Background
Against the backdrop of Germany’s current reform of development policy, Zukunft Zusammen Global Gestalten, which calls for a more strategic, partnership-oriented and self-reflective approach to international cooperation, questions of how colonial continuities shape contemporary development practice have gained renewed political relevance. The reform explicitly commits German development policy to recognising and addressing such continuities as a prerequisite for credible, effective and equitable cooperation.
Under the auspices of APRI’s Economy and Society programme, and in collaboration with the GIZ self-initiated measure “Shaping Joint Endeavors: International Cooperation in Times of Postcolonial Change” (ICPoC), APRI has conducted a research project examining colonial continuities in German and German funded development cooperation. Drawing on contributions from several different country experts, and stakeholders, the project offers evidence-based insights into how such continuities are identified and addressed in policy and practice.
The project output is comprised of an interactive tool that invites users to explore the conceptual space that unfolds when academic, civil society and government publications are mapped according to their position on three conceptual axes key for the debate and a report with chapters addressing key aspects:
- Identifying and Addressing Colonial Continuities in German Development Cooperation
- Country Case Studies from select former German colonies in Africa
- Donor Country Policies Aimed at Addressing Colonial Continuities in Development Cooperation:
- Understanding the Role of the African Diaspora in Development Cooperation: Lessons for the German Context
The Event
In collaboration with GIZ ICPoC, APRI presents their project report on Deconstructing and Addressing Colonial Continuities in German Development Cooperation.
Building on the findings of the research conducted by APRI, this event provides an opportunity for policy-focused dialogue on how German international cooperation, particularly with the African continent, can address the shared colonial past and continuities that exist in modern development cooperation. It offers evidence-based insights to identify and reduce colonial continuities in German development cooperation, opening up spaces to discuss how the objectives of BMZ’s new Reform Plan can be translated into practice.
This dialogue explicitly acknowledges the tensions between strategic interests, reform ambitions and partnership narratives, and explores how these tensions can be navigated in a politically credible and operationally viable manner.
The final report features country case studies on ex-German colonies, an exploration of decolonial work outside of Germany, an analysis of the African diaspora's role, and an interactive literature mapping tool.
The event provides a strategic platform, combining empirical research and policy dialogue, for senior decision-makers and stakeholders to discuss evidence-based perspectives on how German international cooperation can address its colonial continuities and future policy orientations.
