Misereor received more donations in 2023. This was announced by Andreas Frick, the new Chief Executive of the episcopal aid organisation, at his organisation's annual press conference in Berlin on Tuesday. At 64.6 million euros, income from donations and collections was 2.9 million euros higher than in the previous year. Frick, who has been CEO of the world's largest Catholic development aid organisation since the beginning of July, thanked all donors who had shown great generosity even in economically challenging times.

Frick combined his annual review with an appeal to the German government and the European Union to realise the 17 sustainability goals proclaimed by the United Nations for the year 2030 in the best possible way. The political will must be mustered to tackle hunger in the world more resolutely, he said. "Hunger and food insecurity are among the biggest scandals of our still unjust world. We know how to prevent it! There is enough food for everyone. And yet 733 million people are not getting enough to eat," said Frick. Politics and society need to distribute humanity's wealth more fairly in order to alleviate the great poverty that still exists in many countries of the global South. "Those who talk about poverty must not remain silent about wealth! With the necessary political will to fight for justice and a strong global partnership, it would be possible to raise the necessary resources," emphasised Frick.

Global stability is at stake

In this context, Misereor Managing Director Bernd Bornhorst criticised the planned cuts in the federal budget for development cooperation: "The planned significant cuts in the budget for development cooperation and humanitarian aid send out the signal that national interests should take precedence over global solidarity. From Misereor's point of view, this course is more than short-sighted. If we do not adequately fulfil our responsibility to alleviate emergencies and crises, we risk a further decline in global stability. Which means nothing other than that these emergencies and crises could increase and we would also feel the consequences in Germany. What we don't tackle together globally today will cost us even more effort and money tomorrow."

Fewer opportunities and less hope

The Chairman of the Catholic Centre for Global Development (KZE), Prelate Karl Jüsten, also lamented the fact that state funding for development cooperation had already been reduced last year. "If further cuts were made, it would be clear that fewer projects would be funded or that projects could only be supported to a reduced extent. With the current figures, we at Misereor would have to assume cuts of at least ten per cent in the approval volume. What sounds abstract here means not being able to continue processes and seize opportunities on the ground. And therefore less hope," warned Jüsten.

The KZE Chairman also emphasised the impact of development cooperation: "We need a strong and independent Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Only in this way can Germany fulfil its global responsibility and make a strong contribution to combating poverty, hunger and the consequences of the climate crisis."

Further information:

To the Misereor Annual Report 2023.

Press photos for download here.

Statements from the annual press conference:

Statement Andreas Frick
Statement Bernd Bornhorst
Statement by Prelate Jüsten