Berlin – The new reform plan of the BMZ marks a noticeable shift toward greater strategic prioritization. The explicit identification of Africa as a key region for stability, food security, and economic transformation is important and appropriate. However, strategy proves itself not in vocabulary, but in the ability to implement—especially under budgetary pressure.

“Development policy has long since become geoeconomics. But anyone who wants to be strategic must deliver economically—not just formulate intentions. Without instruments and a timeline, it remains a set of well-meaning announcements,” says Claudia Voß, Deputy CEO of the German-African Business Association.

“In economic cooperation, the reform plan addresses relevant levers. Companies are to be involved earlier in the design of projects, and dialogue with the private sector is to be intensified. We already see initial steps in the right direction through the first dialogue formats. However, when it comes to key objectives such as expanding financing and risk mitigation instruments or reducing structural barriers in development cooperation tenders, the reform plan unfortunately remains too vague,” Voß adds.

“Which obstacles will actually be removed—and by when? Which procurement rules will change in measurable ways so that small and medium-sized enterprises are not only invited but truly enabled to participate? Where are the timelines, budgets, instruments—and a project pipeline that creates planning certainty? Germany’s SME sector needs reliability: faster procedures, clear points of contact, risk coverage, and predictable financing. And ideally not only by 2027, when the implementation of the reform decisions is supposed to be completed,” Voß continues.

The same applies to the Compact with Africa (CwA). Strengthening it has been announced, but which concrete offerings and investment formats will follow remains unclear. There is also no discernible logic for expansion that would systematically integrate the continent’s economic heavyweights. “Nigeria and Angola have long belonged on the agenda,” Voß notes.

“There is still a long way to go before a level playing field for German SMEs is achieved. Other ministries will also need to contribute significantly. In this respect, it is somewhat surprising that the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs is not explicitly mentioned in the cross-ministerial approach,” Voß remarks.