An impulse for change
Every day, we are faced with urgent and interconnected challenges — from the rise of conservative and anti-rights movements targeting our diverse communities, to political aggression, shrinking civic space, and global budget cuts in international cooperation. Yet the most profound reckoning may be the one happening within: a growing recognition that the system we are part of often maintains the very inequalities we seek to address. International cooperation is in transition — in need of an impulse. Now is the time to act, to shift power, challenge power holders – even if it’s us –support the agency of local civil society and to re-imagine our roles in building international solidarity.
We are looking for ideas that help navigate today’s realities, re-imagine our roles, and build a more just and inclusive future for international solidarity. Are you working on an innovative approach, bold idea or inspiring collaboration that’s pushing boundaries?
Whether you are rethinking partnerships, creating space for unheard voices, or sparking systemic change — we want to hear from you.
We welcome submissions for:
• Workshops & sessions
• Creative or participatory formats
• Tools or methods
• Audio-visual/multi-sensory Installations or art-based interventions
• Demos, pitches, screenings or showcases
Read more below and submit your idea before 3 July 2025!
✨ Themes & Categories
Each submission should relate to at least one of the below categories below. Out-of-the box ideas are welcome:
- Inclusion & Leave No One Behind: Amplifying marginalised voices and designing inclusive processes that center equity and intersectionality.
- Climate Justice: Innovative responses to the climate crisis that address root causes, promote justice and foster community resilience.
- Decolonisation & Shifting Power: Rethinking partnerships and dismantling racism and colonial legacies in knowledge, funding, and decision-making.
- Narrative, communication and public support: Bolstering the power of narrative and communication to engage public support and counter strategies that challenge rights and civic freedom.
- Scaling and Impact: Approaches that demonstrate scalable solutions or methods to grow systemic impact, without losing inclusivity or integrity.
- System Change: Initiatives that challenge and transform our current underlying systems of international cooperation, promoting methods and approaches to bring about social transformation.
- Business & Social Enterprise: Public-private partnerships, Hybrid models, social businesses, or market-based solutions driving impact in ethical, sustainable ways.
- Innovation: Breakthrough ideas, technologies, and cross-sector collaborations that re-imagine how we work and connect.
📋 Terms & Conditions
- This call is open to all, with a focus on actors in international cooperation: NGOs, civil society, artists, youth-led movements, social enterprises and other pioneers.
- Proposals from Partos members and networks are prioritiszed.
- Ideas can be in the early stages or already implemented.
- Submissions may be featured during the festival or in related programming (e.g. pre-events, online spotlights).
- Contributing to the festival is free for Partos members, justice- oriented organisations, initiatives or movements; however, selected contributors are expected to cover their own travel unless otherwise discussed.
- Private businesses and for-profits can be asked to pay a contribution fee for participating in the programme. Selected iniatives will be approached by Partos.
- Selected initiatives will coordinate programme content with Partos, but will largely retain ownership of their work and will be credited accordingly.
- Partos could propose a collaboration between/merge of various selected proposals that share similarities.
📋Practical
• Location: De Doelen Rotterdam
• Space: Various spaces & set-ups are available – conference, panel, open spaces,workshop, stands.
• Program starts at 13.00 – 17.30
• Length of the sessions is 60 – 90 min
✅ Selection Process
• Submissions are reviewed by the Partos Innovation Hub.
• Selection will be based on: relevance to theme(s), creativity & innovation, inclusiveness, potential for learning or impact (engagement).
• Deadline for submission: 3 July 2025
• Selected contributors will be notified by 31 July 2025.
🚀 Submit Your Idea
Submit your idea now!