Education for Sustainable Development

The BMZ is the highest federal authority for development questions. It plans and controls the development policy of the Federal Government and is responsible for its implementation. From our point of view, development policy is more than the simple commitment to creating humane living conditions on a global level. As a form of international structural policy, it can also help to address the common interests and challenges of all peoples in an effective and sustainable manner. The ministry is located in Bonn and Berlin.

Policy on three levels
The BMZ functions on three different levels: on a national level, in affiliated countries, and in international organizations. An effective development policy can help to shape new structures in global trade and to reach effective agreements on environmental policy. Thus, we can ease the debt burden of the poorest countries, stop global warming, secure peace and develop international strategies to counteract poverty. Development programs are carried out in regions where the efforts of the local authorities are insufficient. Through educational work, we also mobilize support among the population in our country.

Rules of cooperation
Development policy can only work well if it is set in the right framework. Our partners have to meet the following crucial criteria: implementation of human rights, the rule of law and the predictability of legal decisions, involvement of the population in the democratic process, creation of a market-oriented and socially just economy, and a general focus on the development process. Other principles include participation and responsibility.

Our tasks
The BMZ creates the guidelines and focal points for development policy. It represents development policy at several international organizations such as the United Nations (UN), the World Bank group and the World Trade Organization (WTO) and helps to shape international agreements. In cooperation with governmental bodies and non-governmental relief organizations, the BMZ carries out projects and programs in our affiliated countries.

Aktion Tagwerk organizes yearly the nationwide campaign "your day for Africa" the idea is easy and remains topical: schoolgirls and boys in Germany go on one day of the school year to work instead of school and donate their wage to educational projects in five countries of Africa. The campaign is accompanied by comprehensive offers of global learning, as for example holding speeches at the participant schools, photo exhibitions, a newspaper for the campaign etc.

The Free State of Saxony supports the goal of a sustainable develop-ment according to the Millennium Declaration of the United Nations 2000. Sharing the responsibility with the federal government and the municipalities, the state of Saxony attempts to contribute to and
promote development cooperation. This was reconfirmed through the signing of the 2014 Resolution on Development Policy of the Minister Presidents of the German Federal States.

The state government of Saxony strives to carry out development co-operation as a cross-sectional task with the significant participation of the civil society and of the Development Policy Network of Saxony (Entwicklungspolitisches Netzwerk Sachsen e.V.). In particular, Saxony supports development education and information in schools so that, among other things, extracurricular all-day learning pro-grams can be provided. The State Ministry of Education supports the Co-ordination Centre of “Education for Sustainable Development”, which provides the framework for mutual exchange and networking of formal and informal education.

The State Government of Schleswig-Holstein supports development policy initiatives through, among other things, an annual financial contribution to the One-World Network (Landesnetzwerk Bündnis Eine Welt – BEI) as well as to the Promoter Program (Promotorenprogramm), whereas four positions have been created in 2012 in cooperation with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Furthermore, Schleswig-Holstein works hand in hand on the basis of mutual trust with BEI within the framework of nationwide committees for development cooperation.

The Ministry for Energy, Agriculture, Environment, Nature and Digitalization (Ministerium für Energiewende, Landwirtschaft, Umwelt, Natur und Digitalisierung - MELUR) also cooperates with the Service Agency Communities in One World (Servicestelle Kommunen in der Einen Welt) and the Lutheran-Protestant Church of Northern Germany. A high-level agreement was signed with the Church of Northern Germany. Development projects by non-governmental organizations are subsidised by BINGO, the state-owned lottery.

Beside the support of municipal and school-related North-South partnerships, MELUR prioritizes awareness-raising measures, for example in the areas of sustainable and fair procurement and Fair Trade as well as educational work within the UNESCO Global Action Prorgramme on Education for Sustainable Development. These projects are run by the Ministry, mostly in cooperation with the “Educational Centre for Nature, Environment and Rural Areas” (Bildungszentrum für Natur, Umwelt und ländliche Räume – BNUR). Global Learning
and development policy subjects are also part of educational work in schools within the framework of Schleswig-Holstein’s initiative “School of the Future.SH” (Zukunftsschule.SH). Several schools have already contributed to projects in this area.

With the aim of supporting climate protection, Schleswig-Holstein has joined the Initiative “Global Climate Leadership” in 2015. MELUR supports the cooperation between participants from the economic and academic sectors in Schleswig-Holstein, who, together with their Mexican partners, work in the field of renewable energies and climate protection within the framework of the German-Mexican Climate Alliance.

Every year, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the WTSH GmbH jointly fund a training program for specialized personnel from the Chinese province of Zhejiang.

Multi-facetted cooperation with developing countries exists in the area of university research and educational work.

By providing comprehensive education and vocational training, Don Bosco Mondo e. V. particularly supports disadvantaged children and adolescents in Africa, Asia, Latin America, ond Eostern Europe, enabling them to live independent lives.

Our reliable partners in this endeavour are the Salesians of Don Bosco. With over 7000 children and youth centres in more than 130 countries. Don Bosco provides young people with knowledge, skills, and orientation. The "Don-Bosco Pedagogy" is synonymous for loving care and professional support. lt does not only help young people to develop confidence in their own capabilities, but also conveys values as creativity, team spirit, tolerance, and respect. Our new name is meant to emphasise our commitment to this One World and the global responsibility that connects us here in Germany with people across the world."

Department of Educational Futures Studies