The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (German: Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung, pronounced [ˈbʊndəsminɪsˌteːʁiʊm fyːɐ̯ ˈvɪʁtʃaftlɪçə t͡suˈzamənˌʔaʁbaɪ̯t ʊnt ɛntˈvɪklʊŋ] ⓘ), abbreviated BMZ, is a cabinet-level ministry of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Founded in 1961, the Ministry works to encourage economic development within Germany and in other countries through international cooperation and partnerships.

The BMZ was created in 1961 as a reflection of the growing prioritization of foreign aid beyond financial gain, a relatively unique choice at the time.

[4] The BMZ strongly supported the reorientation led by the OECD towards tangible and measurable goals for sustainability.

Bilateral co-operation constitutes the bulk of Germany’s official development assistance (ODA), under the overall lead of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), while the Federal Foreign Office oversees humanitarian aid, crisis prevention, stabilisation and peace-building.