The German Federation for Development Relief Organisations (Venro) has launched a sharp critique of Development Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan’s newly unveiled strategy for German development cooperation, raising concerns that it risks transforming aid into a tool for geopolitical and economic leverage. A Venro spokesperson told the dts news agency on Monday that the heightened emphasis on economic partnerships appears to prioritize national economic interests over the fundamental goal of sustainable global development.
Venro argues that development aid should remain primarily focused on dismantling global inequalities, rather than functioning as a subsidy for specific national economic agendas. The organization expressed serious reservations about the strategy’s intensified focus on fostering peace and stability, particularly within the European neighborhood, warning against its instrumentalization as a geopolitical tool to advance national interests.
“As a federation, we would have preferred a clearer signal of the intrinsic value of development cooperation as a strategic instrument dedicated to global justice, sustainable development and universal human rights” Venro stated.
Minister Alabali-Radovan presented the strategy earlier this week, partially in response to planned budget cuts within her ministry. She framed the new approach as intended to make German development policy “more strategic, focused and partnership-oriented”. This includes differentiating between various forms of cooperation, with emerging economies potentially subject to loans with repayment terms. Geographically, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) will now concentrate its efforts on promoting peace and stability in the European neighborhood, the Middle East and North Africa, the Sahel and the Horn of Africa.
Observers note that the shift represents a potential departure from traditional German development policy, which has historically prioritized humanitarian and poverty-reduction objectives above geopolitical considerations. Critics warn that the new, more strategic approach risks compromising the independence and effectiveness of German development aid, especially if it becomes overtly aligned with national security and economic goals, potentially undermining its long-term contribution to lasting global progress. The inherent tension between development objectives and strategic political imperatives remains a key point of contention.
