Collaborations

HSF works with diverse partners across sectors to promote sustainable development through collaborative, multi-level engagement. Its cooperative approach extends from local grassroots initiatives in rural and urban areas to regional, national, and international projects - all interconnected and mutually reinforcing in advancing HSF’s mission.

The Foundation collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders, including individuals, NGOs, educational institutions, ministries, parliaments, and international organizations, reflecting its enduring commitment to democracy, peace, and development. Great importance is placed on political balance and mutual respect in all project work.

Team HSF Jerusalem maintains close collaborations with organizations in Israel, the Palestinian Territories, and worldwide.

On economic development

Sinsila Center - Sinsila works to improve Jerusalem’s urban environment through locally grounded and sustainable solutions. Since 2024, Sinsila and HSF have partnered to strengthen community well-being and promote sustainability through green urban spaces in East Jerusalem. In 2026, Sinsila launched a training program for Palestinian women from East Jerusalem that combines design thinking, carpentry, green roof technologies, solar energy, and entrepreneurial skills. The initiative aims to support future-oriented economic development and expand opportunities in entrepreneurial education.

Hasoub - Hasoub is an Arab-led non-profit organization that promotes entrepreneurship, innovation, and integration into Israel’s high-tech sector within Arab society. Through startup programs, training initiatives, and innovation hubs, Hasoub supports Arab students, entrepreneurs, and young professionals by strengthening technological skills, professional networks, and economic opportunities.

The partners in this thematic area are still being finalized; this list will be expanded as further collaborations are confirmed.

On social understanding and participation

0202 - 0202 – Points of View from Jerusalem works with Haredi Jews, Palestinians, and secular and religious Jewish communities across Jerusalem. The organization seeks to promote dialogue and strengthen social resilience by engaging with the city’s diverse communities. In recent years, HSF has supported the “Women of Jerusalem” program, which connects participants through media and communication tools. In 2026, HSF continues this partnership while also supporting the new “Torah Responsibility Program”, which engages Haredi rabbis and promotes constructive dialogue and civic responsibility.

Abraham Initiatives - The Abraham Initiatives and HSF collaborate to strengthen Jewish-Arab shared society through regional economic development and tourism cooperation in Nazareth and the Galilee. Their joint 2026 project, “Shared Tourism and Culture as Foundation for Shared Society”, combines tourism development, business networking, and municipal dialogue to promote sustainable growth and social cohesion. The project includes research on the impact of the war on local tourism, a tourism incubator for regional business owners, and conferences that bring together tourism professionals, municipal representatives, and local entrepreneurs to advance regional cooperation and shared development.

Shatil - NIF - Shatil, the capacity-building arm of NIF, promotes social change in Israel through a shared society based on justice, human and civil rights, and cultural pluralism. In 2025, Shatil launched the LEAD IMPACT program, which trained leaders from the Negev Bedouin community in media and communication skills to strengthen community representation and civic participation. In 2026, the initiative was expanded to include both Jewish and Bedouin communities in the Negev, supporting local organizations and grassroots initiatives in promoting civic engagement and cross-community cooperation.

Interfaith Encounter Association - The Interfaith Encounter Association promotes coexistence and peace, through joint community building on the grassroots level, using dialogue between Jews, Muslims and Christians in the Holy Land as its vehicle. HSF supports this inclusive work infrastructurally.

National Library of Israel - The National Library and HSF have collaborated in the field of social understanding. The Library owns the world's largest collections of Hebraica and Judaica.

On ecological development

Women of the Sun - Women of the Sun (WoS) is a Palestinian women-led organization based in Bethlehem that promotes women’s participation in peacebuilding, civic engagement, and community resilience. Together with HSF, WoS implements environmental awareness workshops in the West Bank that combine women’s empowerment, environmental education, and community dialogue to strengthen local resilience and civic engagement.

EUPOL COPPS - The EU Mission for the Support of Palestinian Police and Rule of Law (EUPOL COPPS) and the Foundation have collaborated since 2024. Both have jointly trained Palestinian officials in the field of wildlife and nature protection.

Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities - The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and HSF collaborated to integrate ecotourism into the planning of Local Governments located near nature reserves. 

Arab Tour Guides Union - The Arab Tour Guides Union is a syndicate that trains Palestinian tour guides and offers courses on ecotourism, including natural and cultural heritage. It cooperates with both the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and HSF.

Mahmiyat - Mahmiyat.ps was launched in 2016 and became the first and only web presence for Palestinian nature reserves and ecotourism trails until today.

Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature - The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature manages Jordan's protected areas, preserving biodiversity and supporting community growth, while also mobilizing public support for environmental conservation in Jordan and neighboring countries. HSF Jerusalem collaborates with the Society in the field of Palestinian expert trainings.

The partners in this thematic area are still being finalized; this list will be expanded as further collaborations are confirmed.

On political understanding

Tel Aviv University - HSF collaborates with the Dan Department of Communication at Tel Aviv University (TAU) to support the next generation of journalists. The partnership includes a highly selective, internationally oriented study trip to Europe, combining academic rigor with hands-on professional training and cross-cultural exchange. In previous years, HSF has also supported a German-Israeli TAU journalism exchange program. Selected joint video productions from these collaborations are available on YouTube.

East Jerusalem Philanthropy Forum - HSF is a member of the East Jerusalem Philanthropy Forum, a partnership of leading philanthropic organizations working to strengthen social impact and civil society development in East Jerusalem. The Forum brings together prominent members and promotes collaboration, learning, and strategic philanthropy.

Aktion Sühnezeichen Friedensdienste Israel - Together with the NGO Aktion Sühnezeichen Friedensdienste (Action Reconciliation Service for Peace), HSF supports Yom HaShoah commemorations in Israel. In 2026, they jointly hosted Holocaust survivor Saul Hochstein for a Zikaron BaSalon event at the HSF office in Jerusalem.

University of Notre Dame Tantur - The University of Notre Dame’s Tantur Campus in Jerusalem promotes engagement among Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities in the Holy Land. Together with HSF, the institute organizes the “Faith-Based Ethical Leadership Forum,” which brings together academics, religious leaders, policymakers, and civil society actors to discuss interfaith dialogue, ethical leadership, and peace-building in times of conflict.

Bavarian institutions - For years, the Foundation has collaborated with important Bavarian institutions in numerous fields, including the CSU Parliamentary Group in the Bavarian Parliament, the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection, the Bavarian State Ministry for Education and Culture, and the Commissioner of the Bavarian State Government for Jewish Life and Against Anti-Semitism. 

Deutscher Bundestag - The Bundestag is the German federal parliament. HSF Jerusalem is directly Bundestag-mandated and it proudly supports the parliament's official scholarship program. It is also in close exchange with German members of parliament.

Munich Security Conference - HSF Germany closely collaborates with the Munich Security Conference, the world's most important independent annual conference on international security policy.

The partners in this thematic area are still being finalized; this list will be expanded as further collaborations are confirmed.

Past collaborations (sel.)

In Israel

Israel Museum - The Israel Museum is the largest cultural institution in the State of Israel and is ranked among the world’s leading art and archaeology museums. The Ruth Youth Wing for Art Education fosters intercultural understanding between Palestinian and Jewish students.

Merchavim - Merchavim, the Institute for the Advancement of Shared Citizenship in Israel, is an Israeli nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting diversity, inclusion, and greater fairness in classrooms, communities, and society.

Citizens' Accord Forum - The non-partisan Citizens' Accord Forum was founded by former Israeli Minister of Social & Diaspora Affairs, Rabbi Michael Melchior. It aims to reduce extreme polarization and create a shared society for both Jewish and Arab citizens.

I'lam – I’lam - Arab Center for Media Freedom, Development and Research is a non-profit NGO based in Nazareth. The main goal of I’lam is to contribute to a shared society, by promoting media rights among minorities in Israel.

University of Haifa - The University of Haifa is home to students from all sectors of Israeli society. HSF partnered with the Hebrew Reali School in Haifa and the Ignaz-Taschner-Gymnasium in Dachau to establish bilateral teacher working groups, as per the recommendation of the joint German-Israeli Textbook Commission.

Tel-Hai College - Tel-Hai College is a leading public academic college in Israel and an engine of change for the educational, economic and social development of the Upper Galilee.

Hebrew University of Jerusalem - The European Forum at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and HSF work on Israel-German relations and their academic aspects. HSF has supported research, opinion polls and academic events on this topic.

In the West Bank

Palestine Society for Environment and Sustainable Development - The Palestine Society for Environment and Sustainable Development is dedicated to protecting endangered birds and wildlife and promoting community awareness of the social, environmental, and cultural significance of the region's flora and fauna.

Environment Quality Authority - With the Environment Quality Authority, which is the Palestinian Ministry of Environment, efforts were made to enhance the institutional and professional capabilities of Palestinian organizations and individuals, including the Environmental Police.

Environment Police - Since its establishment in 2019, HSF has supported capacity building programs of the Palestinian Environment Police through its project partners.

Municipal authorities - Via the Palestine Ecotourism Society several municipal authorities in the West Bank collaborate with HSF on ecotourism and sustainable development in rural areas.

International

Deutsche Journalistenschule - The Deutsche Journalistenschule (DJS) is one of the most renowned journalism schools in Germany. HSF Jerusalem has supported a DJS exchange program for journalism students from Germany and Israel in the past. You will find some of the joint video productions at the DJS YouTube channel.

European Leadership Network - The European Leadership Network brings together leaders to foster close relations between Europe and Israel. HSF Jerusalem has collaborated with the Network on the "Germany-Israel Strategic Forum" in 2020 and on an European Summit in 2021.

H₂Optimize Hackathon - The regional H₂Optimize Hackathon is part of HSF's regional effort to empower youth to address one of the most urgent climate challenges in the Middle East and North Africa: reducing water waste in irrigated agriculture through low-cost smart solutions. It took place online from 19-20 July 2025. 

Partner videos

Highlighting the East Jerusalem Cohort 2025. This video by 0202 – Points of View from Jerusalem captures the 3-month Media and Leadership Program empowering the Women of Jerusalem.

Jerusalem - growing green. Video of the Sinsila Center from 2025.

Urban sustainability in East Jerusalem. Video of the Sinsila Center from 2024.

The Women of Jerusalem: graduation ceremony of the Haredi (strictly Orthodox Jewish) women cohort 2024. Partner video of 0202 – Points of View from Jerusalem.

THIS is the Israel Museum! Partner video by the Israel Museum from 2022.

Points of View from Jerusalem. Partner video by 0202 from 2017. For an English version see 0202 - Who We Are. 

Fly bird, fly! Freeing a rescued white stork: this video of Mahmiyat's ornithologist Saed Shomaly has gone viral on Facebook. For the full version see here.

Humans of the Abraham Initiatives. Partner video by the Initiatives from 2019.

On the Common Swift bird in Bethlehem. Partner video by Mahmiyat from 2021.

How do we remember? Joint video project with Deutsche Journalistenschule and Tel Aviv University from 2022. You will find more joint videos here.

Video of the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature of Jordan from 2023 about managing protected areas and promoting ecotourism. HSF Jerusalem collaborates with the Society on training decision makers and practicioners from the West Bank.

The Women of Jerusalem: graduation ceremony of the East Jerusalem women cohort 2024. Partner video of 0202 – Points of View from Jerusalem.

The Story of the Jewish Diaspora in Europe. Popular video by the National Library from 2018. The Library and HSF collaborate in the field of Jewish-Arab understanding.

The Free State of Bavaria: tradition-conscious, modern and cosmopolitan. Image film (in German) of the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy from 2017. Since years, HSF Jerusalem has collaborated with several Bavarian ministries in numerous fields.

Factsheets

You may find the official factsheets (all from 2022)

• Building a Shared Society from the Municipal Level, 
• Mainstreaming Nature Conservation in the Palestinian Territories, and 
• Fostering German-Israeli Bilateral Relations for Future Generations

on HSF Jerusalem's collaborations online.

Interested?

If your organization wants to collaborate with HSF on one of its focus areas, please first check "How can my organization become a partner of HSF Jerusalem?" on the FAQ page and then contact the HSF Management Team at jerusalem(at)hss.de with a specific project proposal. 

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