German development policy: Partners in the Global South

The Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development is focusing on solidarity and partnership in turbulent geopolitical times. Alabali Radovan's trip to Sierra Leone in West Africa illustrates what this means.

The rule of the strongest is back: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke of a "new world of great powers" at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week. There was much talk of armament, economic might, power plays — and of course US President Donald Trump.

In contrast, German Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan was calmly sitting down at a low wooden school desk in one of the poorest countries in the world. She decided instead to spend time listening to young people in Sierra Leone.

And so the students chatted with the minister in English over well-filled plates. They ate rice and vegetables, climate-adapted crops such as sweet potatoes, grown by local farmers who thus have a reliable income. Food security, education and climate resilience — that is the world Radovan is committed to.

"Being here with the children right now is much more important than being in Davos," said Antoine Renard, head of Public Partnership at the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). The UN organization and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) are jointly supporting the national school lunch program in the Karene district. Since 2023, more than 34,000 children in 115 schools have benefited from free school meals.

The BMZ has provided around 10 million € in additional to what is provided by the government of Sierra Leone.

"It's paying off," said Sierra Leone's Trade Minister Ibrahim Alpha Sesay. "We are creating an economic ecosystem here, an internal trade."

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The coastal country in western Africa has extremely limited resources. Sierra Leone's own revenues amount to only 8.6% of its gross domestic product. And since the US ended most of its development projects in the country in August 2025, huge gaps have opened up, whether in terms of nutrition — 77% of people in Sierra Leone do not have a secure daily meal — or clean water, vaccines or education projects.

"We are not leaving!" promised Germany's development minister.

This is part of Radovan's new strategy titled "Shaping the future together globally." She is focusing on the world's least developed countries (LDCs), especially on the African continent, showing solidarity in contrast to rising neo-imperialism.

By fighting hunger and inequality, the Social Democrat (SPD) also wants to help curb conflict, crime, and terrorism. These dangers are acute amonst Sierra Leone's neighbors. From Burkina Faso to Guinea-Bissau, military coups dominate the political landscape, triggering waves of refugees, while cross-border drug trafficking is driving young people in particular into addiction.

The government of Sierra Leone will hold the presidency of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) until June 2026 and is committed to stability in the Sahel region and to free and fair elections.

"We share many common values," Radovan emphasized after talks with Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh in the capital Freetown. He praised Germany's cooperation and the focus on young people.

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Mutual trust has also made sensitive geopolitical talks possible, Radovan says.

"The issue of shadow fleets and the activities of other states here on the ground," were part of discussions, said the minister. According to her office, this was referring to increased involvement in Africa by "systemic rivals such as China, Turkey, the Gulf states, and Russia."

Sierra Leone's government already considers China a close strategic partner. Beijing is by far Freetown's most important trading partner, accounting for 48% of foreign trade. It also shapes the mining industry and has invested in local infrastructure. Turkey was the driving force behind the modern international airport in Lungi.

And German companies? Radovan said she is counting on the private sector, especially in view of the upcoming cuts in German development cooperation in the 2027 budget. But the risk still seems too high for many. No business representatives were present in Sierra Leone.

Private investment, equitable trade and a fair financial system in Sierra Leone are the parts of the partnership that still need to be fulfilled if the future is truly to belong to the next generation in the western African nation.

Matthias Mogge set up Welthungerhilfe's first project in Sierra Leone 13 years ago. The CEO of the German food equity NGO is focusing on support through education.

"Skills up!" is the name of a program in the Newton community where young people learn how to grow vegetables and install solar panels, which also helps combat the high youth unemployment rate of up to 70% in some areas. The cultivated fields are an oasis. Mogge and his team hope to establish sustainable agribusinesses instead of individuals just farming for their own needs as has been the case up to now, providing another avenue for prosperity amongst young people in Sierra Leone.

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