River in the federal state of Amazonia, Brazil

Brazil An emerging economy experiencing difficult times

Brazil is the biggest country in South America; in terms of area it is the fifth-biggest country on Earth and in terms of population the sixth biggest.

Straight to
Cityscape of São Paulo

Brazil's gross domestic product, which was 1.608 trillion US dollars in 2021 (expressed in current US dollars), makes it one of the world's largest economies. The country has the greatest wealth of biodiversity anywhere in the world, the biggest remaining area of rainforest and also, with the Amazon, the largest river by discharge volume.

In international peace and security policy, in world trade, and above all in global forest conservation and climate action, Brazil plays an important role. For a long time, the country was a model and a leader for the rest of Latin America, and it continues to have an eminent position. Brazil is actively involved in the BRICS association of countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and in the G20, and is seeking to join the OECD.

Brazil's economic and social situation has been impacted by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Public debt has increased and low economic growth is predicted for the coming years. Supply constraints, rapidly increasing prices for raw materials and the resulting high inflation brought about by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine are putting additional strain on the country.


News

German development cooperation with Brazil

Cover: Shaping the future together – strategic cooperation with global partners

Shaping the future together – strategic cooperation with global partners

BMZ positions | BMZ Paper 3 | 2021

File type PDF | Date of status 06/2021 | File size 473 KB, Pages 16 Pages

Because of its key role in international politics, Brazil is an important global partner for the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Because of the country's strategic significance for climate action and for protecting the environment and conserving biodiversity, cooperation with Brazil aimed at fostering sustainable development is accompanied by a close political dialogue.

Brazil is a key partner for the development of renewable energy (for example what is termed green hydrogen). Meanwhile, the strong rise in deforestation and its national and global impacts are being observed with great concern. The BMZ has clear expectations in terms of visible and measurable progress in controlling deforestation, and it communicates these expectations in its dialogue with Brazil; the dialogue puts an emphasis on the fundamental principles of development cooperation.

The shared long-term overarching goal of Germany's development cooperation with Brazil is the protection of global goods and global values in line with the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In keeping with the principle of leaving no one behind, disadvantaged population groups and the protection of human rights – especially the rights of indigenous peoples and traditional population groups – are a particular focus of German activities.

German-Brazilian cooperation focuses on the following core areas:

  • Conserving nature and natural resources
    Areas of intervention: forests, biodiversity
  • Climate and energy, just transition
    Areas of intervention: renewable energy and energy efficiency, sustainable urban development

In addition, the BMZ is also engaged in the fields of vocational education and training, and “green” financing.

In view of the country's own capacities, the main instrument on which German development cooperation with Brazil relies – apart from technical assistance and grants for Brazilian programmes and funds – is reduced-interest loans for measures to foster development.

In November 2021, Brazil received a commitment from Germany for new funding of up to 283.77 million euros. This commitment consisted of 257.5 million euros for Financial Cooperation and 26.27 million euros for Technical Cooperation.

Aerial view of the rainforest in the Anavilhanas National Park in Manaus, Brazil

Core area “Conserving nature and natural resources” Stopping deforestation, securing rural incomes Internal link

Covering an area of just under five million square kilometres, Brazil’s tropical forests make up about twelve per cent of the world’s total forest area. They are home to the biggest range of biodiversity anywhere in the world. The BMZ has been providing various kinds of support since the 1990s aimed at assisting the Brazilian government in protecting the tropical rainforest and using it in a responsible way.

Wind farm in Osório, in the South of Brazil

Core area “Climate and energy, just transition” Generating electricity from wind and sun Internal link

Brazil's climate and geography have endowed it with enormous energy resources and huge potential for the development of renewable energy. Germany is assisting Brazil in making its energy supply more efficient and in increasing the share of renewable energy in the electricity mix even as overall energy demand continues to grow.

Triangular cooperation Sharing experience

Symbolic image: bridge in Hanoi, Vietnam

Brazil is an important partner for the BMZ when it comes to supporting joint development programmes in third countries; this is known as triangular cooperation. Such programmes focus on the sharing of experience between an emerging economy, an industrialised country and a third, poorer country.

For instance, Germany and Brazil are jointly supporting programmes in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean – in fields such as environmental technology, decentralised energy generation and agricultural production.


Current situation

Political situation
Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro
Social situation
Favela Rua Sapopemba in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Economic situation
Cityscape of São Paulo
Environment and climate
Rainforest in Jaraqui, Brazil

As at: 19/01/2023