Geneva Initiative is a joint Israeli-Palestinian initiative that suggests a detailed model for a peace agreement to end the conflict.

The Geneva Initiative (GI) is a joint Israeli-Palestinian effort that provides a detailed model for a peace agreement to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It suggests realistic and achievable solutions to all issues vital to end the conflict based on previous official negotiations such as mutual recognition, border and settlements, Jerusalem, international supervision, refugees and security.

Adopting the agreement and implementing it would bring about a solution to the historical conflict, a new chapter in Israeli-Palestinian relations, and, most importantly, the realisation of the national visions of both parties. The initiative proves that peace is possible, that partners for peace do exist and that there is a solution to every problem. The Geneva Initiative NGOs educate and campaign, both locally and internationally, defending that it is in the best interest of Israelis and Palestinians to negotiate directly in order to reach a realistic, dignified, and sustainable 2-state solution in which both peoples can build a brighter future, as is embodied in the model Geneva Accord.

The Stuttgart Lehrhaus Foundation for Interreligious Dialogue makes it its goal to promote trialogue between the followers of the three monotheistic religions, between Jews, Christians and Muslims on the basis of tolerance, understanding, comprehension and equality.

The aim is for Jews, Christians and Muslims not to talk about each other, but rather to talk with each other. This is not a case of starting from scratch, so that this trialogue structure does not have to be rebuilt.

Rather, the Stuttgart Lehrhaus builds on an already existing interreligious structure in the form of the aforementioned partner organisations. This already existing interreligious diversity is to be strengthened through thematic and scheduling coordination as well as through joint public relations work in terms of its internal impact on content and its external impact on the cultural and religious environment.

In the spirit of tolerance and mutual respect, the Stuttgart Lehrhaus sees itself as a bridge builder between people of different religions. The differences between the monotheistic religions are not to be concealed, but the focus is increasingly on the great treasure of common ground, which lies much more in the area of ethics than in the area of dogmatics.

Therefore, the Stuttgart Lehrhaus asks to what extent interreligious ethical convictions can inspire unifying perspectives and common ethical orientations, also in the factual contexts of economy, society and politics.

Social. Urban. Nature is a social business focused on the global south to establish transformative impact.

The startup culture is not only based on profit. But in the vision of a global economy that values people, the environment, creativity and profit in an equal measure.

In accordance with the principle #TradenotAid, Social. Urban. Nature, like S.H.A.R.E., is based on the idea that only concretely implemented help for self-help can contribute to the development of small and medium-sized economic structures in countries of the global South. The triad of ecology (Nature), economy (Urban) and social (Social) contained in the name points to this reference to the management concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by referring to the supporting pillar of the principle of sustainability and is thus the basis of sustainable development.

In this context, the start-up works closely with artisans, designers and cooperatives in order to build sustainable entrepreneurial structures, that can sustain communities. Together they exchange knowledge, skills and ideas, develop unique, competitive products. By reusing existing resources and combining modern design with local aesthetics and traditional craftsmanship, they create extraordinary items that give our producers a real perspective and the buyer a strong voice against global exploitation structures.

A special strategic feature of this approach is the crossover combination of non-profit and profit-oriented thinking and acting, which complement each other perfectly. S.H.A.R.E. acts as a non-profit actor and initiator, networker and constructor in the respective country and, in the course of its CSR and fair trade know-how, takes on an advisory, financing and further training function for local cooperatives. The focus is on the project set-up, the right course and the necessary development policy measures to enable the respective cooperatives to offer an exportable product and to act as a professional trading partner.

LCGI (Lifeline Compassionate Global Initiatives) is an interfaith peace organisation run by Christians and Muslims: Its work benefits both religious groups. LCGI was recognised by the government as a non-profit organisation in 2010. Its activities focus on the development of peaceful relations between Christians and Muslims through practical assistance in education and training, as well as through the promotion of income-generating activities.

Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State in north-eastern Nigeria, is an ancient historical city. Borno State borders the republics of Cameroon, Niger and Chad. Islam was introduced to Nigeria through Maiduguri in the 11th century by itinerant Arab preachers and trans-Saharan merchants. Over the years, the city grew and became cosmopolitan. Since then, different ethnic and religious groups have lived peacefully side by side. Although Islam predominated in this part of Nigeria, a growing number of Christians also lived there. For many years, Maiduguri enjoyed the reputation of being a home of peace and hospitality.

However, from 2006 onwards, this lived peace was repeatedly threatened until Maiduguri became the epicentre of the Boko Haram Islamist insurgency in 2009, leading to a deep conflict that spread to the north-east and other parts of the country. Despite the help of a wide range of NGOs, the terrible violence of Boko Haram has existed for 10 years in July 2019, leaving many traces of an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe and a region completely destroyed by violence and terror. The people of Maiduguri, the northern Boko Haram flashpoint, live in fear and mistrust on a daily basis and face the dilemmas of bitterness or healing and hatred or reconciliation.

In addition to his role as a Special Adviser on Religious Affairs (Christian Matters), Rev. Dr. Toma Ragnjiya founded an NGO, the SUSTAINABLE PEACE AND RECONCILIATION SUPPORT INITIATIVE (SPARSI), which is dedicated to grassroots peacebuilding and inter-religious dialogue. Through a conflict impact assessment, Rev. Dr, Toma Ragjiya and his team of staff and volunteers at SPARSI identified a peacebuilding gap: the need to have a social space for inter-religious engagements and a platform, where Muslims and Christians in Maiduguri can come together, develop mutual understanding and work for peaceful coexistence. The proposed project is designed in response to this need. It is intended to facilitate the convergence of leaders and ordinary people from diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds to engaged in shared learning and promoting mutual understanding and accommodation.

CENSODEV is based in Navrongo, a small town in the Upper East Province in the north of Ghana, and through its cooperation with S.H.A.R.E. aims to help overcome poverty and social disadvantage in this region. Through its long-standing commitment and intensive advisory work, CENSODEV has many contacts to vocational training centres, training companies, small enterprises as well as producing groups and cooperations (mostly women) in the urban and village environment of the region. Both partners are firmly convinced that a sustainable improvement of the situation can only be achieved if the development focus in an industrially weak region with few jobs is specifically placed on the promotion of small and medium sized enterprises. This is the only way to establish small and medium-sized structures, which are indispensable for social growth in the long term.

Social Entrepreneurship HuB (SE-HUB) is a non-profit organisation based on the idea of enabling potential entrepreneurs in Ghana’s formal and informal sectors to be internationally competitive.

SE-HUB works in the following core areas:

1. Social Innovation Workshops
2. Know-how exchange and Empowerment
3. Counselling and Mentoring

SE-HUB advises potential entrepreneurs on how to start and run a business in high-risk markets. Individuals and/or cooperatives learn how to use available resources in a sustainable way. Participants are introduced to principles of social/sustainable entrepreneurship. To this end, the SE-HUB develops interactive training and advisory packages and accompanies SMEs (Small and Medium Sized Enterprises) with the help of its own cooperation partners through mentoring initiatives carried out by local and international experts. In addition, the SE-HUB is expanding its network in the direction of know-how exchange and is cooperating closely with science/universities. In concrete terms, students work together with entrepreneurs from the informal sector to create a successful win-win situation in the course of a theory/practice transfer.

Opportunity International Germany is a non-profit-organization that is active in international micro-financing on grass-roots level and belongs to the global Opportunity Network. The foundations aim is to give Micro-credit to poor people who are entrepreneurially able. At the same time, they educate credit holders on topics like business leadership and health. The Micro-credits are paid back with interest (Payback rate: 97%) and then re-loaned (Multiplier effect).

Over 83% of the credit holders are women and the foundational values of Opportunity International are: Dedication for the poor, modesty, respect and integrity. A further foundational value is “Transformation” which means the overall goal to support credit holders, their families and communities enabling them an independently and holistically transformation of their lives. At that moment the beneficiary has reached a level of income that gives him the possibility to live a life in decent conditions that can create a better future for their children and communities, Opportunitys mission was succesfull.

FUTURE FASHION is the new movement for sustainable textiles and conscious consumerism in Baden-Württemberg.

Slow fashion is increasingly conquering the mainstream, with numerous eco and fair fashion labels gaining a steadily growing following. Social and ecological grievances in the value chain, including scandalous disasters in textile production facilities worldwide, are alarming. They shake up manufacturers and consumers to bring about a change in production and consumption. The spiral of the sustainable textile sector starts with the extraction of raw materials, continues with conscious consumption and the long-lasting use of the goods and ends with their recycling.

Future Fashion takes responsibility for sustainable textile consumption and thus contributes to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

WEAR MORE THAN JUST CLOTHES!

The SEZ looks back on almost 30 years of foundation history. Its mission is to sensitise the people of Baden-Württemberg to act in a globally responsible manner. It also wants to show how everyone can do something for a fairer world. The foundation’s team promotes and networks private, municipal and regional initiatives to improve and deepen development cooperation with the countries of the global South. In doing so, it strengthens the awareness of citizens in Baden-Württemberg for the necessity of development cooperation.

The mission of the SEZ is to provide platforms for exchange and discussion. In this way, people with different backgrounds, perspectives and opinions can work together to find solutions that will make our world more sustainable and just. In doing so, SEZ is concerned with encounters at eye level. It is about relationships between people and long-term partnerships in which both sides can take the perspective of the other and learn from each other. The multifaceted encounters between people should always be characterised by interculturally sensitive interaction, respectful interaction and mutual respect, honesty and transparency. The SEZ‘s understanding of partnership does not exclude anyone, but sees diversity as an opportunity.

(Source: Homepage of the Foundation for Development Cooperation Baden-Württemberg)

The Ministry of State is the authority of the Prime Minister. It plans state policy and advises the head of government on the coordination of the various state ministries. In addition to the Minister President, the State Councillor for Civil Society and Citizen Participation, a State Minister and a State Secretary as Head of the State Chancellery work in the Ministry of State.

Taking responsibility
The development policy guidelines for Baden-Württemberg state: “Taking responsibility for development is an essential element of a state policy oriented towards sustainability. A development policy that combines ecological, social and economic sustainability with cultural self-determination, a culture of non-violent conflict and democratic participation is an investment in the future that benefits the people of Baden-Württemberg as well as our partners around the world.”

In accordance with the guidelines, development policy in Baden-Württemberg is above all also a challenge for the classic core areas of state policy – for example in education policy through the anchoring of global learning in the educational curricula of schools, in the curricula and research priorities of universities, or in economic policy in the areas of public procurement, economic promotion or fair trade.

To promote grassroots civil society projects, the state government provides annual funding for projects by Baden-Württemberg initiatives at home and abroad. These funds are awarded by an independent panel of experts through the Stiftung Entwicklungs-Zusammenarbeit Baden-Württemberg (SEZ) as part of the bwirkt! funding line.

(Source: Ministry of State, Baden-Württemberg)