Triangular Cooperation in German Development Cooperation (BMZ, 2022)

By April 8, 2022 June 14th, 2022 Publications

Global challenges require joint efforts, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development therefore calls for more international partnerships and, with SDG17, has specifically created a separate goal for such partnerships. Triangular cooperation can contribute to achieving this goal.

Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) strengthens joint action by donors. This also includes triangular cooperation, which Germany uses in its development cooperation to contribute to

  • building global strategic partnerships for sustainable development, and
  • improving the effectiveness of development measures in recipient countries.

Germany views its role as that of a learning partner, too, and intends to further strengthen that aspect in the future. Engaging in trilateral cooperation is an opportunity for Germany to enhance its political and strategic credibility and legitimacy and to help make development more participatory, sustainable and effective.

At the international level, Germany participates in various multilateral forums on triangular cooperation, in particular at the United Nations, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Global Partnership Initiative on Effective Triangular Co-operation (GPI) and the Ibero-American Program for Strengthening South-South Cooperation run by the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB).

This report details Germany’s approach to triangular cooperation and how it is utilizing of this modality to support the global South in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.