17.01.2013 -

Berlin - A tailwind for involvement in de­vel­op­ment co­op­er­a­tion: that was the intended outcome when German De­vel­op­ment Minister Dirk Niebel set up the service point for de­vel­op­ment initiatives, Global Civic En­gage­ment, at the beginning of 2012. Speaking on the occasion of the service point's first anniversary, Minister Niebel said:

"Effective de­vel­op­ment policy also lives from the efforts, know-how and creativity of an independent civil society. This is why we are committed to promoting the involvement of civil society and local authorities in de­vel­op­ment co­op­er­a­tion. With the help of the service point Global Civic En­gage­ment we are making it very easy for people with an interest in de­vel­op­ment issues to contribute their ideas and skills: we have just one address, one telephone number and one website providing answers to all questions that have to do with getting involved in de­vel­op­ment co­op­er­a­tion. Global Civic En­gage­ment is already a success after just one year. Young people above all are making extensive use of the services offered. Educational events and information programmes help to prepare young people in particular for their future in a globalised world. This is an important part of carrying de­vel­op­ment co­op­er­a­tion into the heart of society."

Another aim being pursued by the BMZ with the founding of Global Civic En­gage­ment is the political goal of scaling up co­op­er­a­tion with local authorities, which are important for local, civic involvement. That is why the BMZ has more than doubled its funding for community-based engagement in de­vel­op­ment activities, which has resulted in new communities being recruited for de­vel­op­ment work.

"It is important to us that we support what local communities are doing as independent de­vel­op­ment players," said Dirk Niebel, Federal Minister for Economic Co­op­er­a­tion and De­vel­op­ment. He went on to say that he was "pleased that, with the support of Global Civic En­gage­ment and in col­la­bo­ra­tion with local authorities, civil society and the private sector, the first-ever nation­wide German De­vel­op­ment Day is going to be held on 25 May 2013." On this day, in 16 local communities, the whole palette of engagement in de­vel­op­ment co­op­er­a­tion activities will be presented to the public.

distributed by