Germany’s development aid faces reductions as the government implements austerity measures, prompting debate about prioritization and effectiveness. Development Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan has acknowledged that cuts to funding for aid projects are unavoidable, citing a near one billion euro reduction in the ministry’s 2025 budget.
Speaking to the media, Alabali-Radovan emphasized the difficult context of global crises and conflicts, describing the cuts as “extremely painful”. She indicated that even funding for United Nations organizations will be affected, requiring her ministry to maximize the impact of every euro spent. A potential focus for remaining funds could be regions including the Near and Middle East and North Africa. Alabali-Radovan underscored Germany’s role as a reliable partner and its continued engagement with partners worldwide, even during challenging times.
However, the proposed reductions have also sparked calls for a reassessment of existing programs. Wolfgang Stefinger, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Economic Cooperation and Development, suggested that the austerity measures present an opportunity to address inefficiencies and eliminate unproductive projects. Stefinger argued that Germany should concentrate its efforts on strategic objectives and key partner countries and demonstrate the courage to terminate collaborations that have not yielded desired results after prolonged periods. He advocates for necessary changes to ensure aid is effectively targeted.