erlassjahrde

What erlassjahrde does

erlassjahr.de — legally 'erlassjahr.de – Deutsches Entschuldungsbündnis' — is a registered German charitable association (eingetragener Verein) headquartered in Düsseldorf that operates as a civil society coalition advocating for fair sovereign debt treatment of Global South countries and the establishment of a UN-based sovereign insolvency mechanism. Founded in 1999 as part of the broader jubilee movement (Erlassjahr 2000), the organization is led politically by Jürgen Kaiser (co-founder and longtime political coordinator) and Kristina Rehbein (current political coordinator), supported by political advisor Malina Stutz. The coalition unites 71 German civil society organizations and connects to international networks including Eurodad, Debt Justice UK, AFRODAD, Latindadd, VENRO, V20, and the Debt for Climate movement.

The organization's core products are knowledge and advocacy outputs rather than commercial technology: the annual Schuldenreport (co-published with Misereor since at least 2022) analyzing Global South debt sustainability; an interactive world map of over-indebted states; country-specific information pages; the Entschuldungskurier newsletter; Fachinformationen briefing papers; podcasts; exhibitions; and campaign collateral (Aktionsmaterial). Distribution occurs via the erlassjahr.de website, an online materials shop, social channels, partner networks, and direct lobbying of the German federal government (BMZ, BMF, Bundestag), EU institutions, G7/G20, UN bodies, and the IMF/World Bank.

The business model is non-commercial and grant/donation-funded. Revenue derives from individual donations, member contributions from the 71 coalition partners, church-affiliated institutional support (notably Misereor), and federal recognition awards (e.g., the 2024 BMZ Engagementpreis). There is no commercial pricing model; educational materials are available free or at-cost via the materials shop. Reach is demonstrated by 72,000+ signatures submitted to the Federal Finance Ministry and 2,000+ postcards delivered to the Federal Development Minister, alongside involvement in the international 'Turn Debt into Hope' campaign targeting 10 million signatures during the Catholic Holy Year 2025.

Name

erlassjahrde

Legal name

erlassjahr.de - Deutsches Entschuldungsbündnis

Website

https://erlassjahr.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Short description

erlassjahr.de is a German civil society coalition advocating for sovereign debt relief for Global South countries and a UN-based insolvency mechanism, producing the annual Schuldenreport and lobbying German and multilateral policymakers through a 71-organization network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Debt Justice Advocacy / Sovereign Debt Relief Coalition

NAICS

International Affairs (92812)

akta.pro primary industry

Debt Relief, Restructuring & Sovereign Financing Support (BPADAOAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Debt Management (BPAIAEAC), Debt Relief, Restructuring & Sovereign Advisory Programs (BPADACAL)

Keywords

• Sovereign debt advocacy
• Debt relief campaigns
• International financial reform
• Civil society coalition
• Debt policy research

Headquarters

HQ city

Düsseldorf

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and membership fees: As a registered German charitable association (Verein), erlassjahr.de operates primarily through member contributions, individual donations, and institutional grants from development organizations. Revenue supports coalition coordination, publications (Schuldenreport), campaigns, and advocacy activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

erlassjahr.de campaigns, researches, and educates on sovereign debt justice and fair debt relief for overindebted Global South states. It produces authoritative publications such as the annual Schuldenreport (Debt Report) co-published with Misereor, Fachinformationen briefing papers, country information pages, an interactive over-indebtedness map, and a podcast series. It also distributes campaign materials, action postcards, exhibitions, and educational resources to mobilize citizens and lobby governments and multilateral institutions for a fair sovereign insolvency procedure and reform of the international financial architecture.

Product overview

erlassjahr.de is a German civil society coalition advocating for fair debt treatment for states in the Global South. The organization does not offer a software product but rather publishes analytical content including annual debt reports, provides interactive information tools such as a world map on debt situations, and produces educational materials and podcasts. The core offering consists of the Schuldenreport (Debt Report) series published with Misereor, which analyzes global debt sustainability and advocates for international insolvency procedures. Additional products include country-specific information pages, campaign materials, and a podcast series. The organization operates primarily as an advocacy and policy-focused entity rather than a technology platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Schuldenreport (Debt Report) Annual publication analyzing the global sovereign debt situation of Global South countries, co-published with Misereor. The report assesses debt sustainability, identifies critically indebted nations, and provides policy recommendations for fair debt resolution.
• Interactive World Map of Over-Indebted States Interactive web-based map providing visual representation of debt situations across countries worldwide, allowing users to explore which nations are affected by high debt burdens.
• Country Information Pages Individual country pages providing detailed information about specific nations' debt situations, debt restructuring processes, and related policy developments.
• Fachinformationen (Specialist Briefing Papers) Specialized briefing papers on specific debt-related topics, providing in-depth policy analysis for advocacy and public education. The online shop lists 58 items in this category.
• Entschuldungskurier Newsletter Periodical newsletter providing updates on debt justice developments, policy events, and coalition activities. The online shop lists 25 items in this category.
• Podcast Series Audio podcast series discussing debt-related topics, interviews with experts, and coverage of international debt negotiations and policy developments. The online shop lists 7 podcast items.
• Educational and Campaign Materials (Aktionsmaterial) Action materials, exhibitions, films, manuals, and brochures used for public education and advocacy campaigns on debt justice and international financial reform. The online shop lists 31 action material items, 3 exhibitions, 12 films, and 7 manuals and brochures.
• Studien (Studies) and Positionspapiere (Position Papers) Independent studies and position papers on sovereign debt topics; the online shop lists 19 studies and 7 position papers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 72,000+ signatures submitted to the German Federal Ministry of Finance demanding fair debt cancellation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Era of Justice Campaign (9 European NGOs)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025A network of nine European NGOs under Eurodad's leadership, including erlassjahr.de, launched the 'Era of Justice' campaign in 2025. The campaign connects climate, gender, and debt justice, translating complex issues into accessible language ahead of the FfD4 conference in Seville. Website: eraofjustice.org.
• Turn Debt into Hope / Erlassjahr 2025 CampaigncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024An international campaign launched by Caritas Internationalis and civil society allies, including erlassjahr.de (German lead). The campaign aimed to collect 10 million signatures during the Catholic Holy Year 2025 for debt cancellation, root-cause reform, and sustainable debt architecture. erlassjahr.de coordinated the German campaign (erlassjahr2025.de) with 71 organizations collecting 72,000+ signatures.
• Debt Justice UKmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024erlassjahr.de works closely with the UK-based Debt Justice on joint advocacy, research (e.g., joint analysis of private creditor profits after restructuring), campaign statements, and international coordination at G20, IMF-World Bank, and COP forums.
• AFRODAD (African Forum and Network on Debt and Development)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023erlassjahr.de partners with AFRODAD on joint research and advocacy regarding African debt situations. Joint publications include studies on debt, gender, and fossil fuels (2026) and contributions to Schuldenreport analyses.
• Latindadd (Latin American Network on Debt and Development)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023erlassjahr.de collaborates with Latindadd on research and advocacy regarding Latin American and Caribbean debt issues. Latindadd has published analyses on climate, extractivism, and debt in Amazonian countries, and participates in joint COP briefings.
• VENRO (Verband Entwicklungspolitik und Humanitäre Hilfe Deutschlands)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023erlassjahr.de is a member of VENRO, the German development policy association. VENRO coordinates member organizations on shared policy positions including calls for fair debt mechanisms, international financial architecture reform, and alignment with the SDGs.
• V20 (Vulnerable Group of Twenty)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023erlassjahr.de monitors and engages with V20 positions on debt and climate. V20, a group of 58 climate-vulnerable economies, advocates for reforms to debt relief mechanisms and emergency coalitions for debt sustainability.
• Civil Society Forum / Financing for Development (FfD4)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023erlassjahr.de participated in the Civil Society Forum (1,000+ CSO representatives) and Civil Society March (2,500 participants) in Seville preceding the UN FfD4 conference. The CSO coalition produced a joint declaration criticizing the 'Compromiso de Sevilla' as insufficient and demanding a UN debt convention.
• MisereorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Misereor is the longstanding co-publishing partner of erlassjahr.de's annual Schuldenreport. The partnership combines Misereor's development policy expertise with erlassjahr.de's research and advocacy capacity to produce the most authoritative German-language analysis of Global South sovereign debt.
• Debt for Climate MovementmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022erlassjahr.de supports the Debt for Climate grassroots movement originating in the Global South, which advocates for unconditional debt cancellation to enable climate action. erlassjahr.de participated in the movement's open letter to Pope Leo at the close of the Holy Year 2025.
• Netzwerk Entwicklungspolitik im Saarland (NES)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022erlassjahr.de co-hosted the 2024 annual conference 'Menschenrechte statt Schuldendienst!' (Human Rights Instead of Debt Service!) with the Network for Development Policy Saarland at the Europe Youth Hostel Saarbrücken.
• Eurodad (European Network on Debt and Development)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013erlassjahr.de is a member of Eurodad, the European debt relief network. Eurodad coordinates cross-border advocacy, publishes research on debt architecture reform, and leads European-level campaigns including 'Era of Justice' (with erlassjahr.de as a co-lead). Eurodad facilitates erlassjahr.de's international policy engagement at UN, IMF-World Bank, and G20 levels.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/erlassjahr
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/erlassjahrde
• Facebookfacebook.com/erlassjahr.de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/erlassjahr-de-entwicklung-braucht-entschuldung-e-v
• Instagraminstagram.com/erlassjahr_de

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about erlassjahrde