community development, participation, mobilisation, communication, social work 

project leader

Berlin Administration

city

Berlin

country

Germany

year

1999 - ongoing

kind of project

social action

kind of actor

public administration

area

quality of life

info

www.deinkiez.de

more info

City development in Berlin is characterised by an increasing polarization between “good” and “problematic” neighbourhoods. Due to high unemployment rates, a high percentage of foreign-born population, and problems with crime, the latter suffer under a bad reputation and are increasingly left by those who can afford to do so. In an attempt to prevent the creation of “hot spots”, the city of Berlin has launched the “area management programme”. Its aim is to mobilise endogen potentials of the neighbourhoods´ by improving the communication between different local stakeholders. One interesting and successful mobilization method has been the creation of “area funds”, which are administrated by councils elected by the local inhabitants.