Actively Shaping the World

Shaping the World through Commitment is a nationwide open funding program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) that supports development policy engagement by private individuals, educational institutions, associations, non-profit organizations, municipalities, companies, and foundations. Funding is provided as a grant and is aimed at actors from all relevant thematic areas such as social cohesion and democracy, development cooperation, education for sustainable development, labor & social affairs, agriculture & rural development, as well as vocational training and further education. Applications can be submitted continuously, provided proof of development policy engagement and a registered office or residence in Germany are available. The goal is to enable innovative projects and cooperations that contribute to shaping a fairer and more sustainable world.

The initiative offers interested parties from civil society and the private sector the opportunity to implement their own ideas in development policy projects – whether it is a local educational series on fair supply chains, an exchange program with partner organizations in the Global South, or an urban agriculture initiative. Through financial support and advisory services, impulses for global education programs, municipal partnerships, and social innovations are strengthened. Committed individuals thus gain scope for action to further develop educational offerings, promote social participation, and anchor sustainable practices. In doing so, the program makes a significant contribution to networking actors and strengthening the development policy culture in Germany and worldwide.