Lower-Saxony is primarily involved in development cooperation on the ground in sub-Saharan Africa by supporting projects in the Eastern Cape (South Africa) and in Tanzania. In addition to development cooperation with partners abroad, the state supports development education and information work at home and promotes the Association for Development Policy of Lower-Saxony (VEN) in corresponding projects.
Lower-Saxony has been working successfully with the Eastern Cape since 1995 in the areas of qualified school/vocational education, university cooperation, the expansion of renewable energies, youth encounters, culture and sport, as well as in the field of health. Both partners support the exchange particularly intensively through voluntary services (e.g. "Weltwärts") in sports and social projects. The partnership is characterized by a lively culture of mutual visits - especially at the political level.
Since 2010, Lower-Saxony has been providing targeted support for projects in Tanzania that build on existing structures and develop them further. In terms of content, the focus is on the school and vocational education sector (including inclusion, development of a vocational training center), research (promotion of young scientists and research), health care (training and further training of specialists in special education, newborn hearing screening), school projects, the expansion of renewable energies and water supply, as well as the improvement of living conditions for people in rural regions and food security.
As an active contribution to the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the State of Lower-Saxony adopted Development Policy Guidelines in September 2015 at the end of a broad dialogue process. In order to further strengthen civil society engagement, the State Chancellery of Lower-Saxony set up a "round table" with various social groups, non-governmental organizations active in development policy, municipal umbrella organizations, churches and business associations. Over a period of two years, a strategy with concrete recommendations for action for the implementation of the development policy guidelines was jointly developed. This was adopted by the cabinet in September 2017.
The 2021 progress report reflects the implementation status of the goals and measures agreed to date.
In July 2022, the "Round Table on Development Policy Guidelines" was reconvened to continue the dialogue process with civil society and the specialized ministries on current development policy issues.