Germany’s Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan has indicated that cuts to international aid projects are unavoidable due to the government’s austerity measures.
Speaking to “Der Spiegel”, Alabali Radovan acknowledged the necessity of prioritization, stating that project cancellations are inevitable given a projected budget decrease of nearly one billion euros for the Development Ministry in 2025. “I want to be honest, in a world of crises and conflict, these cuts are extremely painful” she said.
The reductions will impact funding even for United Nations organizations, necessitating a focused approach to ensure maximum impact from available resources. Alabali Radovan suggested a potential prioritization of regions such as the Near and Middle East and North Africa. She emphasized the importance of Germany maintaining consistent international relationships, even in challenging circumstances and highlighted Germany’s influence stemming from its reliability.
Wolfgang Stefinger, Chairman of the Bundestag’s Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development, views the cuts as an opportunity for streamlining. He argues that there has been excessive proliferation of projects with limited measurable impact. “If, after years, there is no improvement, we must have the courage to discontinue projects and end collaborations” Stefinger stated, advocating for changes and a greater focus on strategic objectives and key partner countries.
