Policy Updates

On June 26, 2024, German Development Minister Svenja Schulze welcomed a proposal, developed by economist Gabriel Zucman and commissioned by the Brazilian G20 Presidency, for a global minimum tax on the "super rich".

Zucman proposed a minimum global tax of 2% on all billionaires inadequately taxed by domestic income tax frameworks. Zucman estimated the tax could amount to an additional US$250 billion annually for development purposes such as education, health, and climate.

While other members of the German government remained hesitant, Schulze pointed to extreme inequality as a major cause of societal polarization globally and called on allies to help realize the proposal.

On June 20, 2024, multiple global health actors, including Germany, announced new measures to support the build-up of vaccine manufacturing capabilities on the African continent at a conference, titled Protecting Our Future - The Global Forum for Vaccine Sovereignty and Innovation.

The conference was organized by France and hosted in Paris in partnership with Gavi and the Africa Center for Disease Control.

A key announcement was AVMA, which is slated to provide around US$1 billion across 10 years to limit the risk for private firms and bolster competitive vaccine production in African countries. The mechanism aims for the production of more than 800 million vaccine doses on the African continent within the next 10 years.

Germany and partners in Team Europe will provide around 70% of the funding for AVMA. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Development Minister Svenja Schulze both delivered messages of support. Strengthening regional vaccine manufacturing capabilities is a longstanding objective of German development policy.

On June 11, 2024, following poor EU election results for German coalition parties SPD and the Greens, coalition tensions rose surrounding ongoing budget negotiations with the potential to significantly impact German ODA.

All three coalition partners ( SPD, FDP, Greens) faced EU election losses, particularly the SPD and the Greens. The losses increased conflicts between parties on the budget. German Finance Minister Christian Lindner ( FDP) proposed massive cuts to the 2025 BMZ budget, which included large amounts of ODA. Development Minister Svenja Schulze, ( SPD) requested additional funding for the BMZ.

Election results have spurred leading voices of SPD and Greens to advocate for increased funding for their priorities against the opposition of the FPD.

The 2025 budget draft is scheduled for confirmation by Parliament on July 3, 2024, however, consensus on the draft remains uncertain.

On June 5, 2024, German Development Minister Svenja Schulze condemned European plans to outsource asylum processes to non-European countries, emphasizing legal and practical concerns while advocating for a humanitarian approach.

Schulze made the comments at the SPD Migration Conference. The conference also addressed national cohesion and Germany's role as an 'immigration country'. Speakers, including Special Representative for Migration Joachim Stamp and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, discussed the complexities of migration agreements and the challenges of managing asylum processes.

Schulze highlighted the necessity for Europe to assist host countries as a humanitarian and moral obligation as well as a matter of self-interest. She emphasized the importance of upholding the right to asylum and warned against shifting responsibility for refugees away from Europe. Schulze also stressed that most refugees remain displaced in their home countries or neighboring region and need urgent humanitarian support.

Schulze's stance aligned with that of many humanitarian organizations, which have criticized the legal and moral implications of outsourcing asylum. She underscored that outsourcing asylum procedures would not deter dangerous journeys and would be costly for taxpayers.

On June 5, 2024, German Development Minister Svenja Schulze urged for greater recycling and reuse in the textile industry to protect scarce resources.

Schulze noted that the textile sector accounts for 20% of global freshwater pollution and 10% of CO₂ emissions, surpassing both international aviation and shipping, and that less than 1% of global clothing waste is recycled. She emphasized the necessity of reducing textile waste and enhancing recycling efforts, which could benefit the environment and create jobs in the recycling sector.

Over two-thirds of EU-traded textiles are manufactured in Asia, while nearly half of used EU textiles are disposed of in Africa. Germany's development policy supports sustainable practices in production countries like Bangladesh and Cambodia, aiming to reduce water and chemical use and promote recycling of production scraps. Germany has partnered with import countries, including Ghana, where second-hand markets generate significant textile waste to establish sorting centers to repurpose fabric scraps, develop recycling initiatives, and foster green job creation.

On June 5, 2024, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock introduced a book titled The Foreign Office and the Colonies: History, Memory, Legacy, detailing the AA's involvement in colonial rule from 1890 to 1907, and emphasized the need for reflection and supporting global partnerships.

Baerbock emphasized that acknowledging and reflecting on this history is crucial for learning lessons and fostering strong global partnerships. Supported by an international research team, the book addresses the AA's accountability for violence and crimes in German colonies.

The book’s release is part of Germany’s broader effort to engage in dialogue with countries affected by its colonial actions, including ongoing reconciliation initiatives in Namibia and Tanzania. The AA is also active in repatriating cultural artifacts and supporting research and educational programs to critically examine Germany’s colonial legacy.

On June 3, 2024, German Development Minister Svenja Schulze advocated for increased development funding in light of proposed development budget cuts, highlighting its importance for both humanitarian and economic reasons.

Schulze has firmly opposed proposed cuts to the German development budget, emphasizing the dual importance of humanitarian and economic benefits. She stressed that continued investment in international development is crucial not only for solidarity but also for Germany's economic interests, noting that half of Germany's revenue comes from exports. Schulze argued that supporting global partnerships enhances economic stability and growth for Germany.

Despite German Finance Minister Christian Lindner's calls for significant budget reductions, Schulze noted that she remains committed to advocating for increased funding. She plans to collaborate with various development organizations to lobby for more resources until the budget is finalized in December 2924. Schulze made these remarks at the launch of a mobile exhibition by the international Catholic assistance organization missio, aimed at raising awareness about modern slavery and its links to Western consumption patterns.

On June 1, 2024, German Development Minister Svenja Schulze emphasized the crucial role of religious communities in development policy during her speech addressing challenges in gender equality within religious institutions at the Katholikentag in Erfurt.

Schulze acknowledged that religious organizations, due to their widespread presence, are key partners in addressing global issues such as hunger, climate change, and biodiversity. She praised the contributions of church-based aid organizations like Misereor, missio, and Brot für die Welt in improving lives through development projects.

Schulze highlighted the ethical dimension of globalization, stressing that effective development requires joint efforts beyond financial considerations. She noted that religious groups were instrumental in advocating for the recently passed EU supply chain law, which aims to ensure human rights and environmental standards in production processes.

Schulze acknowledged ongoing challenges and the need for progress in gender equality, particularly within the Catholic Church, and stressed the importance of feminist development policy. She noted her belief that inclusive projects involving women tend to be more successful and sustainable, reinforcing the need for continued advocacy for gender equality in all sectors.

The discussion underscored the intersection of faith and development, demonstrating that collaborative efforts with religious communities are essential for achieving sustainable development goals.

On May 30, 2024, a UN survey showed that 85% of women worldwide are committed to advancing their rights and representation in government, despite global challenges to women's rights revealed that a significant majority of women are committed to promoting their rights and participation in government.

Conducted by the WeTheWomen campaign, the UN Office for Partnerships, and John Zogby Strategies, the survey included over 25,000 women from 185 countries.

Additional results revealed that 60% of women believe female representation in leadership will improve over the next decade. More than two-thirds emphasized the need for increased female participation in leadership roles at both national and global levels.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed highlighted the importance of women's involvement in decision-making to achieve sustainable development goals. German Development Minister Svenja Schulze, co-initiator of the campaign, praised the overwhelming global participation and called for continued efforts to advance gender equality.

The survey also found widespread optimism about future living conditions, with 57% of women expecting improvements in the next five years. However, significant concerns remain about climate change, economic insecurity, and gender inequalities, with many women expecting the impacts of these issues to affect their health and safety.

Overall, the findings underscored the need for stronger international cooperation and effective multilateral action to address these global challenges and support women's rights and representation worldwide.

On May 29, 2024, German Development Minister Svenja Schulze delivered a speech at Africa Day, hosted by the African Diplomatic Corps and the German Africa Foundation in Berlin, where she lauded the African Continental Free Trade Area's potential to boost intra-African trade and development and emphasized the importance of partnerships based on respect and mutual benefit.

Schulze praised the AfCFTA for its potential to significantly enhance intra-African trade, reduce tariffs, lower transport costs, and simplify visa processes, thereby creating one of the world's largest markets. She highlighted that the AfCFTA could double intra-African trade by 2035, creating employment and lifting millions out of poverty.

Schulze emphasized the importance of integrating women and youth into trade and the economy, addressing structural barriers that hinder their participation. She outlined Germany’s support for the AfCFTA, including financing cross-border trade and training border officials. Schulze also underscored the need for a continental EU-Africa trade agreement and recognized the AfCFTA as an African initiative fostering independence and economic integration.

Schulze further called for a partnership based on respect and equality, acknowledging the colonial past and its lingering effects. She stressed the necessity of including Africa in global decision-making, supporting its representation in international forums such as the G20 and the UN Security Council.

Schulze concluded by reaffirming Germany's commitment to strengthening the African Union and advancing its Agenda 2063 for sustainable development.