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1. Intercontinental youth work cooperation

2. Development cooperation activities

Intercontinental youth work cooperation

International youth work is enshrined in law in Article 11 of Book VIII of the Social Code – Child and Youth Services (Available in German) and, according to the Child and Youth Plan of the Federal Government (Kinder- und Jugendplan des Bundes) forms an integral part of child and youth services. It offers learning spaces in which young people and experts from various countries can connect with one another and exchange experiences. International youth work is to promote mutual understanding, tolerance and openness, as well as intercultural learning, the assumption of responsibility, civic commitment and foreign language skills.

Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend, BMFSFJ) is the national body responsible for international youth and expert exchanges, including with countries outside of Europe. The funding instrument is the  Child and Youth Plan of the Federal Government (Kinder- und Jugendplan des Bundes, KJP). Funding is available to child and youth services organisations and their alliances at federal (national) level for programmes to implement bilateral agreements, international agreements or EU regulations, or as part of the government's foreign cultural and educational policy in Germany or abroad, or for fixed-term activities, especially under mutually beneficial bilateral or multilateral programmes.

Workcamps have existed in Germany for over 100 years. They work with their international partners to promote peace, reconciliation, mutual respect and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. The various workcamp organisations have joined forces in the conference of providers of International Youth Community and Youth Social Services (Trägerkonferenz der Internationalen Jugendgemeinschafts- und Jugendsozialdienste). The workcamps receive public funding, including funds from the Child and Youth Plan of the Federal Government (Kinder- und Jugendplan). In the workcamps, young people from different countries work together on a charitable project in small groups. The assignment lasts between two and four weeks.

The Educational Exchange Service (Pädagogischer Austauschdienst, PAD) is a department of the Secretariat of the Standing Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany (Kultusministerkonferenz). PAD is the only state institution in Germany that works on behalf of the federal states to promote international exchange and international cooperation in the school sector. 

The federal government also supports international youth work in special bilateral programmes for countries within and outside of Europe.

Programmes funded with countries outside of Europe

German Network for Education about China (Bildungsnetzwerk China)

• Target group: Young people from Germany and China.
• Activities: Increase education about China in German schools through exchange projects for pupils, training programmes, teaching materials, advising and connecting actors, multiplier exchanges.
• Funding: Stiftung Mercator and Goethe-Institut. The German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt), the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung) and the Educational Exchange Service (Pädagogischer Austauschdienst, PAD) support the network.
   

ConAct – Coordination Center for German-Israeli Youth Exchange (Koordinierungszentrum Deutsch-Israelischer Jugendaustausch)

• Target group: Young people and youth work professionals in the non-formal child and youth services sector.
• Aim: To establish long-term exchange programmes in the youth and youth work professionals’ sector, to promote shared responsibility for peace, freedom and social justice and to teach diversity.
• Activities: Exchange and development of joint projects and partnerships.
• Funding: Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend, BMFSFJ) with the Child and Youth Plan of the Federal Government (Kinder- und Jugendplan).
   

African-German Youth Office (Deutsch-Afrikanisches Jugendwerk, DAJW)

• Target group: Young people from Germany and African countries.
• Activities: The Teams up! and Team works! formats foster exchange between youth groups and young youth work professionals. They share experiences and develop ideas for sustainable development.
• Funding: Engagement Global on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Entwicklung und Zusammenarbeit, BMZ).
   

German-Chinese Exchanges (Deutsch-Chinesische Begegnungen)

• Target group: Young people and youth work professionals.
• Aim: To establish long-term German-Chinese exchange programmes in the youth and youth work professionals sector, to broaden horizons, promote shared responsibility for peace, freedom and social justice and teach diversity.
• Activities: Exchange and development of joint projects and partnerships.
• Funding: Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend, BMFSFJ) with the Child and Youth Plan of the Federal Government (Special China Programme) (Kinder- und Jugendplan des Bundes, Sonderprogramm China).
   

German-Chinese expert exchange (Deutsch-Chinesischer Fachkräfteaustausch)

• Target group: Experts from child and youth services.
• Activities: Expert dialogue and development of collaborative projects.
• Funding: KJP (special China programme), participants' own funds, the All-China Youth Federation.
   

German-Japanese Youth Leaders Exchange for young volunteers (Deutsch-Japanisches Austauschprogramm für junge Ehrenamtliche)

• Target group: Young people aged between 18 and 26 who are involved in voluntary work (e.g. voluntary fire service, community work, sports clubs, scouts).
• Activities: Visits to youth facilities, specialist lectures, discussion sessions with young volunteers in Japan (and during return visits in Germany), host family weekend.
• Funding: Child and Youth Plan of the Federal Government (Special Japan Programme) (Kinder- und Jugendplan des Bundes, Sonderprogramm Japan), participants’ own funds, Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).
   

German-Japanese Study Program for Youth Welfare Specialists (Deutsch-Japanisches Studienprogramm für Fachkräfte der Kinder- und Jugendhilfe)

• Target group: Youth welfare specialists.
• Activities: Specialist lectures, project visits and discussion sessions in Japan (and during return visits in Germany), workshops for a more in-depth examination of the subject, stay with host family.
• Funding: Child and Youth Plan of the Federal Government (Special Japan Programme) (Kinder- und Jugendplan des Bundes, Sonderprogramm Japan), participants’ own funds, Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).
   

German-American exchange programmes (Deutsch-US-Amerikanische Begegnungsprogramme)

• Target group: Young people and youth work professionals.
• Aim: To establish long-term exchange programmes in the youth and youth work professionals’ sector, to broaden horizons, promote shared responsibility for peace, freedom and social justice and teach diversity.
• Activities: Exchange and development of joint projects and partnerships.
• Funding: Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend, BMFSFJ) with the Child and Youth Plan of the Federal Government.
   

Foundation for German-Russian Youth Exchange (Stiftung Deutsch-russischer Jugendaustausch)

• Target group: Young people from Germany and Russia.
• Activities: School exchanges and out-of-school exchanges, seminars and conferences, training of youth welfare professionals and teachers, internships and job shadowing.
• Funding: Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend, BMFSFJ), Robert Bosch Stiftung, etc.
   

See also Chapter 9. Youth and the World > Administration and Governance > Cross-sectorial cooperation

See also Chapter 1. Youth Policy Governance > Cross-border cooperation in the youth field > International cooperation

Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt, AA)

The Federal Foreign Office supplements international youth exchanges in the context of its external cultural and educational policy (Auswärtige Kultur- und Bildungspolitik). The federal government’s report on external cultural and educational policy (Bericht der Bundesregierung zur Auswärtigen Kultur- und Bildungspolitik) for 2021 examines the various formats and focal areas in greater depth.

The Federal Foreign Office’s cultural voluntary service kulturweit is run by the German Commission for UNESCO (Deutsche UNESCO-Kommission). kulturweit offers young people the opportunity to gain experience at cultural and educational institutions outside Germany as part of the voluntary social year (Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr, FSJ). Since 2019, the naturweit service has supplemented the cultural volunteer programme by offering young people the chance to work at UNESCO natural world heritage sites. See also Chapter 2. Voluntary Activities > Cross-Border Mobility Programmes > Other Programmes.

The German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, DAAD) also supports processes of democratic transition and reform in North Africa and the Near and Middle East with the Ta’ziz Partnership for Democracy (Ta’ziz-Partnerschaft für Demokratie) with funds from the Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt). Priority countries are Tunisia, Sudan, Morocco, Libya, Lebanon, Jordan, Yemen, Algeria, Iraq and Egypt. Funding is also available for youth and expert exchanges in the area of youth (welfare) services.

The Foundation for Exchanges between East and West (Stiftung West-Östliche Begegnungen) promotes international understanding and peace by intensifying and expanding good neighbourly relations and contacts between Germans and people from the foundation's partner countries. These are: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Funding priorities: School exchanges and school partnerships, youth exchanges, art and culture, bringing citizens together and social and humanitarian aid. The foundation receives funding from the Federal Foreign Office.

Development cooperation activities

The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung, BMZ) funds a range of programmes, including formal and non-formal development policy information and education activities, development exchanges and volunteer programmes, and development projects by private German organisations. A key target group is young people. Funds have been earmarked in the federal budget of 2023 (available in German):

• Development policy education funding: €43 million.
• Development policy exchanges and volunteer programmes: €47 million.
• Funding for development-related projects by private German organisations: €177 million.

Engagement Global gGmbH – Service for Development Initiatives (Service für Entwicklungsinitiativen) is the central body responsible for implementing the BMZ development policy information and education activities. See Chapter 9.4 Information providers.

Programmes looked after by Engagement Global are as follows:

• Programme for Action Groups (Aktionsgruppenprogramm, AGP) – Funding for small projects on development policy information and education activities
  The AGP programme awards grants of up to €2 000 to help people in schools and initiatives wishing to broaden and pass on their knowledge of One World interconnectedness. Target group is schools, child day care centres, action groups and volunteer initiatives that focus on development policy topics.
• ASA Programme (ASA-Programm)
  ASA Programme supports young students and people with professional qualifications who are interested in volunteering abroad and making a difference in Germany. The programme funds project-based internships in countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Southeast Europe with partial scholarships and organises training courses and seminars that teach diversity awareness skills and group and project work methods. The ASA programme works with a range of partners including international cooperation and civil society organisations, municipal authorities, businesses and business-oriented organisations as well as universities.
  Target group is young Germans aged between 21 and 30 and young people (up to the age of 35) from countries of the Global South. North-South tandems complete the seminars and project together – first in Germany, then in the home country of the participants from the Global South.
• School Exchange Programme for Development Education (Entwicklungspolitisches Schulaustauschprogramm, ENSA)
  ENSA provides advice and funding for school partnerships between secondary schools in Germany and countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Southeast Europe. Target group is young people aged 14 and over from secondary schools in Germany and the partner countries.
• 'weltwärts' – development volunteer programme
  weltwärts was launched in Germany in 2008. Placements can be in developing or emerging countries. Focus areas/topics are education, work with children and young people, environment and health, environmental protection and animal welfare, agriculture, human rights, democracy and peace. Target group is young people between 18 and 28. An incoming mechanism called the 'South-North exchange' (Süd-Nord-Komponente) was also introduced in 2013. Young people from the Global South take part in volunteer programmes in Germany. See also Chapter 2. Voluntary Activities > Cross-Border Mobility Programmes > Other Programmes
• TeamsUp! Youth Exchange for Sustainable Development (TeamsUp! Jugendbewegung für nachhaltige Entwicklung)
  The Teams up! programme line of the African-German Youth Office aims to promote international youth exchanges and affiliated support and pilot projects. It offers youth groups from Germany and African countries the opportunity to work together on a joint project. Thematically, the participants focus on one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Target group is young people aged between 16 and 30.
• Funding programme for development policy education (FEB – Förderprogramm Entwicklungspolitische Bildung)
  It supports groups and networks that provide clear information on global issues with their projects or development policy training days: fair trade, upcycling and resources, examination of the causes of flight and migration, local actions relating to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Target group is citizens in general, young people in particular.

Bread for the World (Brot für die Welt) funds ecumenical exchange programmes (ökumenische Begegungsprogramme) between partnership groups (north-south and south-north), provided the programmes are integrated into long-term development policy education programmes. Bread for the World is funded by BMZ, donations and collection proceeds, as well as by the Churches' Development Service (Kirchlicher Entwicklungsdienst).

Federal states (Bundesländer)

Development cooperation is the responsibility of the federal government and the 16 federal states. They maintain diverse development policy relations and promote the implementation of Agenda 2030 for sustainable development through partnerships with cities, regions and countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. An overview of development policy relations of the German federal states, contacts and responsible institutions are available at Deutsche Länder in der Entwicklungspolitik.

Examples of youth programmes are as follows:

• Programme: 'Youth for development cooperation' (Jugend für Entwicklungszusammenarbeit) in Brandenburg.
  Aim: Education and work projects in Africa, Asia or Latin America to meet young people and engage in dialogue.
  Target group: Young people between 18 and 27.
  Activities: Help with development or charitable projects.
  Funding: Federal State of Brandenburg. Individuals living in Brandenburg can apply.
• Programme: NRW peace service (Konkreter Friedensdienst NRW)
  Aim: To strengthen social awareness and look at global development disparities.
  Target group: Young people between 18 and 25 (in exceptional cases up to 27) living in North Rhine-Westphalia.
  Activities: Project placements in a range of areas, from helping street children to working in a rural hospital to working with children with disabilities.
  Funding: Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia.
• Programme: School partnerships as part of the twinning agreement between Rhineland-Palatinate and Rwanda (Schülerreisen nach Ruanda)
  Aim: Exchanges between Rwandan and German pupils and a change of perspective.
  Target group: Pupils aged 14 and above.
  Activities: Project day at/with the partner school, dialogue on related programme items.
  Funding: Federal State of Rhineland-Palatinate from the exchange budget of the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of the Interior (Ministerium des Innern).

Development policy work in Germany

Development policy work in Germany is also funded by the federal states, e.g. by Baden-Württemberg through the through a support programme for development policy education projects by the name of bwirkt! (Förderprogramm bwirkt!) and by Bavaria (environment education/education for sustainable development) (Umweltbildung/Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung).

Development policy education days take place annually in each federal state, for example:

• Development Policy Education Days in Saarland (Entwicklungspolitische Bildungstage im Saarland, EPOBITS). In line with the mission to ”strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development”, the Action Days for 2023 are based on SDG No. 17: partnerships for the goals. EPOBITS was launched on 20 June 2023 with a public participation campaign on World Refugee Day. Empathetic perspectives of flight and migration are also needed for improved global partnerships for the goals.
• Brandenburg Development Policy and Information Days (Brandenburger Entwicklungspolitische Bildungs- und Informationstage) provide children and young people, in particular, with the knowledge and skills that are needed to think globally and act locally. In 2023/24, the theme for the year is: “Acting together for a climate-friendly future”.
• The Saxon Development Policy Education Days (Sächsische Entwicklungspolitische Bildungstage, SEBIT) take place across Saxony throughout the year. They focus on various topics relevant to development policy. In 2023, the SEBIT agenda includes war and migration, economy/global economic activity, and resources.
• Thuringia development policy education days (thebit) take place every year. They provide a range of educational events spread over the year for global education in schools and in non-formal education.