Country activities
Working together at an equal level
Many developing and emerging countries are increasingly confronted with the negative consequences of the cultivation, production, trafficking, and use of illicit drugs. Some of them lack experience and technical capacities in dealing with such problems. GPDPD, on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), advises interested governments on finding sustainable solutions to drug policy challenges.
Developing and emerging countries are key players in addressing the global drug situation. Coca and opium poppies are almost exclusively grown in Latin American and Asian countries. Likewise, their processing into illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin takes place mostly in these regions. Additionally, the use of illegal substances is increasing globally. Cannabis, crack cocaine, and amphetamines are often equally present in Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa as in North America or Western Europe. At the same time, some countries affected by illicit drug economies are reorienting their counterstrategies: After the so-called "War on Drugs", characterized by highly repressive approaches, has yielded little success, an increasing number of governments are showing interest in development-, human-rights-, and health-oriented drug policies.
To find sustainable answers to drug-related problems, it is therefore even more important to cooperate with partner countries on a technical level, promote exchange and support South-South cooperation. On behalf of the BMZ, the Global Partnership on Drug Policies and Development (GPDPD) advises interested governments on adapting their drug policy instruments. Together with international and local partners, GPDPD is also piloting innovative approaches in dealing with illicit drug crop cultivation in affected countries.
Although more and more governments are interested in Alternative Development approaches, they often lack the experience to implement them. Some countries are facing unprecedented challenges related to environmental destruction fuelled by illicit drug economies, others request support in drafting drug policy approaches that are in line with human rights and women's empowerment. To help national authorities bridge gaps in experience and technical knowledge, GPDPD engages in pilot projects, advisory work, and training programmes. Its work focuses on development-oriented approaches and respect for human rights in drug policy. Advisory services are specifically adapted to the respective interests of GPDPD’s partner countries – currently Albania, Colombia, Malawi, and Thailand.
