Call for Applications: Future Cities Go Glocal Initiative
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The Aspen Institute Germany is pleased to announce its Future Cities Go Glocal Initiative to address critical issues like climate change, energy security, migration, social justice, and inadequate infrastructure.
The aim is to promote exchange between city stakeholders from Berlin, New Delhi, Nairobi, and Mexico City in order to share best practices, create new networks, and develop policy recommendations for sustainable and inclusive urban development in the face of diverse challenges. The project aims to strengthen the role of cities as global actors in shaping the transition to a just and sustainable society and realizing the vision of fair and resilient cities while fostering a shared understanding of the future of urban environments. As part of this cohort, the following questions will be explored:
- How can cities promote social mobility?
- How can the individual sense of justice be strengthened?
- What responsibility do they have for integration, equal opportunities and shaping the digital transformation in an inclusive way?
- How can acceptance of diversity in society be increased so that the cohesion of everyone is promoted?
Program Outline and Benefits of Participation
- To explore these questions, the project will give participants the opportunity to engage with international peers and other leaders in the field and shape the intercontinental dialogue on future cities during in-person and virtual programming, to include:
- Interactive virtual meetings between October 2025 and April 2026 (approximately 12 meetings, 1-2 hours per meeting);
- One 3.5-day in-person meeting (not including travel time) in Berlin, Germany in February/March 2026;
- Collaboration on a joint publication of recommendations to be released in June 2026;
- A virtual closing conference.
- During the program, participants will learn more about urban practices and policies in each other’s cities, conduct site visits to see best practices and innovative solutions on the ground, and explore opportunities for intercontinental collaboration. Participants are expected to actively and consistently contribute to the development of concrete policy recommendations, which will be published and presented in a final closing event. Costs for participation (travel, accommodation, meals) will be covered by the project.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants for this exchange program must:
- Be city stakeholders in business, politics, city administration or planning, culture, arts, sports, media, architecture, academia, or other fields relevant to urban life;
- Live or work in New Delhi, Nairobi, Berlin, or Mexico City;
- Be able to participate in the development and publication of recommendations in the form of a report and a final event;
- Have expertise on city-related topics, social justice, social participation and/or digitalization;
- Have sufficient knowledge of English;
- Be interested in international exchange.
