The Federal Office of the Family and Civil Society Tasks (BafZA) intends to implement the projects within the framework of the Federal Programme “Democracy Leben! “in the second funding period as follows:

— Lot 1: “Conflict Management for Local Authorities”,

— Lot 2: “Concepts of protection for civil society actors”.

Subject of the order:

At least 15 selected local authorities (municipalities) living within the framework of the Federal Programme “Democracy! “will be promoted as local “Partnerships for Democracy”, will be qualified and accompanied and advised in the development of processes and sustainable forms of organisation as well as procedures for local conflict management. All relevant actors on the ground and in particular those affected by conflicts are to be actively involved.

The project focuses on conflicts that are characterised by anti-democracy, misanthropic and diverse positions. Examples include local, socially polarized and publicly dispersed conflicts; potentially radicalization-capable protest movements; anti-democratic local conflicts fueled by intergenerational transmission; conflicts over integration and immigration that threaten social cohesion, and public conflicts. and local identity issues.

The results of the pilot project are to be prepared in such a way that they can also be transferred to other municipalities and control structures.

The order includes:

Selection of participating municipalities and involvement of relevant actors:

The selection and acquisition of at least 15 participating municipalities that live within the framework of the Federal Programme “Democracy! “as local “Partnerships for Democracy”. The selection is carried out in close coordination with the scientific support of the “Kommune Action Area” in the Federal Programme “Living Democracy! ” as well as the BMFSFJ and the Federal Office for Family and Civil Society Responsibilities (BAfZA). The aim is to select municipalities that need support in dealing with conflicts that threaten and undermine democratic principles and peaceful coexistence in diversity.

The active involvement of all relevant actors on the ground (including civil society, politics, administration, police, regulatory authorities, urban planning, etc.) in the analysis and handling of conflicts. Particular attention is paid to the integration of the stakeholder perspective at all stages of project design and implementation.

Qualification of participating municipalities and relevant actors:

— the development of common quality standards for municipal conflict management, taking into account and incorporating existing professional knowledge and standards,

— the conception and implementation of a programme for the further training of civil society and local actors as conflict managers. It is not necessary to limit training to the structures of the 'Partnership for Democracy'. Participation may also be open to third parties (see point 2.3 Target groups).

support of participating municipalities and relevant actors in conflict management,

— the analysis of the local conflicts to be processed and the existing conflict management offerings,

— the development and testing of processes and sustainable structures for the gradual handling of lengthy and latent conflicts,

— the development of response plans in the event of acute crises and their testing in crisis training,

— the support, advice and supervision of relevant actors in the municipalities in dealing with both lengthy and acute conflicts.

Networking of participating municipalities and relevant actors:

— the organisation, implementation and follow-up of networking meetings between the participating municipalities and the establishment of a system of collegial advice based on the needs of the municipalities,

— close cooperation and systematic networking with the advisory structures of the state democracy centres in the federal programme “Living Democracy! “, safety authorities, the contractor from Lot 2, if applicable, and other relevant actors from science and practice. This includes the organisation, implementation and follow-up of networking meetings. At least 2 meetings per contract year shall be held,

— it is recommended to set up an advisory board with representatives from BMFSJ, other departments, countries, as well as from science and practice. An advisory board should be appointed in coordination with the BMFSFJ/Bafza,

— participation in regular exchange meetings (at least every six months) with BMFSFJ, BAfZA and the scientific monitoring of the “Commune” area of action on the state of work.

Public relations, transfer and quality assurance:

— the preparation and publication of findings, best practice examples and practical recommendations for action gained within the project, including in the form of a final report,

— the organisation and implementation of at least one specialised event at the end of the project, focusing on science and practice in the field of science and all 'partnerships for democracy' and other interested municipalities,

— the development of a governance strategy and initial implementation through appropriate technical policy measures involving the Länder and local authorities,

— participation in the accompanying evaluation of the project by the scientific support of the Federal Programme “Democracy Living! ”. For this purpose, the contractor shall participate in surveys and surveys of the programme evaluation or scientific monitoring. The contractor is free to carry out additional self-evaluation measures.

Subject of the order:

Taking into account existing approaches and measures, concepts for the protection of civil society and volunteers in local conflicts will be developed and tested in selected municipalities. The results of the pilot project are to be prepared in such a way that they can also be transferred to other municipalities and control structures.

The order includes:

Field survey and selection of participating municipalities:

The collection, sighting and processing of existing concepts and approaches for the protection of civil society actors in municipal conflicts,

The selection and acquisition of at least 10 municipalities participating in needs assessment and concept testing in close coordination with the scientific support of the “Kommune” area of action in the federal programme “Living Democracy! “as well as the BMFSFJ/Bafza. The aim is to select municipalities that live within the framework of the Federal Programme “Democracy! “as local “Partnerships for Democracy”, where civil society and volunteers are regularly exposed to hostilities and threats. The municipalities to be selected from lots 1 and 2 may not be coincident. The selection of the participating municipalities can therefore be carried out independently.

Development and testing of protection concepts:

A needs assessment in the participating municipalities, including local or regional advisory structures, other relevant civil society actors, those affected by threats and hostilities, as well as in coordination with the scientific support, the BMFJ/BAfza and the Länder,

The development of protection concepts adapted to the identified needs with the involvement of all relevant actors on site. The protection concepts should include advice and support services for those affected as well as municipal prevention and intervention measures. The offers of mobile consulting and stakeperson counselling as well as proven approaches from science and practice are to be taken into account here. Those affected by threats, hostility and violence must be involved at every stage of the project design and implementation. Organisations (including civil society organisations, local governments and/or companies) will also be involved, whose employees or volunteers will be the target of threats and hostilities. These organisations should be strengthened in fulfilling their responsibility to protect their employees and volunteers.

— the testing of protection concepts in the participating municipalities,

— the revision and adaptation of the protection concepts based on the results of the testing and the exchange with other relevant actors in the field.

Networking:

— the organisation, implementation and follow-up of networking meetings between the participating municipalities and the establishment of a system of collegial advice based on the needs of the municipalities,

— close cooperation and systematic networking with the advisory structures of the state democracy centres in the federal programme “Living Democracy! “, safety authorities, possibly the contractor from Lot 1 and other relevant actors from science and practice,

— participation in regular exchange meetings (at least every six months) with the BMFSFJ, BAfZa and the scientific monitoring of the “Commune” area of action in the Federal Programme “Living Democracy” on the state of work.

Public relations, transfer and quality assurance:

— the preparation and publication of findings, best practice examples and practical recommendations for action gained within the project, including in the form of a final report,

— the organisation and implementation of a specialised event at the end of the project aimed at science and practice in the field of science and all “Partnerships for Democracy” and other interested municipalities,

— the development of strategies for transfer to regulatory structures and initial implementation through appropriate technical policy measures involving the Länder and local authorities,

— participation in the accompanying evaluation of the project by the scientific support of the Federal Programme “Democracy Living! ”. For this purpose, the contractor should participate in surveys and surveys of the programme evaluation or scientific monitoring. The contractor is free to carry out additional self-evaluation measures.