18 February 2025 Opening statement by Parliamentary State Secretary Niels Annen at the global presentation of the OECD States of Fragility Report 2025

    BMZ Berlin

    Check against delivery!

    Ladies and gentlemen,
    distinguished guests,
    DAC Chair, OECD colleagues,
    Your Excellencies,
    esteemed panellists,

    On behalf of the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, I am delighted to welcome you all to the global launch of the OECD States of Fragility Report 2025.

    Germany is honoured to co-host this important event with the OECD today, and I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to our partners at the OECD and the International Network on Conflict and Fragility (INCAF) for their invaluable cooperation and dedication to improving our collective engagement in countries affected by fragility.

    The Global Fragility Landscape

    The release of this report could not be more timely given current global developments.

    We find ourselves at crossroads – fragility remains at near-record high levels, with our world shaped by increasing disruption, volatility and rapid change. Illegitimate use of power and unconstitutional changes of government, protracted conflicts, and intensifying geopolitical fragmentation are exacerbating instability. They are deepening economic and fiscal uncertainty, and fuelling food insecurity and forced displacement.

    The accelerating impacts of climate change further compound these global challenges.

    Geopolitical Considerations and the Need for Sustained Development Cooperation

    At the same time, we are witnessing an increased stress on ODA budgets, greater public scrutiny of development cooperation, as well as increasing global fragmentation.

    The ongoing dismantling of USAID, which reflects a broader trend of development budget cuts and growing scepticism towards traditional aid structures, presents a significant challenge to global development cooperation. If members of the DAC retreat from their commitments, global fragility is likely to increase even further, and countries already affected by fragility will become even more vulnerable.

    In this complex environment, our commitment to development cooperation – even in the most fragile and complex settings – must be stronger than ever. We must recognize and openly admit that development cooperation is far more than a moral imperative. It is also a strategic and political tool. As stated in the States of Fragility Report published today: Development cooperation is “an integral part of political statecraft”.

    In light of declining budgets, we must collectively advocate for a more effective, integrated and flexible development architecture – one that aligns with local priorities and offers meaningful partnerships. The consequences of inaction are severe. Ignoring fragility does not just leave the most vulnerable behind. If we do not engage, others will come instead and could exploit this opportunity for their own short and medium-term benefit. And this engagement may not follow mutual interests like ours. Thus, for the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), development cooperation is part of the German long-term peace and security strategy.

    The German development Ministry is committed to explore ways to staying engaged and offering inclusive, long-term partnerships, ensuring reliability even in the most challenging contexts. We recognise that building resilience, fostering inclusive and just societies, and supporting sustainable peace and development require patience and continued investment. You will find the Ministry’s goals and approaches for effective development cooperation in fragile contexts in our position paper that we published recently.

    Achieving our global development goals means increasing and improving our efforts, not retreating from them. This requires collective action and we as BMZ invite you, to engage with us as partners for prevention.

    Importance of the States of Fragility Report

    Given the state of affairs I just outlined, I want to emphasise the value of this year’s States of Fragility Report. It offers timely analysis and recommendations.

    Germany has supported the OECD’s States of Fragility series since 2018 and strongly values its contribution and also agenda-setting in the international development community.

    The report serves as a vital tool, providing:

    • in-depth analysis of fragility trends and the countries we operate in,
    • evidence-based policy recommendations,
    • perspectives and lessons learnt from countries affected by fragility,
    • and guidance for decision-makers to refine strategies and improve our approaches.

    The trends are evident: fragility spreads, intensifies and eventually leads to protracted crises; prevention efforts are currently no longer keeping pace.

    As such, the States of Fragility Report can be seen as a clear call to strengthen development efforts and improve their efficiency. At the same time, it is a clear warning: We must not weigh security efforts against development efforts as they are both strongly interlinked and mutually dependent. Rather we need to explore ways to stay engaged and act as reliable partners. This is in mutual interest between members of the DAC and partner countries as it affects our security as well as our respective economic prospects.

    The choices we make about the role of development cooperation today will shape the global peace and security landscape for years to come; here in Germany and in other DAC-countries as well as in our partner countries.

    I have said it often but I want to underline it again: Early prevention and development cooperation is not only cheaper but more efficient than reactive humanitarian aid. Considering the global trend to weaken the overall aid architecture, let us reaffirm our collective commitment to addressing fragility through early, systemic, and coordinated interventions and remaining engaged.

    Thank you very much!