Global Development Policy

The Global Development Policy program starts from the recognition that our planetary boundaries are at a breaking point and that our multilateral systems often fail to provide adequate solutions. As a result, the Heinrich Boell Foundation in Washington DC takes a new approach to Global Development Policy: we strive to rethink global economic power structures and work for a more inclusive culture of international cooperation that responds to the needs of all groups in our global society. We seek to foster a global dialogue on a sustainable, democratic, equitable and human rights-based approach to development.

Through workshops, study tours, research, coordinated policy work and publications, the program brings together policymakers and civil society organizations with a specific focus on voices from the Global South. It especially aims to amplify the perspectives of marginalized people and communities in discussing solutions to issues of global economic development policy and governance.

Headshots of every feminist foreign and development policy fellow

Feminist Foreign and Development Policy Fellowships

Fellowship

Feminist young professionals strengthening an inclusive and intersectional approach to policy-making and practice

All profiled women and a watercolor map of the world

Living Within Our Means

Interview Series

Feminist perspectives on global sustainability ahead of the Earth Overshoot Day 2022

Development Finance

"What we need is a structural response:" Deborah Düring in Interview

Green trees and skyscrapers with the sun in the background

World Bank Group’s Roadmap and Human Rights

Propositional Paper

pdf

Tackling Climate Change and Propelling a Green Transition under the African Continental Free Trade Area

E-Paper

Exploring the opportunities and challenges of addressing climate change under the AfCFTA and providing recommendations for governments, stakeholders, and development partners

pdf

All Development & Finance Content

Infrastructure

Is Data the New Oil? Examining the Promise of Data for Development

Infrastructure is Everywhere

Video

How are private investors financing infrastructure—especially institutional investors, such as pension funds, which hold over $100 trillion? And can these investors help achieve public goods, such as no carbon economies? An introduction to global infrastructure projects

By Gustav Theile

Tabi, an indigenous community affected by climate change

Signal effect for global climate finance

Analysis

The Green Climate Fund is important for implementing the Paris Agreement and for setting important standards for global climate finance. The financial viability of the fund, however, is by no means guaranteed.

By Liane Schalatek

Setting Higher Standards

Policy Brief

Two separate initiatives have been undertaken to create a common standard to mobilize private capital for investments in sustainable, quality infrastructure projects. But if they are not well coordinated and communicated they could create additional confusion.

pdf

The Other Infrastructure Gap: Sustainability

Publication

Human Rights and Environmental Perspectives

pdf

All Infrastructure Content

Trade

Why the European response to the IRA must be more Europe

Shaping the future of multilateralism: An overview on inclusive pathways to a just and crisis-resilient global order

Summary paper

The 20 authors of the 15 papers in this series illuminate the depth of the problems in the three specific fields of international trade, digital governance, and climate finance, with special attention to human rights and gender equality. The researchers illustrate the profound failures of national governments and international mechanisms, and often reflect the frustrations of populations or countries that feel the rich and powerful are running roughshod over the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable for their own outsized benefit, and are doing so with impunity.

By Viola Gienger, Sabine Muscat, Liane Schalatek, Anna Schwarz and Lisa Tostado

Why we need to strengthen our partnership with the US right now

In a few days, US President Joe Biden will visit Europe for the first time. The opportunities for a new era of transatlantic cooperation are immense, but the window of opportunity to seize them is small.

By Anna Cavazzini and Reinhard Bütikofer

How to Ensure that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Propels Africa’s Green Transition

Policy Brief

The opportunities and challenges of addressing climate change under the AfCFTA

pdf

Shaping the Future of Multilateralism - Digital trade rules: Big Tech’s end run around domestic regulations

E-paper

Trade agreements have become an important battleground for tech companies to fight the regulatory pressure they are finally facing in the Global North. But allowing tech companies to capture digital trade talks to defang domestic regulation creates serious risks for privacy, fundamental rights, competition, social and economic justice, and sustainable development.

pdf

All Trade Content

Staff

Philipp Kuehl

Program Director, Global Development Policy

All Global Development Policy Content