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abgeordnetenwatch

The web portal abgeordnetenwatch.de offers a direct link between citizens and their parliamentarians and candidates. The heart of the site is the forum “Citizens ask – politicians answer”. This public dialogue creates transparency and holds policymakers accountable for their statements and promises. Research on issues related to lobbying, party donations and the outside earnings of politicians represents another area of focus.

Why we supported abgeordnetenwatch

By offering the general public easy and direct access to information about politicians, the organisation creates increased transparency around political decision-making processes. In addition, abgeordnetenwatch’s research projects expose the one-sided economic influence of industry lobbyists.

  • Field: Social policy
  • Project: Policy transparency
  • Country: Germany
  • Funding period: 2013-2016
  • Funding amount: 85,000 Euro
  • Status: post grant

Bürgerbewegung Finanzwende

Founded in 2018, the Berlin-based organisation fights for radical financial reform with the aim of rolling back the influence of the finance industry and ending the practice of passing on its risks to citizens and consumers. Although many years have passed since the outbreak of the financial crisis, today’s international financial markets are still plagued with debt crises, fraud and tax evasion. In this sense, the financial crisis is still far from over. The sector’s priorities continue to shift away from social objectives towards short-term profit-making.
The financial sector could serve as an engine for important developments, like the ecological transition, instead of blocking them. A “Finanzwende” (“financial turnaround”) envisions a financial services industry that serves society – not the other way around.

Why we supported the Bürgerbewegung Finanzwende

Against better judgement, large amounts of money are still being invested in fossil energies. If investors’ current plans are implemented, the climate crisis will end in a climate catastrophe, because billions are being invested in companies whose business model is essentially based on the destruction of nature and the use of fossil fuels.

  • Field: Social policy
  • Project: Formation of an organization
  • Country: Germany
  • Funding period: 2019-2020
  • Funding amount: 100,000 Euro
  • Status: post grant

Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO)

CEO is a Brussels-based research and campaign group working to expose and critically examine the privileged access of companies and their lobbyists to EU lawmakers, which enables these groups to exert influence on policymaking. Corporate access to EU decisions leads to policies that exacerbate social injustice and accelerate the degradation of the global environment.

Why we support CEO

CEO also draws attention to the influence of corporate lobbying on the institutions of the EU in the areas of environment and agriculture. Research conducted by CEO has revealed to what extent corporations’ efforts to lobby EU decision-makers are aimed at influencing EU agricultural regulations in their favour.

We have been supporting CEO since 2015.

  • Field: Social policy
  • Project: Agrobusiness
  • Country: Belgium
  • Funding period: 2023-2024
  • Funding amount: 100,000 Euro
  • Status: Current grant

Intereuropean Human Aid Association (IHA)

Founded in 2015, the Munich-based organisation offers emergency and transitional aid for refugees across Europe. Working with a team of volunteers in close coordination with non-governmental organisations, the IHA provides protection and assistance to refugees in the camps forming along the EU’s outer borders

Why we supported the IHA

In the context of the acute European refugee crisis, the organisation made an important contribution towards the improvement and implementation of Europe’s humanitarian and human-rights standards.

  • Field: Social policy
  • Project: Refugee aid
  • Country: Germany
  • Funding period: 2016
  • Funding amount: 10,000 Euro
  • Status: post grant

Lobby Control

The organisation Lobby Control in Cologne and Berlin exposes the power structures and strategies of business influence “in the grey zones of politics” in Germany and the EU. It fights for transparency, democratic control and clear limits for the influence of lobbies on politics and public life.

Why we support Lobby Control

By exposing the one-sided influence of corporate lobbyists on political decision-making processes, Lobby Control seeks to give the general public the opportunity to have their voices heard. The organisation is also calling for transparency obligations for lobbyists.

We have been supporting Lobby Control since 2013.

  • Field: Social policy
  • Project: Strengthening democracy
  • Country: Germany
  • Funding period: 2024-2025
  • Funding amount: 120,000 Euro
  • Status: Current grant

netzwerk recherche

This Berlin-based association of journalists seeks to strengthen research journalism in media and raise awareness of its importance. One of its main goals is the improvement of educational and training programmes in the area of research. In line with this aim, the organisation develops concepts, organises conferences and awards research grants.

Why we support netzwerk recherche

The media plays a significant role in the dissemination of information about environmental problems and is an important influencing factor in the context of sociopolitical debates on environmental issues. netzwerk recherche and Olin gGmbH work together to award grants for research projects in the areas of environment and ecology. In order to qualify for a grant, the project must pursue new theories and questions in these areas and be of an investigative nature.

We have been supporting network recherche since 2015.

  • Field: Social policy
  • Project: Environmental scholarships
  • Country: Germany
  • Funding period: 2024
  • Funding amount: 35,000 Euro
  • Status: Current grant

Sea-Watch

The Berlin-based organisation Sea-Watch is dedicated to civil operations for rescuing refugees in distress at sea. Sea-Watch is responding to the current humanitarian disaster involving thousands of fatalities in the Mediterranean Sea by providing emergency aid. Its teams have already rescued thousands of people. At the same time, the organisation calls for and expedites rescue operations by the responsible European institutions and advocates for the establishment of safe and legal routes for refugees.

Why we support Sea-Watch

No one should have to die on Europe’s external borders while fleeing their homelands in pursuit of humane living conditions. We have a humanitarian obligation to act instead of standing idly by and watching as people in search of protection drown in the Mediterranean Sea.

  • Field: Social policy
  • Project: Sea rescue
  • Country: Germany
  • Funding period: 2018-2019
  • Funding amount: 30,000 Euro
  • Status: post grant

Sherpa

Their mission is, to protect and defend victims of economic crimes drawing on the power of the law. They fight against the new forms of impunity linked to globalization.

Why we support Sherpa

Sherpa pursues of a binding legal framework to make economic actors, and transnational companies in particular violating human rights and causing environmental damages, accountable for their impacts.

We have been supporting Sherpa since 2019.

  • Field: Social policy
  • Project: Corporate accountability
  • Country: France
  • Funding period: 2024-2025
  • Funding amount: 100,000 Euro
  • Status: Current grant

Stop CETA, TTIP Demo

In the autumn of 2016, shortly before decisions were to be made on the free trade agreements between the EU and United States (TTIP) and between the EU and Canada (CETA), a broad coalition of associations and organisations held demonstrations in several German cities.

Why we supported the Stop CETA, TTIP Demo 

These types of free trade agreements – which have also been, and are still being, negotiated with other countries – pose the concrete risk that stricter legislation and regulations for environmental and climate protection will be prevented or watered down.

  • Field: Social policy
  • Project: Stop CETA - Stop TTIP
  • Country: Germany
  • Funding period: 2016
  • Funding amount: 15,000 Euro
  • Status: post grant