A better quality of life and a future through education worldwide – these are the aims of KETAAKETI, a new model of development cooperation based on mutual respect and equality of all partners. Founded in 2007 by Anneli-Sofia Raecker, KETAAKETI supports the sustainable livelihood of families and the school attendance of children in poorest countries on the basis of global networking and partnership.

Self-determination, independence, dignity and sustainability are the guiding principles which are consistently implemented in this model of cooperation. Based on our ‘world family’ model of thinking and the natural inclination to share, the concept has been sustainably successful for nearly 17 years.

KETAAKETI establishes as well as supports local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the poorest countries. KETAAKETI works with these NGOs on a basis of mutual respect and equality of all partners. Families are enabled to set up their own businesses through interest-free microfinancing – on the condition and with the aim that the children's school attendance is secured. Families are generally able to repay the microfinance within a short space of time. After that, the investment is passed on to the next family.

Without further action from KETAAKETI, a one-time, small financial boost enables village after village and generation after generation to benefit. School and health support in regionally and culturally sensitive methods accompany this model.

Education and the chance of a self-determined existence are supported in a sustainable manner. Decisions are consistently in the hands of the respective country, autonomously using their initiative, intrinsically valuing their culture and self-worth. This cooperation does not create any new dependencies between rich and poor; on the contrary, a one-off, small financial support reaches an increasing number of people without further action – it is a self-perpetuating system.

KETAAKETI core principles include the creation of a sustainable and effective prevention model against violence, the disenfranchisement of girls, child exploitation and labour migration. In this model, each country works autonomously, deciding on the various projects and getting them up and running.This represents a paradigm shift in development cooperation, which is proving to be extremely successful in a growing number of the poorest countries:

The number of school and microfinance projects implemented in Nepal, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Ecuador, Zimbabwe, Liberia, Madagascar, Gambia, DR Kongo, Tansania, Uganda and Guinea is steadily growing. What started with one project supporting 20 children in 2007 has now grown to more than 200 projects until February 2024. More than 22,000 children received school support within their various country’s own models and over 7,500 families benefited from microfinance. To date, KETAAKETI works with 15 partner organisations in 12 different countries.

100 % of all donations go to the partner projects in the respective country – in line with the model of global responsibility and solidarity. This creates an environment of trust in KETAAKETI which enables the support network in Germany to continually expand.  

KETAAKETI is supported by many loyal members and donors, as well as working in cooperation with numerous schools in Germany. KETAAKETI’s work has raised interest in the media, both in Germany and in the partner countries (for example, Germany’s national TV station ZDF and national newspapers like ‘Sueddeutsche Zeitung’, and many others). The Jacobs University in Bremen is providing scientific support for the model of partnership-based development cooperation with regard to its sociological and economic significance.

KETAAKETI's concept of development cooperation received the UNESCO Sustainability Award in 2008 and several awards from high-ranking politicians of its partner countries. The founder and CEO Anneli-Sofia Raecker was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in December 2019 for the development and implementation of her model.

Text: Anneli-Sofia Raecker (2023)