The rapid and still-accelerating increase in the world's population, especially in developing nations, will have a number of serious economic, social, and ecological consequences for the whole world. Germany is attempting to help solve these problems by providing family planning and poverty alleviation assistance to developing nations. German assistance in these areas is being directed against the following problems: maternal mortality and the status of children, children who have children, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and unplanned pregnancies. Germany is also assisting with rural development efforts in the following ways: agricultural development programs to produce sufficient food, economic development and urbanization programs to improve chances of survival, rural development programs to raise standards of living, and self-help programs for small farmers and women to ensure regional food security and improve family health. Population policy/family planning has become a priority in the German government's development policy, and Germany is working with a number of partners to pursue a double strategy of family planning and development that is aimed directly at improving individual life and self-realization. (Lists of 14 organizations and 18 publications concerned with family planning and population control are included.) (MN)