This chapter provides policy recommendations and an action plan for the German federal government, states and municipalities on how to strengthen the impact, effectiveness and monitoring of their decentralised development co‑operation (DDC) policies and programmes. The recommendations range from strengthening the peer-to-peer function of DDC and promoting policy dialogue on the financial and non-financial tangible outcomes and benefits of DDC projects to strengthening the collaboration between German states and municipalities on DDC and leveraging the catalytic potential of official financing sources to mobilise broader resources. Furthermore, the recommendations suggest further raising awareness of DDC and official development assistance (ODA) data and developing a harmonised or standardised approach to monitoring and evaluating DDC results across states and municipalities.
Reshaping Decentralised Development Co-operation in Germany
4. Policy recommendations
Abstract
The following recommendations on DDC policies, strategies and priorities, multi-level governance, financing and data and information aim to show to strengthen the impact, effectiveness and monitoring of DDC policies and programmes across all levels of government in Germany in the short term (less than 1 year), medium term (more than 1 year, less than 3 years) and long term (more than 3 years) (Figure 4.1).
Figure 4.1. Ten key recommendations to reshape decentralised development co-operation in Germany
DDC policies, strategies and priorities
Peer-to-peer learning function of DDC
Figure 4.2. Action plan to implement Recommendation 1 to strengthen the peer-to-peer learning function of DDC at the federal state level – Part I
Figure 4.3. Action plan to implement Recommendation 1 to strengthen the peer-to-peer learning function of DDC at the federal state level – Part II
SDGs as a framework
Figure 4.4. Action plan to implement Recommendation 2 to use the SDGs as a framework to define priorities of DDC activities and foster peer-to-peer learning – Part I
Figure 4.5. Action plan to implement Recommendation 2 to use the SDGs as a framework to define priorities of DDC activities and foster peer-to-peer learning – Part II
For more information: Belgium, Spain (Basque Country), and Italy: Reshaping Decentralised Development Co-operation: The Key Role of Cities and Regions for the 2030 Agenda | en | OECD; Spain (Catalunya): National Plan for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Catalonia. Advisory Council for Sustainable Development (gencat.cat).
Definitions and guidelines
Figure 4.6. Action plan to implement Recommendation 3 to clarify the definition and boundaries of DDC in Germany to strengthen external actions and existing DDC guidelines – Part I
Figure 4.7. Action plan to implement Recommendation 3 to clarify the definition and boundaries of DDC in Germany to strengthen external actions and existing DDC guidelines – Part II
Policy dialogue on the benefits of DDC
Figure 4.8. Action plan to implement Recommendation 4 to promote a policy dialogue on the financial and non-financial tangible outcomes of DDC projects – Part I
Figure 4.9. Action plan to implement Recommendation 4 to promote a policy dialogue on the financial and non-financial tangible outcomes of DDC projects – Part II
For more information: United States: https://sistercities.org/annual-report/; Belgium: VVSG Kennisnetwerk; Italy: Reshaping Decentralised Development Co-operation: The Key Role of Cities and Regions for the 2030 Agenda | en | OECD.
Multi-level governance and financing
Strengthen collaboration
Figure 4.10. Action plan to implement Recommendation 5 to strengthen the collaboration between German states and municipalities on DDC – Part I
Figure 4.11. Action plan to implement Recommendation 5 to strengthen the collaboration between German states and municipalities on DDC – Part II
Figure 4.12. Action plan to implement Recommendation 6 to align DDC priorities across levels of government and with non-governmental stakeholders in Germany – Part I
Figure 4.13. Action plan to implement Recommendation 6 to align DDC priorities across levels of government and with non-governmental stakeholders in Germany – Part II
For more information: The Netherlands: SDLG: Sustainable Development through improved Local Governance | VNG (vng-international.nl); Switzerland: Partnerships with cantons and communes (admin.ch); Spain: Reshaping Decentralised Development Co-operation: The Key Role of Cities and Regions for the 2030 Agenda | en | OECD.
Financing
Figure 4.14. Action plan to implement Recommendation 7 to explore a more flexible framework to extend co-financing of DDC projects – Part I
Figure 4.15. Action plan to implement Recommendation 7 to explore a more flexible framework to extend co-financing of DDC projects – Part II
For more information: France: Reshaping Decentralised Development Co-operation: The Key Role of Cities and Regions for the 2030 Agenda | en | OECD; Spain: Andalucía Solidaria (andaluciasolidaria.org); Italy: Trento: Libya, cities and sustainable development at the Festival of Economics - Libya Rebuild; SnCF Africa: The Sub national Climate Fund | R20 - Regions of Climate Action (regions20.org).
Figure 4.16. Action plan to implement Recommendation 8 to simplify bureaucracy and application procedures for support programmes and strengthen the capacity of personnel – Part I
Figure 4.17. Action plan to implement Recommendation 8 to simplify bureaucracy and application procedures for support programmes and strengthen the capacity of personnel – Part II
For more information: France: Home - Expertise France, United Cities and Local Governments: UCLG - United Cities and Local Governments, PLATFORMA: Platforma (platforma-dev.eu)
Data and information
Tools and processes
Figure 4.18. Action plan to implement Recommendation 9 to raise awareness about DDC and ODA data – Part I
Figure 4.19. Action plan to implement Recommendation 9 to raise awareness about DDC and ODA data – Part II
Monitoring and evaluation
Figure 4.20. Action plan to implement Recommendation 10 to develop a harmonised or standardised approach to monitoring and evaluating DDC results across states and municipalities – Part I
Figure 4.21. Action plan to implement Recommendation 10 to develop a harmonised or standardised approach to monitoring and evaluating DDC results across states and municipalities – Part II
For more information: Sweden: Start page | Sida; Belgium: Reshaping Decentralised Development Co-operation: The Key Role of Cities and Regions for the 2030 Agenda | en | OECD; Spain: Development cooperation | Madrid's community (comunidad.madrid).