The Berlin Civil Society Center works for a stronger civil society and a better global governance.

Over the last decades the importance of civil society organisations has grown significantly:
  • From 1993 to 2003 alone the number of global civil society organisations has increased by 25%.

  • the income of civil society organisations has grown rapidly - over the last decade many global organisations have doubled or tripled their revenue.

  • the effectiveness of civil society organisations has increased - they have successfully lobbied for a ban on nuclear testing, a ban on land mines, a more responsive approach to building large dams, etc.

  • today it is difficult if not impossible to address transnational problems such as global warming, environmental degradation, corruption, international security, epidemics and disasters, technology, and global poverty without appropriate civil society involvement.

On the other hand in many cases neither the increased weight of civil society organisations nor their more eminent role in global governance are fully reflected yet in their own management and governance. Supporting civil society organisations in improving their own management and governance will enable them to credibly contribute to global governance, to attract more resources and to deliver more and better results on the issues they address.

Against this background the Center supports civil society organisations with:
  • devising successful strategies
  • pursuing good governance
  • securing transparency and accountability
  • developing and implementing better programmes
  • engaging in more effective advocacy
  • improving communication with stakeholders and the public at large
  • strengthening finance and administration.

The Center also supports efforts to strengthen civil society's role in advancing global governance and to develop governance approaches which include civil society as an equal partner to governments and business.

Starting from civil society's needs the Center will organise seminars and workshops and, together with the Humboldt-Viadrina School of Governance, post-graduate education with a specific civil society focus. It will engage in research focused on the practical needs of civil society organisations and provide advice and consultancy services.

The Center will act as a convenor for civil society organisations and thus facilitate practitioner dialogue and future cooperation. The Center will also facilitate the dialogue between civil society on one side and governments, international organisations and business on the other.

The Center hosts one of the largest civil society libraries and has excellent contacts to key universities and professional consultants. It is perfectly positioned to become a knowledge hub providing civil society with essential information on issues like governance, management, accountability and many others.

While most existing civil society centers look at civil society as the object of their academic interest the Berlin Civil Society Center takes a decidedly different approach: looking at civil society organisations as its customers and basing its programmes on their needs the Center aims at delivering concrete and measurable benefits to the organisations it serves. The Center is guided by the following principles:
Serving Civil Society
The Center serves civil society organisations who will play a key role in defining the Center's activities.
Delivering concrete benefits
The Center aims for concrete results which can be implemented in civil society organisations' work delivering increased effectiveness and/or sustainability.
Bringing together governments, civil society and business
The Center will convene key actors of all three sectors, facilitating communication, supporting cooperation and creating a basis for target focussed alliances.
Striving for excellence
The Center tries to achieve excellence in its own work but also supports other organisations and individuals who strive for excellence.
Transparency
The Center works in openness, facilitating constructive interaction between its stakeholders that enables learning, and a trustful relationship. The Center will adhere to the INGO Accountability Charter.
Independence
The Center will be independent from any business, university or other singular influence of any pressure group with regard to its activities, projects and management.

Civil society organisations are invited to become Members of the Berlin Civil Society Center. Membership will cost � 10,000 per year. Members of the Center

  • will have a say on the Center's programme
  • will be updated regularly on events at the Center
  • will have priority access to the Center's facilities, workshops and all activities
  • will receive a 20% discount on participation fees.

The Center is located next to the German Parliament in the center of Berlin. As the Center's focus is global, activities will not be limited to the Center's premises. Activities will rather take place at the most appropriate location given the specific topics, participants and stakeholders. The Center will have close relations with partners in civil society, business, politics, and academia world wide.

Peter Eigen, the founder of Transparency International and Chair of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and Burkhard Gnärig, a former Chief Executive officer of Terre des Hommes, Greenpeace and Save the Children are the founders of the Center. Within the next 12 to 18 months they will appoint the first Board of Trustees.

Major global civil society organisations like Oxfam, Amnesty international, Greenpeace, Save the Children, WWF, World Vision, Plan International, Terre Des Hommes, Action Aid and Civicus have confirmed that they will use and support the Center.