While German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke of a “new world of great powers” in Davos, Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan chose a very different stage: a wooden school desk in one of the poorest regions of Sierra Leone, listening to pupils and local farmers. Radovan highlighted food security, education and climate resilience as the central priorities of her visit.
At a school in Karene district, students ate plates of rice, vegetables and climate-adapted crops such as sweet potatoes grown by local producers who now enjoy more reliable incomes. Antoine Renard, head of Public Partnerships at the UN World Food Programme, said being with the children on the ground mattered more than attending Davos and underlined the importance of local engagement. The WFP and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) support Sierra Leone’s national school lunch program: since 2023 more than 34,000 children in 115 schools have received free meals, with the BMZ contributing about €10 million alongside Sierra Leone’s own funding.
Sierra Leone’s Trade Minister Ibrahim Alpha Sesay pointed out that the program is creating an economic ecosystem and stimulating internal trade. The country’s fiscal capacity is limited—government revenues amount to only about 8.6% of GDP—and the withdrawal of most US development projects in August 2025 left major shortfalls in nutrition, clean water, vaccines and education. Roughly 77% of the population lacks a secure daily meal.
Radovan’s message was unequivocal: “We are not leaving!” Her new strategy, titled “Shaping the future together globally,” prioritizes least developed countries, with a special focus on African partners. The aim is to position Germany as a cooperative partner at a time when influence from other external actors is growing across the continent.
Berlin frames investments in combating hunger and inequality as measures that also reduce the risk of conflict, crime and terrorism—threats that can spill across borders. Recent coups in countries from Burkina Faso to Guinea-Bissau have driven refugee flows, while cross-border drug trafficking fuels addiction and instability among young people. Sierra Leone, which holds the ECOWAS presidency until June 2026, has signaled its commitment to regional stability and democratic processes; Germany says it wants to support those objectives.
Talks during the visit reflected a level of mutual trust that allowed for sensitive geopolitical discussions. Radovan raised concerns about “shadow fleets and the activities of other states here on the ground,” an apparent reference to the expanding presence of external powers—including China, Turkey, Gulf states and Russia—in West Africa. China remains Sierra Leone’s largest trading partner, accounting for about 48% of foreign trade and shaping mining and infrastructure projects. Turkey contributed to construction of the modern Lungi airport.
Despite these ties, German businesses have largely stayed away. Radovan said she hopes the private sector will step up, particularly given planned reductions to Germany’s development cooperation budget in 2027, but many firms still regard the country as high-risk. No business delegations accompanied the minister on this trip.
Local and international development actors stress that private investment, fair trade and a stable financial architecture are essential to create real opportunities for Sierra Leonean youth. Matthias Mogge, who launched Welthungerhilfe’s first project in Sierra Leone 13 years ago, has shifted focus toward education and vocational skills. His “Skills up!” program in Newton trains young people in vegetable cultivation and solar-panel installation, addressing alarming youth unemployment—reported as high as 70% in some areas—and promoting productive, sustainable agribusinesses rather than subsistence farming. The demonstration fields and training sites serve as economic and social hubs, offering a tangible path to income and stability for the next generation.
The visit illustrated Germany’s attempt to combine humanitarian assistance, development cooperation and geopolitical engagement through partnership-oriented programs on the ground. The reporting on this trip was originally published in German.