The Heinrich Böll Foundation, based in Berlin, is an international independent organisation affiliated to the German Green Party (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen). It develops and promotes issues of contemporary political ecology, such as sustainable development, democracy, human rights, participatory processes and gender equality. Its broader objectives are political education of individuals and communities, international understanding and the socio-ecological transformation of the economy. To this end, it works –often through networks– to strengthen ideas, policies and strategies and to disseminate good practices from around the globe.
The Heinrich Böll Foundation in Greece
The Heinrich Böll Foundation’s office in Greece has been operating in Thessaloniki since June 2012. Through a wide range of activities - educational programmes, studies, research, conferences and debates, publications, support to civil society organisations - it attempts to demonstrate alternatives and highlight policies that lead to the transformation of the Greek economy and society towards a model of just development, gender democracy, and climate and social resilience. The fields in which it is active are the following:
Ecology
The Heinrich Böll Foundation stands for a democratic energy transition and the enhancement of climate resilience both for individuals and their communities but also with regards to infrastructure, public space and public policies. We aim to raise awareness among producers and consumers on issues such as reduction of plastic pollution, circular economy, sustainable mobility for all and agro-ecology. We seek to bring together the voices of all relevant stakeholders, to support open dialogue with the authorities and to facilitate knowledge sharing and citizen participation in policy making with the ultimate aim of promoting environmental justice and mitigating the climate crisis.
Democracy
The Democracy Programme of the Heinrich Böll Foundation tries to strengthen the involvement of citizens in democratic procedures, through the implementation of participatory processes at the local level and by using various tools, but also by conducting surveys and workshops, conferences and other events on issues linked with the wider Rule of Law thematic. At the same time, it supports evidence-based advocacy actions by civil society stakeholders with a view to achieving systemic change. By promoting dialogue, cooperation and participation, it hopes to promote and further strengthen democratic values.
Social Solidarity Economy (SSE)
The aim of this programme is twofold. On the one hand, it aims at empowering initiatives and especially networks of the broader Social Solidarity Economy ecosystem. On the other hand, it seeks to foster the co-creation of new and transformative narratives and cases around the issues i.a. of work, care, technology and space.
Migration
Through its regional European Migration Policy Programme encompassing Turkey, Greece and the Western Balkans, the Heinrich Böll Foundation Office Thessaloniki monitors the developments on the ground and advocates for human rights-based migration policies throughout Europe and its Mediterranean neighbors. In times of growing pressure against people on the move and solidary civil society, we insist on building the resilience of all relevant stakeholders through networking opportunities and the creation of cross-border synergies, as well as by strengthening their voices within EU decision-making procedures.
Foreign & Security Policy
The Foreign and Security Policy Programme contributes to the development of convincing alternatives to the dominant but deadlocked approach of realism in international practice, focusing on the narratives of feminist and green foreign policy through data collection and analysis guided by diplomatic practice, critical theory and international relations theory.
Our office in Greece is in the city of Thessaloniki, located at 3 Aristotelous Street and Tsimiski, on the 3rd and 5th floor. Our e-mail is info@gr.boell.org and our phone number is 2310-282829.