BMZ is increasing the predictability of German aid through multi-year commitments, but it could share long-term spending information more systematically with partner countries and has yet to finalise country strategies for more than half its partner countries since introducing a new template in 2012. While BMZ is increasingly combining technical and financial co-operation in an effective way, greater budget flexibility would help German development co-operation to adapt to evolving needs. Use of country systems varies across sectors and modalities, preventing Germany from meeting its commitment to make use of country systems the default approach. While technical co-operation is appreciated by partners, there may be benefits in using the various German instruments more flexibly and maximising the role of partner structures in programme implementation.