Content
Rules
Catalogue of criteria for assessing development orientation
For the sake of benefiting poor and disadvantaged groups, all German engagement must aim for societal and institutional change. Even though the catalogue is, of course, relevant for allocating BMZ funds, the criteria do not set conditions for disbursement. At stake is not so much the amount of official development assistance (ODA), but rather how cooperation with a partner country can – and should be – done.
The BMZ Strategy "Development-Oriented Transformation in Conditions of Fragile Statehood and Poor Government Performance" outlines a range of approaches that can be used in dealing with a variety of governance situations. A catalogue of criteria is used to assess and classify partner countries according to their current level of governance and the general direction in which it is developing. The Principles for Good International Engagement in Fragile States and Situations adopted in 2007 by the OECD/DAC and the EU's Council Conclusions on an EU response to situations of fragility are strategy documents that can be drawn on when formulating a coordinated and harmonised response to difficult situations.
The criteria are as follows:
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Pro-poor and sustainable policies
Orientation towards the Millennium Development Goals
Sustainable, broad-based economic and financial policy
Support for ecological sustainability -
Respect for, protection and fulfilment of all human rights
Implementation of international human rights treaties
Recognition and promotion of women’s rights
Observance of human rights standards by state actors -
Democracy and the rule of law
Democratic participation and a responsible parliament
Limitation of state power through justice and the law
Peaceful resolution of internal conflicts -
Efficiency and transparency of the state
Government willing and able to act effectively
Corruption-free state institutions
Transparent, efficient, people-oriented public administration -
Cooperative stance within the international community
Constructive participation in regional cooperation mechanisms
Constructive and active participation in international processes and bodies
Pro-peace stance in crisis and conflict situations
These criteria form the basis for all country-specific decisions of the BMZ (decisions regarding the volume of funds pledged, topics for government negotiations, priority areas of cooperation, etc.).
In order to protect global interests, such as securing peace or ensuring the supply of basic services for the population, the BMZ sometimes decides to engage in a country which does not fully meet these five criteria. Countries in which the prevailing political framework is particularly difficult should not become isolated, but rather a dialogue should be maintained. Pro-reform forces should also be strengthened in countries of this sort (change through development cooperation). In this way it might be possible to avert the threat of conflicts, ecological disasters or famines.
