- Policy
- ODA allocation overview
- ODA to and through the multilateral system
- Bilateral ODA
- Geographic, sectoral and thematic focus of ODA
- Private sector instruments
- Mobilised private finance
- Total Official Support for Sustainable Development
- Institutional set-up
- Quality and oversight
- Other profiles
- Additional resources
Development Co‑operation Profiles: Germany
Table of contents
In 2024, Germany was the Development Assistance Committee’s (DAC) second-largest development co‑operation provider. Bilateral co-operation constitutes the bulk of Germany’s official development assistance (ODA) under the overall lead of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). At the same time, the Federal Foreign Office oversees humanitarian aid, crisis prevention, stabilisation and peacebuilding. Germany’s total ODA decreased in 2024 to USD 32.4 billion (preliminary data), representing 0.67% of gross national income (GNI).
This profile presents verified data on development assistance allocation. See the Development Co-operation Profiles.
The BMZ 2030 reform provides a clear strategic framework for Germany’s development co‑operation, with thematic priorities such as poverty reduction and feminist development policy gaining traction. In 2023, several strategies were developed, including on multilateral engagement; feminist development policy; civil society engagement; human rights; new regional strategies on Africa, Asia and a forthcoming one on the Middle East and North Africa. Additionally, other federal ministries introduced key policies, such as the feminist foreign policy or Germany’s first National Security Strategy, providing anchor points to structure development co‑operation and signalling a robust and evolving development agenda.
The European Union (EU) is one of Germany’s key partners. The multilateral strategy emphasises the need for multilateral action to protect and deliver global public goods. It focuses on peace, climate, environment, health and enhancing social protection systems. In 2023, Germany adopted its first-ever climate foreign policy strategy, reiterating its existing climate finance target of EUR 6 billion annually by 2025. It also advocates for fair and sustainable globalisation, including in the G7 and G20.
The 2025 OECD-DAC mid-term review praised Germany for its emphasis on climate action, gender equality and multilateral engagement, alongside efforts to maintain and prioritise funding for reducing poverty and inequality. The review emphasised the continued importance of policy coherence and effective whole-of-government co-ordination, acknowledging the need for strategic prioritisation and resource allocation to mitigate the impacts of recent budget cuts and growing risks of misinformation that threaten to undermine public trust in development co-operation. The review found that Germany had made progress against all ten recommendations from its last full Peer Review in 2021, with good progress on recommendations on gender equality, poverty and inequality, and evaluation in particular. Discover insights from Germany’s 2021 Peer Review and 2025 mid-term review, and learn from Germany’s practices in Development Co-operation Tools Insights Practices (TIPs).
Germany provided USD 32.4 billion (preliminary data) of ODA in 2024 (USD 31.4 billion in constant terms), representing 0.67% of GNI.1 This was a decrease of 17.2% in real terms in volume and a decrease in the share of GNI from 2023. Having reached 0.7% of GNI for the first time in 2016, Germany has surpassed this mark every year since 2020, in line domestic and EU commitments to collectively achieve a 0.7% ODA/GNI ratio by 2030. However, in the context of broader fiscal consolidation, BMZ’s budget was cut by 15% in 2024 (a cut of EUR 1.88 billion in absolute terms), while the budget available for humanitarian aid in the Foreign Office was cut by 18% (a cut of nearly EUR 500 000). The new government’s coalition agreement announces further ODA reductions. Within Germany’s ODA portfolio in 2023, 76.2% was provided in the form of grants and 23.8% in the form of non-grants.2
Germany is the second DAC member in terms of ODA volume and ranked fifth among DAC member countries when ODA is taken as a share of GNI. In 2023, Germany was among the top bilateral ODA providers to high and extremely fragile contexts (USD 5.3 billion) and provided the largest share of gross bilateral ODA for conflict prevention (7.2%). Germany had the second-highest ODA commitments focussing on climate (USD 11.8 billion) in 2022-23 and the highest gross ODA refugee costs in 2023 (USD 7.3 billion).
Germany has committed to several international targets and DAC standards and recommendations. Learn more about DAC Recommendations.
Note: This table only includes information about ODA data-related DAC Recommendations. ODA: official development assistance; GNI: gross national income; DAC: Development Assistance Committee.
Germany provided a higher share of its ODA bilaterally in 2023. Gross bilateral ODA was 64.6% of total ODA disbursements. Seventeen per cent of gross bilateral ODA was channelled through multilateral organisations (earmarked contributions).
In 2023, Germany provided USD 21.2 billion of gross ODA to the multilateral system, an increase of 10.4% in real terms from 2022. Of this, USD 16.2 billion was core multilateral ODA (35.4% of total ODA), while USD 5 billion was non-core contributions earmarked for a specific country, region, theme or purpose. Project-type funding earmarked for a specific theme and/or country accounted for 72.1% of Germany’s non-core contributions and 27.9% was programmatic funding (to pooled funds and specific-purpose programmes and funds).
The United Nations (UN) system received 20.3% of Germany’s contributions to multilateral organisations, mainly through earmarked contributions (76.7%, or USD 3.3 billion). Out of a total volume of USD 4.3 billion to the UN system, the top three UN recipients of Germany’s support (core and earmarked contributions) were the World Food Programme (USD 1.2 billion), the UN Refugee Agency (USD 541.2 million) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (USD 295.9 million).
See the section on Geographic, sectoral and thematic focus of ODA for the breakdown of bilateral allocations, including ODA earmarked through the multilateral development system.
Learn more by exploring the dashboard on DAC members’ use of the multilateral system.
In 2023, Germany’s bilateral spending declined compared to the previous year. It provided USD 29.5 billion of gross bilateral ODA (which includes earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations). This represented a decrease of 17.7% in real terms from 2022.
In 2023, country programmable aid amounted to USD 11 billion, or 37.2% of Germany’s gross bilateral ODA, compared to the DAC country average of 43.1%. In-donor refugee costs were USD 7.3 billion in 2023 representing 24.7% of Germany’s gross bilateral ODA. This was an increase of 38.8% in real terms over 2022.
Germany disbursed USD 12.1 million for triangular co-operation in 2023 and has a new strategy from 2022 guiding its approach to the modality. Germany is a member of the Global Partnership Initiative on Effective Triangular Co-operation. Its regional priority is Latin America and the Caribbean, with a focus on trade policies and regulations. Learn more about triangular co-operation.
In 2023, Germany channelled its bilateral ODA mainly through public sector and multilateral organisations. Technical co-operation made up 22.2% of gross ODA in 2023.
In 2023, civil society organisations (CSOs) received USD 2 billion of gross bilateral ODA, of which 2.2% was directed to developing country-based CSOs. Overall, 2.4% of gross bilateral ODA was allocated to CSOs as core contributions and 4.6% was channelled through CSOs to implement projects initiated by the donor (earmarked funding). From 2022 to 2023, the combined core and earmarked contributions for CSOs increased as a share of bilateral ODA, from 6.1% to 6.9%. Learn more about the DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Aid.
In 2023, Germany’s bilateral ODA primarily focused on countries in Africa. USD 5.7 billion was allocated to countries in Africa and USD 3.9 billion to Asia (excluding the Middle East), accounting respectively for 19.2% and 13.1% of gross bilateral ODA. USD 2.8 billion was allocated to the Middle East. Asia (excluding the Middle East) was also the main regional recipient of Germany’s earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations. This is in line with Germany’s Development Policy 2030, which designates Africa as the primary focus region.
In 2023, 20.4% of gross bilateral ODA went to Germany’s top 10 recipients. Its top 10 recipients are primarily middle-income countries in all regions of the world. The share of gross bilateral ODA not allocated by country was 56.1%, of which 44.1% consisted of expenditures for processing and hosting refugees in provider countries.
In 2023, Germany allocated 0.21% of its GNI to the least developed countries (LDCs). Germany allocated the highest share of gross bilateral ODA (17.2%) to lower middle-income countries in 2023, noting that 56.1% was unallocated by income group. LDCs received 10% of Germany’s gross bilateral ODA (USD 3 billion). Additionally, Germany allocated 6.2% of gross bilateral ODA to land-locked developing countries in 2023, equal to USD 1.8 billion.
Looking at the distribution of Germany’s ODA in relation to “ODA per person in extreme poverty”3, the amount was USD 13.1 in LDCs, USD 11.6 in lower middle-income countries and USD 82 in upper middle-income countries (UMICs).
In 2024, Germany provided USD 328.6 million of net bilateral ODA to Ukraine to respond to the impacts of Russia’s full-scale invasion, a 60.5% decrease from 2023 in real terms. USD 110.8 million of the amount was humanitarian assistance in 2024, a 47.7% decrease from 2023.
Support to contexts with high and extreme fragility was USD 5.3 billion in 2023, representing 18% of Germany’s gross bilateral ODA. Nineteen per cent of this ODA was provided in the form of humanitarian assistance, a decrease from 23% in 2022, while 11.8% was allocated to peace, an increase from 11.4% in 2022. Seven per cent of gross bilateral ODA went to conflict prevention, a subset of contributions to peace, representing an increase from 6.9% in 2022. Learn more about the OECD States of Fragility platform.
In 2023, the largest focus of Germany’s bilateral ODA was social infrastructure and services. Investments in this area accounted for 29.9% of bilateral ODA commitments (USD 9.3 billion), with a strong focus on support to education (USD 3.2 billion), government and civil society (USD 3.1 billion), and other social infrastructure and services (USD 1.3 billion). ODA for other sectors totalled USD 9 billion, with a focus on refugees in donor countries (USD 7.3 billion). Economic infrastructure and services amounted to USD 5.5 billion (17.9% of bilateral ODA). Earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations also focused on social sectors and economic sectors in 2023.
In the period 2022-23, Germany committed 56.2% of screened bilateral allocable ODA to gender equality and women’s empowerment, compared to 44.6% in 2020-214 and a 2022-23 DAC average of 45.8%. This is equal to USD 13.6 billion of screened bilateral allocable ODA in support of gender equality on average per year. In addition:
The share of screened bilateral allocable ODA committed to gender equality and women’s empowerment as a principal objective was 3.7% in 2022-23, compared with the DAC average of 4%.
Germany includes gender equality objectives in 20% of ODA for humanitarian aid, above the 2022‑23 DAC average of 19.1%.
Germany screens virtually all bilateral allocable ODA activities against the DAC gender equality policy marker (98.7% in 2022-23).
Germany committed USD 54.9 million of ODA to end violence against women and girls and USD 128.8 million to support women’s rights organisations and movements, and government institutions on average in 2022-23.
Learn more about the DAC Recommendation on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of All Women and Girls in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance and the DAC Recommendation on Ending Sexual Exploitation in Development Co-operation, and by exploring the dashboard on DAC members’ development finance for gender equality.
In 2022-23, Germany committed 53.5% of its total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 13.1 billion) in support of the environment and the Rio Conventions, up from 40% in 2020-21. The DAC average was 39 % in 2022-23. In addition:
Twelve per cent of screened bilateral allocable ODA focused on environmental issues as a principal objective, compared with the DAC average of 9.6%.
Forty-eight per cent of total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 11.8 billion) focused on climate change overall, up from 33.3% in 2020-21 (the DAC average was 34.8%). Germany had a greater focus on mitigation (35.9%) than on adaptation (26.6%) in 2022-23.
Twelve per cent of screened bilateral allocable ODA (USD 2.8 billion) focused on biodiversity overall, up from 10% in 2020-21 (the DAC average was 7.6%).
Learn more about the DAC Declaration on Aligning Development Co-operation with the Goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Note: Individual Rio Markers should not be added up as this can result in double counting.
The OECD’s tracking of ODA for the sustainable ocean economy shows that Germany committed USD 476.5 million in support of the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean in 2023, USD 202.3 million more than in 2022. The 2023 value is equivalent to 2.4% of Germany’s bilateral allocable ODA.
In 2023, Germany:
Allocated 7.2% of its bilateral ODA (USD 2.1 billion) to core poverty-reducing sectors as defined by Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1.a.1. This indicator captures grants to basic social services (such as basic health and education, water supply and sanitation) and development food aid. In addition, 0.8% of bilateral ODA (USD 226.1 million) went to social protection support.
Committed USD 57.6 million (0.3% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to address the immediate or underlying determinants of malnutrition in developing countries across a variety of sectors, such as health.
Committed USD 24.3 million (0.1% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to the mobilisation of domestic resources in developing countries. Regarding the payment of local tax and customs duties for ODA-funded goods and services, Germany generally requests exemptions. It makes this information available on the OECD Digital Transparency Hub on the Tax Treatment of ODA.
Committed USD 6.8 billion (33.8% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to promote aid for trade and improve developing countries’ trade performance and integration into the world economy in 2023. Germany is among the top 10 official providers of aid for trade globally.
To build markets in developing countries and incentivise greater mobilisation of private resources for development, many providers, including Germany, have established development finance institutions (DFIs) and similar vehicles that extend private sector instruments (PSI). The German Investment Corporation (Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft - DEG) and KfW Development Bank were assessed as ODA-eligible PSI vehicles. PSI represented 1.8% of Germany’s ODA in 2023 while the DAC average stood at 1.3%.
In 2023, DEG and KfW Development Bank extended USD 1.9 billion in the form of PSI to developing countries.5 Of this, loans accounted for 58.8% whereas equities accounted for 35.2%. Other PSI included mezzanine finance instruments.
In 2023, USD 102.6 million (5.3%) of Germany’s PSI were allocated to the LDCs and other low-income countries (LICs), with a majority of 66.9% received by middle-income countries and UMICs in particular (47.8%). USD 535.7 million was unallocated by income. Germany’s PSI primarily supported projects in the banking and financial services (64.1%) and industry, mining, construction (12.4%).
Germany uses leveraging mechanisms to mobilise private finance for sustainable development. In 2023, the German development finance institution (DEG), the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the KfW Bankengruppe (KfW banking group) mobilised USD 1.6 billion from the private sector through shares in CIVs, syndicated loans, direct investment in companies and SPVs, credit lines and simple co-financing. This constituted an 89.9% increase compared to 2022.
Private finance mobilised by Germany in 2022-23 mainly targeted middle-income countries, representing 53.2% of the total. Only 3.7% of total mobilised private finance during this period benefited the LDCs and other LICs, noting that 43.1% was unallocated by income.
Mobilised private finance by Germany in 2022-23 related mainly to activities in banking and financial services (36.6%), as its top sector. Furthermore, over this period, 42.3% of Germany’s total mobilised private finance was for climate action.
Total Official Support for Sustainable Development (TOSSD) is an international statistical standard that monitors and increases transparency of all official and officially supported resources for financing the SDGs in developing countries, as well as for addressing global challenges. In 2023, activities reported by Germany as TOSSD totalled USD 17.8 billion, down from USD 25.7 billion in 2022. Germany’s TOSSD activities mostly targeted SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 13 (climate action) and SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities). Activity-level data on TOSSD by recipient are available at: https://tossd.online.
BMZ co-ordinates Germany’s development co-operation policy and oversees a large part of its ODA. A number of other federal ministries also manage ODA resources, including the Federal Foreign Office, which oversees humanitarian assistance, crisis prevention, stabilisation and peacebuilding. Germany has two main implementing agencies: GIZ for technical co-operation; and KfW for financial co‑operation, comprising KfW Development Bank and the DEG (development finance institution). A number of federal states and municipalities also provide development co-operation. A dedicated Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development provides parliamentary oversight. The Federal Court of Audit and the German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval) regularly assess aspects of German development co-operation.
BMZ has approximately 1 300 staff working on development co‐operation. This currently includes 134 staff placed abroad, out of which 116 are placed in German embassies and permanent missions. In addition, a number of Federal Foreign Office staff manage ODA funds, with the majority working in the Directorate General for Crisis Prevention, Stabilisation, Peace Building and Humanitarian Aid at headquarters, embassies and permanent representations worldwide. GIZ has approximately 8 600 international staff working on development, plus 17 000 locally hired staff. KfW has approximately 7 000 staff members, including staff serving abroad.
The Engagement Global agency provides advice to civil society, private sector actors, local authorities and individuals who want to engage in development co-operation. CSOs active in development co-operation, humanitarian assistance and global citizenship education co-ordinate under the umbrella body VENRO.
Internal systems and processes help ensure the effective delivery of Germany’s development co-operation. Select features are shown in the table below.
Access the full list of providers at this link: Development Co-operation Profiles.
2021 OECD-DAC Peer Review of Germany: https://doi.org/10.1787/bb32a97d-en
2025 OECD-DAC mid-term review of Germany: https://one.oecd.org/document/DCD/DAC/AR(2025)3/1/en/pdf
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH: https://www.giz.de/en/html/index.html
Federal Foreign Office (AA): https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en
Federal Ministry of Economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ): https://www.bmz.de/en
KfW Development Bank: https://www.kfw-entwicklungsbank.de/International-financing/KfW-Entwicklungsbank
CSO platform Verband Entwicklungspolitik und humanitäre Hilfe (VENRO): https://venro.org
Engagement Global (Service für Entwicklungsinitiativen): https://www.engagement-global.de/about-us.html
Germany has been a member of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) since 1960.
The methodological notes provide further details on the definitions and statistical methodologies applied, including the grant-equivalent methodology, core and earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations, country programmable aid, channels of delivery, bilateral ODA unspecified/unallocated, bilateral allocable ODA, the gender equality policy marker, and the environment markers.
This work is published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Member countries of the OECD.
This document, as well as any data and map included herein, are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area.
The statistical data for Israel are supplied by and under the responsibility of the relevant Israeli authorities. The use of such data by the OECD is without prejudice to the status of the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements in the West Bank under the terms of international law.
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← 1. DAC members adopted the grant-equivalent methodology starting from their reporting of 2018 data as a more accurate way to count the donor effort in development loans. See the methodological notes for further details.
← 2. Non-grants include sovereign loans, multilateral loans, equity investment and loans to the private sector.
← 3. Aid per person in extreme poverty is calculated by dividing net ODA (bilateral and imputed multilateral) by the population in extreme poverty in each country. Group averages are calculated based on a weighted average of aid per person in extreme poverty and the number of people in extreme poverty for each country in the group. For more information on this indicator, please see here.
← 4. The use of the recommended minimum criteria for the marker by some members in recent years can result in lower levels of ODA reported as being focused on gender equality.
← 5. In 2023, the DAC agreed on revised reporting methods for measuring PSI in ODA based on ODA grant equivalents. Members may, however, take up to two years to transition to the new methods, with their PSI continuing to be accounted for on a net ODA basis during the transition period.