Dr. Reiner Aster: Local Alliances for Economic Development and Labour in Berlin

The Berlin Alliances, as local groupings, have been created to implement the local dimension of the European Employment Strategy and to deal with local challenges in economic development and employment. The partnership approach evolved from the „Territorial Employment Pact“ (TEP) Initiative of the European Union in the late 90ties.

In 2019, the local alliances have been existing for 20 years in all Berlin districts. They have produced a huge number of local approaches and projects to improve the social participation and employability of the long-term unemployed and to strengthen the local economy.

The alliances themselves can be considered a social innovation in a local ecosystem because the partnership provides local and innovative solutions for economic and employment challenges.

Read MetropolisNet director Dr. Reiner Aster’s full workshop summary on creating local ecosystems for social innovation, at the 2019 OECD Local Development Forum in Antwerp.