Sustainable development

Development cooperation in the Free State of Bavaria aims at making the greatest possible contribution to the worldwide fight against poverty and to sustainable and peaceful development, as well as to international understanding. The state wants to improve the living conditions of people in developing and emerging countries and strengthen Good Governance. All this is based on the Guidelines of Development Policy Cooperation of the Free State of Bavaria which were approved on April 30th 2013 by the Government of Bavaria.

Bavaria is committed to many aspects of development cooperation and covers a lot of different topics, including Good Governance, policy and institutional consulting, sustainable economic development, climate protection, environment and energy, scientific and technological cooperation, food security and rural areas, city development and building industry as well as culture, migration and development.

The cooperation with selected countries is based on mutual partnership, it strengthens the own responsibility of the partner countries, it offers aid for self-help and ensures subsidiary and observance of international conventions and standards.

The cultivation and development of relations with partner regions of the Free State of Bavaria play a special role thanks to a high level of mutual interest for cooperation. Besides these selected partner countries, the Free State of Bavaria is open to cooperation programs with other countries.

Furthermore, the Free State of Bavaria intends to achieve a better understanding among the local population of the problems developing and emerging countries are facing, to demonstrate global connections and interdependencies as well as to contribute to sustainable development worldwide. This is why international activities are complemented by domestic activities such as development education and information in schools and extra-curricular activities, network building and cooperation with non-governmental organisations in the
“One-World” sector.

Within the Bavarian State Government, the Bavarian State Chancellery is the coordinator of development policy and, in the case of inter-departmental issues, it has the leading role. The respective government departments carry out measures on their own responsibility.

The non-profit association "Bund für Bildung" translates socially relevant issues into educational projects. The focus is on issues of inclusion, participation and democracy.

FAIR for all generations FAIR education - Our campaigns are aimed at schools, kindergartens and day-care centres (Kitas), extracurricular actors in the greater Saarbrücken area and Saarland University. Several "Fair Kitas", "Fairtrade Schools" and "Fairtrade Universities" from the greater Saarbrücken area have already been awarded. School classes and courses from the Saarbrücken region have already received the award "Fair School Class - Fair Trade Class" more than 100 times. Through our young "Fair Trade Ambassadors" as multipliers and through our wide-ranging commitment, we reach a broad public. The guiding principle of our network is Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).

The UNi-Group was founded in 1988, is comprised of students from Berlin and Potsdam and associated with the United Nations Association of Germany (DGVN), chapter Berlin-Brandenburg. Our student organisation is represented by two permanent seats within the executive committee of the DGVN (www.dgvn-berlin.de).

We are financially as well as organisationally independent. Often are our members also part of the DGVN, however that poses no prerequisite for any voluntary work within our university group. Additionally, the UNi-Group is founding member of the United Nations Youth Association Germany - JUNON - (see further activities), a network of young UN-groups from all over Germany.

The purpose of the UNi-Group is to integrate the United Nations as well as events of international politics into everyday life, reseach and teachings at universities and schools through regular debate and information. We offer political education for the wider public, through which also our own members gain the opportunity to obtain further information about the UN and a better understanding for international politics, conflicts, communication and different approaches.

Furthermore, the UNi-Group is politically independent. The group is meant to be an association of young people who identify themselves with aforementioned objectives and are willing to pursue these intentions actively. The own enthusiasm for the ideals of the United Nations is our drive at all times. However, ensuing from this motivation we accompany and observe the development and work of the United Nations critically as well.

Schumacher College is a unique international educational institution. It provides individuals and groups from across the world with the opportunity to learn on numerous levels about subjects relating to environmental and social sustainability. The College runs an extensive program of short courses from 4 days to 3 weeks on a whole range of subjects including economics, business, design, ecology and art. A full time MSc in Holistic Science, the first of its kind, is run from the College as well as a Certificate in Education for Sustainability.