Social Cohesion

The Social Cohesion program supports integrated urban development projects in Berlin. Eligible to apply are natural and legal persons, as well as public authorities, who are active in the funding areas designated by the Berlin Senate or who provide important supply functions to these areas. The goal is the holistic stabilization and development of areas with special social integration tasks.

Structural and socio-integrative measures for integrated urban development in Berlin are funded. Funding is provided through three neighborhood funds (Construction Fund, Project Fund, Action Fund) and covers various fields of action from integration to climate protection. Generally, only actual expenditures are eligible for funding, with specific regulations for lump sums.

Funding is generally provided as a grant, usually in the form of deficit financing. The amount of funding varies depending on the applicant: districts can receive up to 100 percent of the costs, while private applicants must contribute at least 10 percent of their own funds. No fixed project duration is specified; instead, a commitment period of 5 years applies, and at least 10 years for construction measures.

For eligibility, projects must align with the Integrated Action and Development Concept (IHEK) and receive approval from local citizen committees. Project implementation is only permitted after approval; exceptions are possible. Applying legal entities must register in the Transparency Database. Regulations regarding minimum wage, usage rights, and budget reservation also apply.

The application process is divided into a preliminary procedure, where a project sketch is submitted, and the actual formal application. Approval rests with the competent district office, which decides at its discretion and within the framework of available funds. External service providers assist in reviewing applications and statements of expenditure.

The legal basis of the Social Cohesion program is the Administrative Regulation on the Granting of Funding in the Social Cohesion Program (VV SoZus 2021). In addition, further state and, if applicable, federal or European legal provisions apply. The relevant documents are published in the Official Gazette for Berlin.