Making an impact – for better future prospects worldwide

Business area KfW Development Bank financed numerous projects on behalf of the Federal Government in various sectors in 2017, from the launch of vocational schools in Laos and Vietnam, through the supply of drinking water in a region in Tanzania affected by climate change as part of the Green Climate Fund, to the supply of food to the regions bordering the war zone of Syria. KfW’s role in German Financial Cooperation (FC) is that of both an experienced bank and a specialised development institution. KfW promotes and supports programmes and projects on behalf of the Federal Government – from the first conceptual idea, through implementation, to the subsequent assessment of results.

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The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is the primary ministry on whose behalf KfW Development Bank’s projects are promoted. KfW also operates on behalf of other federal ministries (AA, BMWi, BMUB and BMBF). After the ministries of the German Federal Government, the EU is the most important public partner and client of KfW Development Bank.

Climate and environmental protection

Showing the way in climate and environmental matters: The UN Climate Change Conference, COP23, took place in Bonn from 6 to 17 November 2017 under the presidency of Fiji. KfW Development Bank showcased its expertise in climate financing in over 20 events and received an award for the project financed on behalf of the Ministry for the Environment to restore peatlands in Russia.Clean and healthy oceans are essential in the fight against climate change. KfW and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) founded the Blue Action Fund to protect the oceans and KfW organised the Development Finance Forum entitled “Oceans 21 – Solutions for a sustainable marine future” to follow on from the first UN Ocean Conference in New York in June and the Climate Change Conference in Bonn in November.

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Peace and security

No sustainable development without peace and security: Over 65 million people are seeking refuge and 56 countries are deemed fragile. KfW Development Bank is active in fragile settings, promotes crisis prevention and supports projects for refugees and communities that take them in. It is also involved in efforts to protect against the consequences of climate change, another cause of flight and migration. The InsuResilience Solutions Fund (ISF) was launched in 2017 for climate risk insurance in developing countries and emerging economies by KfW and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

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Vocational training and employment

Fight against unemployment: Africa has the youngest population in the world – and one of the highest unemployment rates in precisely this age group. One means of fighting this is vocational training, but only if it meets certain quality requirements. This is why KfW is promoting a pan-African initiative for more and better vocational training, called “Skills Initiative for Africa”.

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The most important FC financing instruments

Complaints management

The complaints management system of KfW Development Bank aims to give people who may feel negatively affected by projects or employees of the development bank the opportunity to complain. There may be many reasons for this, such as indications of corruption or fraud, or violation of environmental and social standards in financed projects, or even misconduct such as discrimination or sexual harassment.

There are various possibilities here; the complaints management system of KfW Development Bank is explained on a dedicated Internet page, an online complaints form is provided, and there is a dedicated e-mail address . If those making a complaint wish to remain anonymous, the ombudsman is available as the point of contact. Any other complaints made via other channels are, however, also taken up.

The number of complaints lodged in 2017 was very low, as in the previous year, and related to twelve projects. This corresponds to a share of 0.5% of all ongoing projects. It was possible to deal with all but one complaint in 2017.

Legal notice:
The information contained in this online Annual Report 2017 is based on KfW’s Financial Report 2017, which you can download here. Should this online Annual Report 2017, despite the great care taken in preparation of its content, contain any contradictions or errors compared to the Financial Report, the KfW Financial Report 2017 takes priority.