Bundesbildungsministerin Karin Prien (CDU) announced a comprehensive overhaul of the controversial funding programme “Demokratie leben”. According to “Die Welt am Sonntag” the ministry will let support for more than 200 projects expire at the end of the year.
Prien explained that, despite strong motivation and active on‑the‑ground efforts, the programme’s objectives are either not achieved or not sustained, and the ratio of money spent to results is unsatisfactory. She argued that societal challenges are either absent or inadequately represented in the current scheme. “We want to keep what works, discontinue what does not, and rebuild what needs reform” she told the newspaper.
Key areas scheduled for discontinuation include the nationally‑oriented infrastructure projects-those of nationwide importance-and so‑called innovation projects, which were meant to test new approaches and attract additional target groups. Affected project hosts include the Amadeu Antonio Foundation, BUND (the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation), the HateAid Association, the media company Correctiv, the Central Council of Jews in Germany, and the Konrad‑Adenauer Foundation.
Prien’s plan shifts the focus to institutions that are already embedded in local communities. Instead of NGOs, political foundations, and organisations specifically created for democracy promotion, the ministry will emphasize schools-especially vocational schools-volunteer fire brigades, sports clubs, youth organisations such as the Landjugend, libraries, and other cultural groups.
A new priority will be the digital domain. With young people increasingly turning to the internet for political information-a trend that experts say can fuel radicalisation-the programme will now support initiatives that assess the impact of gaming, digital games, and chatbots. Digital prevention had not been a key component of the previous funding scheme.
In the past two funding periods, several institutes studied and evaluated the measures taken. Within the federal government, doubts persist about the reliability of these reports. Consequently, Prien wants a more independent scientific analysis. Future evaluations will no longer be conducted by organisations that receive funding from the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs.
“We will conduct an additional evaluation to complement the existing one. What matters is real impact-a deep effectiveness measurement. For us, measurable contributions to societal cohesion count” Prien declared. The ministry has so far declined to pursue the option of reclaiming funds from previously funded projects.