The Heinrich Boell Foundation's most important areas of activity are its projects in developmental co-operation and international policy. We currently support about 130 projects in 60 countries on four continents.

Africa

At the outset of the 21st century, the continent of Africa does not present a consistent picture. For pessimists, Africa continues to be a "lost continent" – this point of view seems justified given the negative headlines about persistent wars and conflicts, continuing rampant poverty, and the virtually uncontrolled spread of the AIDS epidemic. In contrast, optimists point to positive developments which, at least in some countries, provide cause for hope that the people’s living situation has improved on a long-term basis. For example, several countries have made significant progress in respecting human rights; free elections have led to the abdication of corrupt elites; and new approaches to overcoming the economic crisis are beginning to show results.

The work of the hbf in Africa is concentrated on the regions of Southern Africa, East/Horn of Africa, and Nigeria. Activities focus primarily on the promotion of participation by civil society in political decision-making processes.

Civil society plays a particularly important role in the African democracy movement. Since the 1980s, civil-society groups have usually been the ones to criticise corrupt governments and demand political and economic reforms, thus ushering in the beginning of a wave of democratisation in Africa. In today’s reform states of Africa, human rights groups, churches, trade unions, journalists’ associations, women’s rights organisations, etc. function as important corrective elements for governments, for example in the debates over constitutional reforms (e.g., Kenya, Nigeria). Without a vibrant civil society which enables citizen participation in the political process, consolidation of the still unstable democracies of Africa will be virtually impossible.

With its activities in Africa, the hbf strives to strengthen the still-fragile democratic transition processes in Africa and promote processes of peace and reconciliation, always dependent upon the different conditions and problem areas in the region. Its goals are to strengthen civil society in its capacity to engage in a critical assessment of government policy, and enable the participation of citizens in important political reform endeavours, thus making a contribution toward solving urgent social problems.

Near and Middle East

Hardly a day goes by without the Middle East appearing in the news. What makes this region become a focal point of attention?

On the one hand it's the still unsolved israeli-arab conflict with the israeli-palestinian conflict at its centre.

On the other hand global balances have been shaken after the events of september 11. Measures to fight terrorism have had a negative impact on the relationship between developed countries and countries in the region. The relationship within the arab world has been affected as well, while the fight against terrorism is widely understood as an infringement of souvernty in the region.

At the same time the ruling elites are not willing to give way to reforms and democracy. Therefore the situation in many of the countries of the region is shaped by repression and lack of freedom concerning civil and political liberties. Progressive forces find themselves as a tiny minority compared to the overwhelming radical forces with their often enough religious backing.

A major problem is the lacking respect for womens rights. Another obstacle to development and reform is the miserable state of the education systems and little access to information as a result. The economic sector hardly faces competition, what makes innovation and economic development neglible. The high amount of unemployment has caused the impoverishment of large parts of the population.

The Heinrich Boell Foundation tries to react with Flexibility to the complex challenges faced in the region and at the same time promotes long term relatioships with political partners in the region.  

Asia

The development policies in Asia aim at ecological sustainability and social justice, the promotion of human rights and an overall cultural dialogue.

Legal and social discrimination of women is a sad reality still in most Asian countries dispite their different political situation. Therefore work in Asia has a clear focus on gender issues.

The Heinrich Boell Foundation supports the green movement in Asia. This includes capacity building within environmental NGOs, research on sustainability, alternative concepts of energy policies and environmental management.

In traditional Asian societies, religion and culture are usually intertwined. In terms of mindeset and values they differ remarkably from western societies. Principles of active tolerance and non-violence are deeply rooted at least in the southern parts of Asia. At the same time, universal human rights are often being rejected on cultural terms.
Sustainable development policies must therefore take these cultural differences into account and first of all try to understand them as equally valuable. The Heinrich Boell Foundation tries to foster dialogue and understanding between cultures while preserving cultural heritage.

Globalization and problems of greater scope make enlarged international cooperation necessary. The Heinrich Boell Foundation holds political consultations and tries to provide alternatives related to regional problems.

Europe

Work in Europe concentrates on the European integration as well as European neighborhood policies and transatlantic relations.
A particular focus is the promotion of sustainable development. Accordingly, it provides support to projects that work against the destruction of the global ecosystem and for the development of renewable energies.

The Foundation office in Brussels monitors the work of European institutions and maintains a continual exchange with the Green group in the European parliament. The most important issues of European policy of the past few years have included drafting the European constitution, enlargement toward the East and South, as well as the European elections of 2004.

The Foundation sees another of its important tasks as promoting political networks in Central and Eastern Europe. Its offices in Warsaw and Prague provide support to non-governmental organizations which focus on the environment, promotion of democracy, and women’s rights/gender democracy. They thereby make an important contribution toward the establishment of a democratic civil society in the new member states. Also, the Foundation fosters German-Czech and German-Polish dialogue with regard to issues of the past and the common future of Europe. The relationship to Europe’s “new neighbors” in the East, as well as in the South beyond the Mediterranean, are another major focus of the Foundation’s activities.

Since November 9, 1989 and September 11, 2001, Europe’s role in the world has changed dramatically. With its common foreign and security policy, as well as the European security strategy, it is attempting to do justice to its new place in the world. Also, the transatlantic relationship between the EU and the USA continues to develop into an equal – albeit not always harmonious – partnership. The new Eastern and Central European member states are participating in this discussion against the background of their own historical experiences and political interests. The Heinrich Böll Foundation continually offers forums for these debates. Perspectives from the target regions of European foreign policy, for example Russia and the societies of the Middle East, are included in these events and projects as well.

The European-U.S. relationship is currently in a phase of redefinition. Nonetheless, global problems may be solved only if the EU and the USA work together and, together with others, strive for solutions and agreements on a multilateral scale. The Heinrich Böll Foundation’s North America program thus concentrates primarily on transatlantic security dialogue, global environmental protection, and a critical discussion on economic globalization.

North America

In North America the Heinrich Boell Foundation's program areas are transatlantic relations, global security and foreign policy, environment and sustainable development, international trade and finance policy, transformation of national economies and societies and gender democracy.

For decades, the United States and Germany have been close partners and friends. The two countries share common cultural, political and economic values and goals as well as unprecedented mutual trade volumes. However, the relationship between the countries is not free from strains. The end of the Cold War changed the global power structure and at the same time brought about new challenges such as the threats from international terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and failed states. The US and Europe, although concurring on these threats, have not yet been able to come to a common approach in dealing with them.
The transatlantic dialogue on foreign and security policy issues is complemented by important discussions on topics such as the role of the International Criminal Court, clean energy and the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions, or how our national economies and societies – facing demographic shifts over the next decades - can be transformed in a sustainable manner.Through public conferences, workshops, talks and discussions as a platform for debate, the Washington Office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation brings together insiders, experts, scholars and government officials from both sides of the Atlantic.
Moreover, the Washington Office offers visitor programs for high-level policymakers and experts and frequently issues publications on transatlantic relations topics.

In the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, this transatlantic debate may become even more relevant as perceptions of and conclusions from the attacks are different on both sides of the Atlantic. For example, the perception and handling of multilateral institutions such as NATO, the OSCE, as well as the UN and the ICC is contrary in Europe and the USA.
The Heinrich Böll Foundation seeks to contribute to a transatlantic dialogue. Foundation representatives and Green party officials frequently visit the U.S., meet with policy makers and speak at conferences, universities and other public occasions. We offer a platform for discussion of various issues related to foreign and security politics and provide our own publications such as Julianne Smith's New Accents in Transatlantic Relations, as well as a series of contributions from outside. For essays and background information as well as a collection of statements and declarations on the events of September 11 and its aftermath, see our headquarters’ website.

Global environmental challenges and sustainable development are two overarching themes in both the transatlantic activities and within the North-South Dialogue Program. Achieving sustainability in all areas of life and protecting the global environment are being addressed in various ways in the Foundation's work; through seminars, workshops and conferences, educational visitor programs as well as through information materials in printed and electronic form.

Since our inception in 1998, we have been working on international structural policy issues with a focus on international development financing, the international financial system and global and increasingly regional trade regimes and patterns. We observe and report on the work of international organizations, primarily on those based in North America - the Bretton Woods Institutions (IMF and World Bank) and some multilateral development banks - and follow the work of the  World Trade Organization (WTO) and regional trade integration. In addition, we observed the International UN Conference on Financing for Development in March 2002 and continue to monitor its follow-up process.

Within the Heinrich Böll Foundation, gender democracy is a joint task, i.e. gender democracy is part of all our activities. There is no such thing as a textbook for gender democracy; instead it is a work-in-progress to change our organisation as well as society as a whole. Concepts for gender democracy have to be reworked and relived again and again, always depending on the concrete social and cultural environment.

Latin America

In Latin America, the Heinrich Boell Foundation tries to achieve sustainable environment policies increasingly via international activities. With projects of a larger scale, influence on civil societies and economies can be realized on the whole continent.

Women's self concience and conflict management qualities are being promoted mainly through educational measures. 

Decades of civil war have left space for democratization and civil participation. Still, most people have lost knowledge and ability to participate in political life. Work in Latin America therefore aims at enabling citicens to participate in their countries' affairs.

Free media are still rare in Latin America and hinder democratization. The promotion of independent publications, radios, etc. therefore make an important part of work.

Find more information about offices abroad and their projects here