Committee expected to conclude negotiations on November 12.

On July 21, 2026, German State Secretary Niels Annen launched the "Berlin Process for Food Security in the Sahel," including EUR130 million (US$148 million) for the Sahel Resilience Partnership in 2026, of which EUR120 million (US$137 million) will go to WFP and UNICEF.

The Berlin Process for Food Security in the Sahel is a framework involving regional partners and international organizations, including WFP, FAO, IFAD, and UNICEF. The initiative strengthens coordination and effectiveness of food security measures in Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad, in line with ongoing UN reforms toward more integrated and results-oriented working methods.

Secretary Annen announced EUR130 million (US$148 million) has been earmarked for the Sahel Resilience Partnership in 2026, of which EUR120 million (US$137 million) will go to the WFP and UNICEF. The funds support integrated approaches to strengthening resilience, transforming agriculture, and creating economic and social opportunities for young people across the five Sahel countries. The Sahel Resilience Partnership brings together the WFP, UNICEF, and GIZ to support vulnerable communities, complementing Germany's bilateral contributions in the region for agriculture, food security, and drinking water.

Six UN organizations in Germany have called on members of the German Bundestag to revise the 2027 federal budget draft, warning that EUR1.05 billion (US$1.2 billion) earmarked for humanitarian assistance, equivalent to 0.19% of the total budget, falls far short of what global crises demand.

Following the Cabinet's adoption of the 2027 federal budget draft, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, IOM, and WFP issued a joint statement urging the Bundestag to revise the draft during the parliamentary process. The organizations argued that the draft budget did not reflect the current global situation or Germany's international responsibilities.

The draft budget proposed further cuts to development cooperation, particularly in areas that BMZ prioritized in its new strategy. The budget line for crisis management, reconstruction, and infrastructure faced a reduction of nearly 39% compared to the previous year, which the organizations warned would significantly weaken basic services, including education, nutrition, and the reconstruction of health and water supplies.

The EUR1.05 billion (US$1.2 billion) allocated for humanitarian assistance in 2027 followed a halving of funding in the 2026 fiscal year, leaving humanitarian funding at a sustained low. The organizations noted that the consequences of cuts by Germany and other donor countries were already visible: withdrawal from crisis regions weakened structures and programs that alleviated acute suffering, contained crises, reduced the root causes of displacement and forced migration, and promoted long-term stability. Despite reform efforts to improve efficiency and coordination, UN organizations stated they would reach fewer people with reduced funding.

The organizations also cited the escalating conflict in the Middle East as compounding the impact of cuts, noting that it drove up the costs of assistance and food production through rising energy prices and restricted supply chains. They argued that, given Germany's economic strength and commitment to multilateralism and human rights, Germany should continue to play a central role in preventing and managing global crises, and that sustained and strong contributions to humanitarian assistance and development cooperation were essential, including in Germany's own interest in a more stable and secure future.

On June 30, 2026, Germany launched a South‑North Commission on Development during the Hamburg Sustainability Conference, co‑chaired by former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and former Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla, to convene about twenty high‑level members and inform international reforms, with first interim outcomes in 2027 and a final report in 2028.

Co‑Chairs Olaf Scholz and Laura Chinchilla will convene a balanced group of around twenty representatives from politics, the private sector, academia, international organizations, and civil society to co‑develop solutions and reduce polarization, with agenda‑setting and decisions shared equally between South and North.

The mandate emphasizes strengthening multilateralism and new partnerships, contributing to a post‑2030 development agenda aligned to the UN 2030 Agenda, and informing future directions for Germany’s development policy. Regular meetings will be complemented by regional consultations in Africa, Europe, Latin America, and Asia.

The Commission will start work in mid‑2026, participate in major events including the Hamburg Sustainability Conference and the UN SDG Summit, present interim outcomes in 2027 in the context of the SDG Summit and the 50th anniversary of the first North‑South Commission, and deliver a detailed final report by end‑2028.

On June 16, 2026, Germany announced an additional €13 million (US$14.8 million) to respond to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, including €9 million (US$10.3 million) for regional and country partners and €4 million (US$4.6 million) for the World Health Organization.

At a high-level virtual meeting convened by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Federal Development Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan said Germany had mobilized further emergency measures to stabilize the situation and would continue working with partners to contain the current outbreak and future health crises.

Of the €13 million (US$14.8 million), €9 million (US$10.3 million) is earmarked to support the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Africa CDC, the East African Community, local UN programs, and non-governmental organizations. An additional €4 million (US$4.6 million) will increase Germany’s contribution to the WHO for emergency measures.

Alabali-Radovan also noted continued German support for multilateral health actors, including the Pandemic Fund, Gavi, CEPI, and CERF.

On May 14, 2026, German Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan announced Germany’s EUR100 million (US$115 million) pledge to Education Cannot Wait to support education programs for children and young people affected by war, displacement, and disasters.

Alabali Radovan announced the pledge via video message at the Global Citizen Festival in New York. Alabali Radovan said the right to education applied in times of crisis and war and said education helped protect children and young people from exploitation and violence and supported peace and sustainable development.

On April 16, 2026, the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents announced new funding commitments totaling US$806 million from governments and philanthropic partners to support its TRANSFORM 2030 strategy, a five-year plan to accelerate reductions in preventable maternal and child deaths.

The announcements were made on the sidelines of the World Bank Group-International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings in Washington, DC. The commitments represent more than 80% of the GFF's fundraising goal of US$1 billion by the end of 2026, with additional pledges expected in the coming months.

Commitments announced included:

• CAD190 million (US$139 million) from the Government of Canada;
• EUR45 million (US$53 million) from the Government of Germany;
• US$186 million from the Government of the Netherlands;
• NOK600 million (US$66 million) from the Government of Norway;
• US$150 million from the Children's Investment Fund Foundation;
• US$200 million from the Gates Foundation; and
• US$15 million from the Laerdal Scale Up Fund.

Philanthropic and private sector commitments included US$250 million for the newly launched Sustainable Commodities Access Program, designed to incentivize countries to expand access to high-quality commodities and address supply chain bottlenecks, and US$15 million for a new innovations challenge program to scale up the Safer Births Bundle of Care in 10 countries.

On March 31, 2026, German Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan announced a EUR177 million (US$204 million) support package for Jordan, Lebanon, and the Palestinian Territories.

Alabali Radovan announced the package during a visit to Jordan, citing the impact of the war with Iran on the region, including direct attacks, displacement, rising prices, and closed border crossings. Part of the funding was already earmarked for the region, with the remainder drawn from reallocations within the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development's budget. The package is allocated as follows:

• Jordan (EUR50 million/US$58 million): support for Syrian refugees, including teachers' salaries to enable Syrian children to attend school, employment projects in waste and recycling management, and vocational training to support return to Syria and reconstruction;
• Palestinian Territories (EUR30 million/US$35 million): EUR10 million (US$11.5 million) will be used for additional housing beyond the 1,500 temporary dwellings already financed in Gaza, another EUR10 million (US$11.5 million) will be used to to promote employment in the West Bank, and additional funds for vocational training for young people and local food production; and
• Lebanon (EUR75 million/US$86 million): support for approximately one million internally displaced persons, including cash-for-work programs and learning materials for children to participate in distance learning.

The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development also committed EUR22 million (US$25 million) in additional support for a planned seawater desalination plant on the Red Sea.