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On the whole, the facts show that, provided the overall conditions are right, budget support can serve as an effective financing instrument while at the same time increasing ownership by partner countries, just as the draft coalition agreement states. This stands in stark contrast to the picture painted time and again in public debates over the last few years. As such, it may well be helpful to take a closer look at the evidence on existing and maligned approaches instead of announcing a new paradigm for development policy every time there is a change of government. This is not to say that there is no need for reform in German and European development policy or that global challenges do not call for new ideas and approaches and political courage. One certainly would have wished to see more of the latter in the coalition agreement. Nonetheless, a grand coalition does offer opportunities as well – for a more pragmatic and evidence-based development policy.
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