Programme "Social Cohesion", Neighborhood Management

In each of the neighborhoods, a 'Neighborhood Management Team' has been implemented for the urban development of the area. These neighborhoods are focal areas of development for their boroughs. For each team, the borough appoints one co-ordinator responsible for the area, and the Ministry of Urban Development another. Thus, concerted action between different offices and administrations is made possible.

The members of the NM Teams have a local office in their area, to which boroughs or housing companies contribute by providing rent-free office space or covering the costs for office equipment, supplies, or additional expenses.

The offices are also available for activities of local residents and initiatives.

When choosing the members of a team, special knowledge and abilities in the following areas are highly valued:

• management, moderation, and networking
• job training, further education and labour market programs
• fundraising, forms of financing, filing of applications
• social competence, especially concerning young people, foreigners, initiatives, and projects
• small-scale trades and crafts advice

On local, borough, and federal state levels, constant co-ordination and decision-making with all persons concerned is taking place. This is a good deal of work which requires a lot of time, but is necessary for the project to be successful. Special management units have been implemented for this purpose.

Furthermore, an advisory board 'The Socially Integrative City', consisting of experts from various departments, is to be implemented. It's aim will be to broaden the approach of the program and to incorporate further participants from all socially relevant public and private areas.

Specific tasks of NM Teams are, amongst others:

• the activation of residents as well as tradesmen and craftsmen to participate in and contribute to the development process of their neighbourhood
• the networking of various pressure groups and participants, establishing co-operation between institutions, initiatives, enterprises, housing companies, et cetera
• assistance in the development of projects in the various edificial, social, cultural, and economic areas of activity.