More power to the non-profits!
Over the past weeks, we have discussed the role of different government levels regarding urban policymaking. But what we have not looked at so far is how non-governmental actors impact urban life. As said in class today: “Solutions to urban policy challenges can come from both governments and civil society”. We might ask ourselves: How impactful can NGOs actually be? Are their voices being heard?
I would like to share some personal experiences. Between my undergrads and the Master of Public Policy at the Hertie School, I worked at the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt.
One of the foundation’s workstreams is the program R.I.S.E cities. When working at the R.I.S.E program, my interest in the cities of tomorrow began. The program was launched to advance global knowledge of resilient, intelligent, sustainable, and equitable cities by strengthening local ecosystems and fostering citizen participation to create a citizen-centered solution. Sounds great? Yes, it was. It was very powerful!
Working at the foundation inspired me every day. I believe it is very important to bring leaders from all over the world together; to give them space to be innovative, and thoughtful, to discuss, and to design. With the R.I.S.E cities platform, the program established a platform that engages urban stakeholders — politicians, bureaucrats, scientists, urbanists, architects, and civil society — to foster cross-sectional exchange and to develop urban policy solutions to the most pressing challenges.
Our society needs actors that think outside the box — at the risk of sounding offensive and with respect to all actors involved, but our politicians (and especially the German administration) do need some assistance. And this is ok: Because if you want to design and implement the best policy, you need different perspectives and expertise and that’s why it is so fantastic that non-profits like the BMW foundation contribute to the much-needed dialogue. They step in to fill gaps that are wide open.
During my time at the foundation, I also met incredible leaders. Check out this article about the Responsible Leader Elsa, who takes strong action into making Indian cities safer for women.
I also want to draw your attention to another great program of the BMW foundation (yes, there is a sense of advertisement here, I know, but it is worth reading): The RESPOND accelerator. It is an accelerator that started back in 2020 — the first one that promotes both responsible leadership and sustainable business models in line with the UN 2030 Agenda. Among others, the chosen start-ups show innovative approaches to the circular economy, development, and the use of sustainable materials. This year’s cohort includes start-ups like “strong by form” which produces an alternative to highly polluting structural materials such as steel and concrete on buildings. Another example is “Concular”, a start-up from last year’s cohort, that works towards a resource-efficient and carbon-neutral built environment by matching the supply of materials from deconstruction projects with the demand in new real estate projects.
Of course, the BMW foundation is just one example out of many. But I think it illustrates how NGOs impact cities. They are able to bring in another perspective and approach!
Also, check out these articles, if you are interested:
