Hessen is consciously facing up to the challenges of globalisation and has committed itself to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations Agenda 2030 by adopting its guidelines on development cooperation. The guidelines of the Hessian state government state the principles to which Hessen is committed in development cooperation (DC), clarify the focal points of DC activities and explain the instruments used in this regard.
The state government promotes development policy projects at home and abroad. Particular importance is attached to strengthening the civic engagement of the numerous actors from Hessen for sustainable development in the Global South. Many activities of the associations, which often work on a voluntary basis, are only made possible through this.
The domestic projects are mostly educational projects. They inform about global interrelationships and show concrete options for action for globally sustainable development. Alternatives for a sustainable society are also communicated within the framework of the One World Promoter Programme. One World Promoters advise and network civil society organisations and initiatives that are involved in development policy. In Hessen, the Development Policy Network Hessen e. V. (Entwicklungspolitische Netzwerk Hessen e.V., EPN Hessen) coordinates this programme. EPN Hessen is the umbrella organisation for development policy organisations in Hessen. The state government works closely with development policy associations and organisations in Hessen.
The funded projects abroad cover a wide range, both geographically and in terms of content. They include investment measures such as the construction of school buildings, pilot plants for agricultural production or an orthopaedic workshop, as well as qualification measures such as the promotion of vocational training.
Further information on selected examples of development cooperation in the State of Hesse can be found here.
As part of its cooperation with the federal government in development cooperation, the state of Hessen places a priority on promoting vocational training in partner countries in the Global South. The Hessische Landesstelle für Technologiefortbildung contributed its expertise to the implementation of projects of the Federal-Länder Programme in Ethiopia and India. In addition, another project of the Federal-Länder Programme in Vietnam on SARS-CoV-2 monitoring in wastewater was initiated in consultation with the Technical University of Darmstadt.
Since autumn 2019, the state government has been advised by the "Advisory Council on Development Cooperation of the Hessian State Government" on the design of development policy activities. In autumn 2020, the committee in turn suggested recommendations on the planned federal law on strengthening corporate due diligence to prevent human rights violations in global supply chains (Supply Chain Due Diligence Act). The Hessian state government lobbied for the genesis of the law in the Conference of Economics Ministers on 25 November 2020 and in the Federal Council.
Every two years, the Hessian State Government reports on its development policy activities. The second report of the Hessian State Government on development cooperation for the years 2020 and 2021 can be found here.