Scientific monitoring of the model projects of the "Shaping Diversity" pillar of the BMBFSFJ's federal programme "Demokratie leben!"

The federal programme “Live Democracy!” (“Demokratie leben!”), funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ), supports innovative model projects run by associations and institutions that contribute to the empowerment of affected groups, the reduction of prejudice, and the strengthening of democratic culture. The programme responds to the fact that discrimination and exclusion hinder the equal participation of marginalized groups, while right-wing populist and extremist positions increasingly target immigration society as well as ethnic, cultural, and sexual diversity. The recognition that democracy and diversity must be learned underscores the importance of further developing preventive educational and civil society practices.

The Research Unit for Democracy Promotion and Democratic Practice supports and accompanies the organizations implementing the model projects within the “Shaping Diversity” pillar in the fields of racism, antisemitism, antigypsyism, anti-Muslim racism and Islamophobia, hostility toward LGBTQ+ people, as well as issues related to immigration society, diversity, and anti-discrimination. The research unit works in close cooperation and coordination with the German Youth Institute (DJI) and the Institute for Social Work and Social Pedagogy (ISS).

Drawing on current social science research, the research unit examines challenges related to specific and intersectional forms of discrimination — particularly within the context of a diverse immigration society — and formulates recommendations for policymakers and professional stakeholders regarding the further development of the federal programme. Its aim is to advance best-practice models in preventive educational and civil society work while enabling dialogical knowledge exchange between civil society, academia, and politics.

The accompanying research generates systematic knowledge about how model projects in the field of diversity and anti-discrimination operate, which challenges arise during implementation (particularly concerning intersectional perspectives), and which approaches can be transferred as good or best practices. This strengthens the empirical foundation for understanding mechanisms of impact, success factors, and support needs.

• Support and scientific monitoring of the model projects within the “Shaping Diversity” pillar.
• Analysis of challenges, success factors, and mechanisms of impact in practice.
• Further development and transfer of best-practice models in preventive educational work.
• Dialogical knowledge exchange and cooperation between practice, academia, and policymakers.
• Development of recommendations for the further advancement of the federal programme.

The accompanying research consolidates and systematizes challenges and support needs in project implementation, particularly regarding intersectional forms of discrimination and practical implementation conditions. Through cooperation with DJI and ISS, knowledge transfer and exchange formats between programme management, practice, and academia are strengthened.

The research provides a structured evidence base on good and best practices, support needs, and success factors in democracy promotion within the field of diversity and anti-discrimination. It contributes to making learning processes visible and to providing a sound professional basis for the further development of the programme.

• Strengthen the integration of intersectional perspectives and diversity competence within programme structures and funding practices.
• Expand structural support and qualification opportunities for project organizations (e.g. training programmes and peer learning).
• Ensure sustainable transfer and exchange structures between practice, academia, and policymakers.
• Design monitoring and documentation processes in ways that systematically identify and transfer good and best practices.