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.
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