Sister cities in action

Pilot project: 3 cities partners of Berlin in exchange with civil society

In collaboration with the Berliner Entwicklungspolitischer Ratschlag (BER), a consortium of BER member groups and Berlin One World Promoters has developed a concept and pilot project to strengthen Berlin’s long-standing city partnerships with Jakarta, Mexico City and Windhoek at a civil society level. Up to now, these partnerships have predominantly involved actors in city administration.

The pilot project comprises three South-North partner tandems, each consisting of a Berlin NGO ( Afrika-Rat Berlin-Brandenburg ,  México Vía Berlín ,  Watch Indonesia ) and an NGO in the respective partner city ( CIIA – Creative Industry Institute Africa,  WALHI – Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia,  Casa Tochán,  WALHI – Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia ,  Casa Tochán ), as well as an overall coordination by the Berliner Entwicklungspolitischer Ratschlag. The aim is to make international North-South cooperation more equal, sustainable and vibrant. The project is based on the  City Partnership Concept of the same name.

In a 1.5-year development phase, the tandems will build networks in all four cities and between themselves (South-North and South-South) and jointly identify current global challenges for development cooperation. At the same time, relations between the administration and civil society will be intensified.

In a subsequent two-year implementation phase, the tandems will jointly devise development policy projects to meet global challenges through local action strategies. Through broad transnational networking, intensive dialogue and annual meetings, the project will develop innovative solutions that drive forward a socio-ecological transformation.

City Tandem Berlin-Windhoek

The Afrika-Rat Berlin Brandenburg and the Creative Industry Institute Africa form the Berlin-Windhoek Tandem. Together they foster exchange between civil society actors and the creative sectors in Berlin and Windhoek, with the aim of strengthening cultural cooperation, fair creative economies, and transnational solidarity. The tandem connects the African diaspora in Germany with Namibia’s cultural and creative industries, creating spaces for cross-border collaboration. A particular focus lies on remembrance culture and the development of decolonial perspectives that shape artistic, educational, and civic initiatives. By linking grassroots movements, NGOs, institutions, and professionals, they foster inclusive participation, advocate for structural change, and co-create future-oriented projects. Driven by the transformative power of art, heritage, and civic engagement, the Berlin–Windhoek tandem works to connect local experiences with global perspectives.

Afrika-Rat Berlin Brandenburg

The umbrella organisation Afrika-Rat Berlin Brandenburg e.V. is a network of associations, organizations, initiatives and people of the African Diaspora in Berlin and Brandenburg, founded in 2005. Meanwhile, the Afrika-Rat has 36 member organizations and is a shareholder of Berlin Global Village gGmbH. The most important task of the Afrika-Rat is to bundle and represent the common interests of the African Diaspora in Berlin and Brandenburg. With the goal of fostering international understanding and participation in social and professional integration and strengthening the pluralist, the umbrella organization promotes the cooperation of member associations, organizations, projects, groups and people of the African Diaspora. The Afrika-Rat is committed to an equal, solidary coexistence with all people in the state of Berlin and Brandenburg.

Coordinator: Kevin Borgböhmer

E-Mail:  k.borgboehmer@afrika-rat.org,

Creative Industry Institute Africa (CIIA)

The Creative Industry Institute Africa (CIIA) is a Namibian non-profit organization dedicated to fostering the growth and sustainability of cultural and creative industries in Namibia and across Africa and the diaspora communities. Established in 2020, and based in Windhoek Namibia, CIIA’s mission is to empower the African creative sector through training, research, and lobbying, ensuring the industry’s role as a key driver of socio-economic development on the continent.CIIA aims to support, develop, and accelerate content, products, careers, and companies in Africa’s creative industries by advocating for a favorable policy framework and fostering collaboration in Namibia, in the SADC region, on the African continent and within the diaspora community.
CIIA undertakes a variety of initiatives aimed at strengthening Africa’s creative industries, including training (providing skills development opportunities for creatives across sectors), research (conducting studies to identify industry trends, challenges, and opportunities) and advocacy (lobbying for policies that support and promote the creative sector).  https://creativeindustryinstitute.org/creative

Coordinator: Olivia Heinonen

E-Mail:  olivia@creativeindustryinstitute.org