Bangladesh is one of currently 29 bilateral partner countries of German Development Cooperation (GDC). As a result of the last bilateral development negotiations in 2020 Germany pledged 339.54 Mio EUR for the implementation of bilateral projects. Since the beginning of bilateral development cooperation in the 1970s Germany has provided more than 3 billion EUR in bilateral development cooperation projects in Bangladesh. Furthermore, since 2018 Germany has allocated more than 53 Mio EUR to support the Rohingya Refugees and the host communities in the south-eastern part of the country.

Our activities are focused on the following bilaterally agreed core areas:

1. Responsibility for our planet – climate and energy

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency: The economy in Bangladesh has shown tremendous growth over the recent years. In order to meet the increased energy demand without harming the environment and climate, innovative solutions for the energy sector are needed. Germany supports Bangladesh’s efforts to achieve a maximum coverage through renewable energies sharing the experience from our own transition to renewables.

Sustainable urban development:  Rapid urbanization and the effects of climate change, such as severe floods, drought, cyclones and sea level rise pose immense challenges for Bangladesh's already overburdened cities. The German Development Cooperation (GDC) supports Bangladesh in coping with these challenges through planning and financing resilient infrastructure and reducing the vulnerability of poor city dwellers.

2. Peaceful and inclusive societies

Good Governance: GDC collaborates with the government to improve the justice system. Paralegals are being trained to improve cooperation between courts, prisons, the police and underprivileged inmates in order to reduce periods of detention for under-trial prisoners and to prevent overcrowding of prisons.

Displacement and migration: Germany extends its support to the Rohingyas and host communities in Bangladesh in the areas of strengthening the livelihoods, improving wastewater and waste management and education and youth programmes in Rohingya camps and surrounding host communities.

3. Training and sustainable growth for decent jobs

Sustainable supply chains in the textile sector: A special focus is put on improving labor conditions and environmental standards in the Ready Made Garment (RMG) sector.  Given the export oriented nature of the textile sector this is a crucial factor for the sustainable development of the country. GDC has teamed up with private sector, employees, government, international partners and the ILO (International Labor Organization), as well as with civil society and the academia.

Other forms of Cooperation

Aside from bilateral cooperation, Germany is making available funding through multilateral institutions (the European Union, the Asian Development Bank and United Nations, the World Bank Group, the International Labour Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization). Civil society organizations also receive public funding to implement development Projects.

German Church organizations also cooperate with local partners especially in rural areas to further development in several sectors of society.