Reshaping Decentralised Development Co‑operation in Germany

4. Policy recommendations

Abstract

This chapter provides policy recommendations and an action plan for the German federal government, states and municipalities on how to strengthen the impact, effectiveness and monitoring of their decentralised development co‑operation (DDC) policies and programmes. The recommendations range from strengthening the peer-to-peer function of DDC and promoting policy dialogue on the financial and non-financial tangible outcomes and benefits of DDC projects to strengthening the collaboration between German states and municipalities on DDC and leveraging the catalytic potential of official financing sources to mobilise broader resources. Furthermore, the recommendations suggest further raising awareness of DDC and official development assistance (ODA) data and developing a harmonised or standardised approach to monitoring and evaluating DDC results across states and municipalities.

The following recommendations on DDC policies, strategies and priorities, multi-level governance, financing and data and information aim to show to strengthen the impact, effectiveness and monitoring of DDC policies and programmes across all levels of government in Germany in the short term (less than 1 year), medium term (more than 1 year, less than 3 years) and long term (more than 3 years) (Figure 4.1).

Figure 4.1. Ten key recommendations to reshape decentralised development co-operation in Germany

DDC policies, strategies and priorities

Peer-to-peer learning function of DDC

Figure 4.2. Action plan to implement Recommendation 1 to strengthen the peer-to-peer learning function of DDC at the federal state level – Part I

Figure 4.3. Action plan to implement Recommendation 1 to strengthen the peer-to-peer learning function of DDC at the federal state level – Part II

For more information: Canada: Global Affairs Canada – Home (international.gc.ca); Tuscany: Reshaping Decentralised Development Co-operation: The Key Role of Cities and Regions for the 2030 Agenda | en | OECD; EC: https://www.expertisefrance.fr/fiche-projet?id=625239.

SDGs as a framework

Figure 4.4. Action plan to implement Recommendation 2 to use the SDGs as a framework to define priorities of DDC activities and foster peer-to-peer learning – Part I

Figure 4.5. Action plan to implement Recommendation 2 to use the SDGs as a framework to define priorities of DDC activities and foster peer-to-peer learning – Part II

For more information: Belgium, Spain (Basque Country), and Italy: Reshaping Decentralised Development Co-operation: The Key Role of Cities and Regions for the 2030 Agenda | en | OECD; Spain (Catalunya): National Plan for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Catalonia. Advisory Council for Sustainable Development (gencat.cat).

Definitions and guidelines

Figure 4.6. Action plan to implement Recommendation 3 to clarify the definition and boundaries of DDC in Germany to strengthen external actions and existing DDC guidelines – Part I

Figure 4.7. Action plan to implement Recommendation 3 to clarify the definition and boundaries of DDC in Germany to strengthen external actions and existing DDC guidelines – Part II

For more information: Reshaping Decentralised Development Co-operation: The Key Role of Cities and Regions for the 2030 Agenda | en | OECD.

Policy dialogue on the benefits of DDC

Figure 4.8. Action plan to implement Recommendation 4 to promote a policy dialogue on the financial and non-financial tangible outcomes of DDC projects – Part I

Figure 4.9. Action plan to implement Recommendation 4 to promote a policy dialogue on the financial and non-financial tangible outcomes of DDC projects – Part II

For more information: United States: https://sistercities.org/annual-report/; Belgium: VVSG Kennisnetwerk; Italy: Reshaping Decentralised Development Co-operation: The Key Role of Cities and Regions for the 2030 Agenda | en | OECD.

Multi-level governance and financing

Strengthen collaboration

Figure 4.10. Action plan to implement Recommendation 5 to strengthen the collaboration between German states and municipalities on DDC – Part I

Figure 4.11. Action plan to implement Recommendation 5 to strengthen the collaboration between German states and municipalities on DDC – Part II

For more information: Reshaping Decentralised Development Co-operation: The Key Role of Cities and Regions for the 2030 Agenda | en | OECD.

Figure 4.12. Action plan to implement Recommendation 6 to align DDC priorities across levels of government and with non-governmental stakeholders in Germany – Part I

Figure 4.13. Action plan to implement Recommendation 6 to align DDC priorities across levels of government and with non-governmental stakeholders in Germany – Part II

For more information: The Netherlands: SDLG: Sustainable Development through improved Local Governance | VNG (vng-international.nl); Switzerland: Partnerships with cantons and communes (admin.ch); Spain: Reshaping Decentralised Development Co-operation: The Key Role of Cities and Regions for the 2030 Agenda | en | OECD.

Financing

Figure 4.14. Action plan to implement Recommendation 7 to explore a more flexible framework to extend co-financing of DDC projects – Part I

Figure 4.15. Action plan to implement Recommendation 7 to explore a more flexible framework to extend co-financing of DDC projects – Part II

For more information: France: Reshaping Decentralised Development Co-operation: The Key Role of Cities and Regions for the 2030 Agenda | en | OECD; Spain: Andalucía Solidaria (andaluciasolidaria.org); Italy: Trento: Libya, cities and sustainable development at the Festival of Economics - Libya Rebuild; SnCF Africa: The Sub national Climate Fund | R20 - Regions of Climate Action (regions20.org).

Figure 4.16. Action plan to implement Recommendation 8 to simplify bureaucracy and application procedures for support programmes and strengthen the capacity of personnel – Part I

Figure 4.17. Action plan to implement Recommendation 8 to simplify bureaucracy and application procedures for support programmes and strengthen the capacity of personnel – Part II

For more information: France: Home - Expertise France, United Cities and Local Governments: UCLG - United Cities and Local Governments, PLATFORMA: Platforma (platforma-dev.eu)

Data and information

Tools and processes

Figure 4.18. Action plan to implement Recommendation 9 to raise awareness about DDC and ODA data – Part I

Figure 4.19. Action plan to implement Recommendation 9 to raise awareness about DDC and ODA data – Part II

For more information: France: data.aide-developpement.gouv.fr and https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/rapport_apd_2020_-_donnees_2019_cle49ab16.pdf; Spain: Reshaping Decentralised Development Co-operation: The Key Role of Cities and Regions for the 2030 Agenda | en | OECDf.

Monitoring and evaluation

Figure 4.20. Action plan to implement Recommendation 10 to develop a harmonised or standardised approach to monitoring and evaluating DDC results across states and municipalities – Part I

Figure 4.21. Action plan to implement Recommendation 10 to develop a harmonised or standardised approach to monitoring and evaluating DDC results across states and municipalities – Part II

For more information: Sweden: Start page | Sida; Belgium: Reshaping Decentralised Development Co-operation: The Key Role of Cities and Regions for the 2030 Agenda | en | OECD; Spain: Development cooperation | Madrid's community (comunidad.madrid).

Annex 4.A. Respondents to the OECD surveys of the German Federal states and municipalities on decentralised development co-operation

Annex Table 4.A.1. Respondents to the OECD survey of German federal states

Federal State
Baden-Württemberg
Bavaria
Berlin
Brandenburg
Bremen
Hamburg
Hesse
Lower Saxony
North Rhine-Westphalia
Rhineland-Palatinate
Saarland
Saxony
Saxony-Anhalt
Schleswig-Holstein

Annex Table 4.A.2. Respondents to the OECD survey of German municipalities

Name	Municipality/District
Baruth/Mark	Municipality
Aalen	Municipality
Ascha	Municipality
Böblingen	District
Bonn	Municipality
Brühl	Municipality
Burgenlandkreis	District
Cochem-Zell	District
Donau Ries	District
Dresden	Municipality
Düren	District
Düsseldorf	Municipality
Eichenberg	Municipality
Eltville am Rhein	Municipality
Enzkreis	District
Erlangen	Municipality
Gießen	Municipality
Gotha	Municipality
Gudensberg	Municipality
Heimenkirch	Municipality
Herford	District
Jena	Municipality
Kassel	District
Kiel	Municipality
Köln	Municipality
Lahr/Schwarzwald	Municipality
Leipzig	Municipality
Lippe	District
Ludwigsburg	Municipality
Mannheim	Municipality
Mettmann	District
Miltenberg	District
München	Municipality
Münster	Municipality
Neu-Isenburg	Municipality
Nohfelden	Municipality
Nürnberg	Municipality
Offenbach	Municipality
Reutlingen	District
Saalfeld/Saale	Municipality
Saarbrücken	Municipality
Traunstein	District
Tübingen	Municipality
Wolfsburg	Municipality