News

The governing body of the Global Shield against Climate Risks decided on the Global Shield’s operating model today. This is a big step from the initial idea conceived one year ago, to agreeing on the concept and launching it last fall, to making the Global Shield fully operational now. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the African Development Bank Group Annual Meetings in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Today, German Development Minister Svenja Schulze will be travelling to Washington in order to help increase the momentum of the ongoing reform of the World Bank, which is geared towards turning it into a climate and transformation bank. During her visit, she will also be lobbying for international support for the Sahel region and for more efforts for far-sighted action against crises and poverty.

German Development Minister and German World Bank Governor Svenja Schulze said, “I congratulate Mr Banga on his election as the next World Bank President. The World Bank and its future President are facing major tasks.”

The German government will make two billion euros available for the Green Climate Fund (GCF). German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced the commitment at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin today. This makes Germany the first major donor to announce its contribution for the upcoming pledging conference for the Green Climate Fund.

The Federal Government is realigning its Sahel policy. The Cabinet today approved a final extension of the mandate for the Bundeswehr contingent serving with MINUSMA. In parallel, the Federal Government will step up civilian support for the region and shift the focus of its security-sector engagement towards the Niger, Mauritania and the countries around the Gulf of Guinea.