Welthungerhilfe Analyzes Coalition Agreement: Calls for Action Beyond Promises
Welthungerhilfe welcomes the German coalition agreement's focus on development policy, including support for smallholder farmers and fair trade. However, the organization criticizes the lack of concrete timelines for achieving stated goals.
Berlin – The German aid organization Welthungerhilfe has responded to the newly formed German government's coalition agreement, welcoming its stated priorities for development policy. The agreement explicitly names the elimination of hunger and poverty as a key objective, with a focus on supporting smallholder farmers and local, cooperative approaches to strengthen regional food production. The government also reaffirms the G7 commitment from 2015 to lift 500 million people out of hunger and malnutrition.
Bärbel Dieckmann, President of Welthungerhilfe, stated that strengthening the fight against hunger is a necessary step given the global increase in crises and conflicts. "The coalition agreement sends a strong signal to the 815 million people suffering from hunger worldwide. We are pleased that development policy has been described as an independent policy field and not reduced solely to combating the causes of flight," Dieckmann commented.
Further demands from Welthungerhilfe have also been incorporated into the agreement. Cooperation with non-governmental organizations in development aid is set to expand. The coalition parties also commit to a fair trade policy and intend to review EU Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with African states from a development perspective. Additionally, the government plans to implement the Paris Climate Agreement and support poorer nations in adapting to climate change.
Dieckmann expressed optimism that the government's policy towards the poorest countries will be better coordinated, with the implementation of Agenda 2030 and the promotion of sustainable development serving as benchmarks for government action. The further development of the National Sustainability Strategy is also expected.
Expenditure on development cooperation, humanitarian aid, and civilian crisis prevention is slated for a "significant" increase, with the target of raising spending to 0.7 percent of Gross National Income (GNI) being maintained. However, Welthungerhilfe expresses disappointment over the absence of a concrete deadline for achieving this target, arguing that the proposed increases are insufficient. The organization also critically views the decision to link development spending to increases in the defense budget. Nonetheless, the reinforced focus on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) is welcomed and should be further expanded.
"The coalition agreement contains many good approaches to overcoming poverty and hunger. Now, words must be followed by deeds," Dieckmann concluded.