Future Forum for Rural Development

18th Future Forum for Rural Development 2025

For over 15 years, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) has used the Future Forum for Rural Development to provide a platform for stakeholders in rural development to exchange ideas, discuss issues, and share knowledge. The 18th Future Forum for Rural Development will be held on January 22 and 23, 2025, at the City Cube in Berlin, focusing on the theme "Participation, Democracy, and Cohesion in Rural Regions." Under the motto "Rural.Can.Diversity. Join in!", the event will explore how to strengthen participation formats, democratic structures, and social cohesion in rural areas (e.g., by promoting involvement in municipal structures and local participation processes). A special focus will be placed on the topics of women and youth in rural areas.

Rural Shapers: From Volunteering to City Hall

At the expert forum, EAF Chairwoman Kathrin Mahler Walther will begin by presenting 10 concise theses from research and practice on strengthening the representation of women in local politics and promoting their civic engagement as a springboard into political office. In the subsequent interactive session, participants will network to discuss these theses and contribute new ideas.

In a fishbowl discussion, Katarina Peranić (German Foundation for Engagement and Volunteering), Andreas Willisch (Neuland gewinnen e. V.), and other practitioners will delve deeper into perspectives on strengthening engagement and provide concrete recommendations for action.

The event is organized by EAF Berlin in collaboration with the German Foundation for Engagement and Volunteering (DSEE).

Further information:

• January 23, 2025
• 11:15 AM - 12:45 PM
• Room: A2

Please note: There will be no livestream for this expert forum. The session will feature a fishbowl discussion.

More about the Future Forum for Rural Development: https://www.zukunftsforum-laendliche-entwicklung.de/