BENN (Berlin Entwickelt Neue Nachbarschaften/Berlin Develops new neighborhoods) is a program initiated in 2017 by the Berlin Senate Department for Urban Development and Housing. It was created in response to the arrival of many people fleeing to Berlin since 2015, with the goal of establishing social cohesion and integration within districts. The program has evolved through different phases; the first phase ran from 2018 to 2021, followed by a second phase starting in 2022. The number of neighborhoods has also changed over time, starting with three BENNs in three neighborhoods in 2017, expanding to 20 neighborhoods by 2019, and currently operating in 23 quarters across Berlin, and some locations may have been extended or relocated in the second phase.

The BENN program can indeed be considered a significant example of how the public sector and civil society collaborate. It started actively by public sector that supports and helps to organize civil society and paves the ground for civil society activities ranges from the most individuals, grassroots efforts to large, institutional organizations – all playing a role in building social cohesion and democracy.

BENN’s main objective is that neighbors and refugees get to know each other, support each other, and jointly shape their district. Its approach is structured around four general goals: fostering encounter, promoting empowerment and participation, activating voluntary engagement, and strengthening networking for neighborhood development. Implementation is carried out by local BENN teams, which are contracted organizations (Träger), not considered civil society actors themselves, but rather supporters and moderators for local civil society. BENN teams work from local offices and are guided by steering rounds involving the Senate Administration, the respective District, and the local BENN team. They develop action plans (Handlungskonzepte) and actively support local initiatives by providing space, organizational help, and sometimes funding. Activities include communal cooking, language cafés, gardening, and neighborhood forums. Despite its successes, the BENN program faces several challenges. These include limited cooperation from some public departments, bureaucratic delays, and a small, often short-term project budget. Sustaining volunteer-based initiatives is difficult, as is reaching marginalized groups. The broader political climate, such as misinformation and opposition, adds pressure.