Close Cooperation for Effective Emergency Aid With Foresight

COVID-19 relief fund

© GIZ / Dorothea Hohengarten

Launch of Emergency Fund

Fairtrade Germany (TransFair e.V.), Forum Fairer Handel and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) are launching a Covid-19 Emergency Aid fund.

The ministry is investing over 13 million euros in an aid fund in order to support sustainably producing smallholder farms in developing countries, to maintain jobs during the Corona crisis.

The initiative is an example of successful cooperation between civil society actors, the BMZ and GIZ: The relief fund was designed quickly, unbureaucratically, effectively and with foresight: In addition to the emergency aid and preventive measures against the further spread of the virus, it will provide funds for sustainable reconstruction after the pandemic as well as broader measures for rural food and income security.


Florian Reil, Consultant, Sustainable Agricultural Supply Chains and Standards Programme