Berlin, 28 January 2026 – How is the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) positioning itself in times of global challenges? This question was at the heart of the DNTDs’ fireside evening, at which the Parliamentary State Secretary at the BMZ, Bärbel Kofler, MP, spoke to around 60 guests. Particularly in light of the reform agenda presented by Federal Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan around three weeks earlier, Kofler’s remarks were followed with great interest.
In response to a question from the moderator, Michael Herbst, Head of Policy at Christoffel-Blindenmission (CBM) and member of the executive board of VENRO, regarding where the BMZ is focusing its efforts in times of shrinking budgets and what its priorities are, Bärbel Kofler answered clearly and unequivocally: on combating “poverty, hunger and inequality.” The BMZ’s commitment to global health is values-based: the aim is to save lives, which is closely linked to promoting access to medical care as well as to clean water and food security. Combating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) is a holistic approach to poverty reduction. Several ministries are involved thematically, making this a good example of policy coherence.
Kofler also emphasized Germany’s importance for the multilateral health funds GAVI and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM). When asked whether multilateral engagement might reduce Germany’s visibility, she replied that the key issue is efficiency and how many people can be reached and which structures have proven effective. At the same time, she made it clear that some programs are implemented only bilaterally, citing sexual and reproductive health as an example.
As already discussed in the BMZ reform agenda, the involvement of the private sector also played an important role. Harald Zimmer, responsible for international affairs at the German association of research-based pharmaceutical manufacturers (vfa), member of the DNTDs board, gave the example that Merck could donate 250 million tablets per year, but in reality, only 180 million are donated because not all programs function optimally. He suggested bringing stakeholders together at one table to explore cooperation opportunities and possible improvements. Bärbel Kofler agreed that dialogue between politics and business beyond the current discussions would be beneficial. Sascha van Beek, MP, spokesperson for the newly constituted parliamentary advisory board of the DNTDs, added that while voluntary donations from pharmaceutical companies are positive, it is also important to create markets in order to make programs more sustainable.
In addition to business and civil society organizations, research was also a topic of discussion. From a research perspective, Carsten Köhler, Center of Excellence of Tropical Medicine, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Institute for Tropical Medicine at University Hospital Tübingen, and member of the DNTDs board - emphasized that in times of global challenges and financial constraints, cooperation between the various funding organizations and ministries is crucial. Only in this way can the continued maintenance of the research infrastructure in the Global South that has been built in the past with German tax funds be ensured—particularly for research into poverty-related and neglected tropical diseases.
When asked about the philanthropic engagement of foundations such as the Gates Foundation, Bärbel Kofler said that such efforts are, of course, welcome. However, the goal must be for countries themselves to establish functioning social protection systems, for example by building adequate tax and social systems. This lies within the responsibility of all states.
The subsequent discussion also addressed the insufficient intersectoral cooperation at the federal level in the case of medicine shortages. Important antiparasitic drugs (e.g. praziquantel) and antibiotics are currently lacking in pediatrics in Germany. “Stronger cooperation with the veterinary pharmaceutical sector could offer potential solutions here—following the example of international NTD programs,” said Antonia Braus, Deputy Spokesperson of the DNTDs, One Health policy officer and scientific advisor at Veterinarians Without Borders (ToGeV).
