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Rethinking Development Policy

Strategies for a Changing World

Rethinking Development Policy

November 5, 2025

SAP Data Space

Few other policy areas are currently facing such intense scrutiny and significant budget cuts as development policy. However, the increasingly uncertain geopolitical situation requires Germany to strengthen its international engagement strategically.

In its final report, our Commission “A Changing World – Germany and the Global South” set out recommendations for realigning Germany’s international cooperation. Alongside State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development Niels Annen and experts from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) and the German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval), we explored these approaches in greater depth.

Our discussion focused on the role that development policy can play in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical landscape. We examined ways to increase the effectiveness of development policy through reforms and how to rethink it as a central pillar of integrated foreign, security, and economic policy.

Contact Persons

Gregor Darmer, g.darmer@globalperspectives.org

Supported by

SWP Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik

DEval – Deutsches Evaluierungsinstitut der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit

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Global Perspectives Initiative is a non-profit and independent dialogue platform based in Berlin, Germany. Global Perspectives works towards enhanced engagement and responsibility for sustainable development by German and European decision-makers and aims to strengthen African perspectives in policy making. To this end, Global Perspectives regularly brings together decision-makers from business, academia, politics, media, and civil society to discuss new approaches, provide new impulses and raise awareness on the common opportunities and challenges the two neighboring continents are facing.

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