The Business Council for Democracy is a cross-sector platform that brings together companies and employers committed to taking responsibility for our democracy. 

Solution

In partnership with the Gemeinnützige Hertie Stiftung (GHST) and the Robert Bosch Stiftung (RBSG), ISD launched the BC4D as an alliance between business and civil society to involve employers more directly in strengthening democracy. The BC4D offers an eight-part training programme on Digital Citizenship, conducted during working hours for employees of participating organisations. The workshops focus on hate speech, disinformation and conspiracy narratives. The goal is to empower participants to act responsibly online, recognise manipulation and protect themselves and others from digital threats. An additional in-depth Digital Resilience Capacity Building Module is designed to equip multipliers with targeted knowledge and skills to establish long-term organisational structures that embed these topics institutionally. 

The BC4D provides a strong foundation for promoting democratic values while building an expanding network of employers committed to fostering democratic responsibility and civic engagement within their organisations. It also addresses the growing challenges of mainstreaming extremism by supporting employers enhance digital resilience and cultivate a sustainable culture for its prevention. By joining the BC4D network, employers contribute to a corporate culture that prioritises democratic values and human rights, strengthens digital debate culture and encourages digital citizenship for the wider societal good.  

Method

ISD’s Digital Citizenship initiatives are firmly rooted in shared democratic values and human rights principles, while maintaining an independent and inclusive approach. Within this philosophy, the BC4D is the first nationwide programme in Germany to offer adult education on digital civic culture, regardless of educational background. The training sessions are interactive and dialogue-oriented, combining theoretical knowledge with practical reflection.  

The methodology for the trainings is grounded in UNESCO’s Competency Framework for Digital Citizenship Education (CDEC), designed to strengthen participants’ digital literacy, critical thinking, empathy, civic engagement and social responsibility, as well as their overall capacity to participate safely, ethically and effectively in digital environments. 

Impact

The programme has been successfully implemented at multinational companies, financial institutions, public sector organisations and foundations in Germany. Organisations include Airbus, Barclays, BASF, Bayer, BMW Group, BNP Paribas, Bosch, Commerzbank, Daimler, Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Bank, DHL, EY, Lufthansa, Mercedes-Benz Group, Nokia, PwC, Roland Berger, Siemens-related industry partners, Telekom, TÜV Rheinland, VW, Zalando, as well as major public institutions such as the Charité and the Robert Koch Institute. 

Since its launch, the BC4D has reached more than 4,500 participants across 229 employers (until December 2025), with nearly 75% of all participants completing the full training cycle and receiving certification. Over the course of 14 seasons, the BC4D has delivered 198 training series, steadily expanding its reach and impact. A one-year independent mixed-methods evaluation, conducted in cooperation with the University of Cologne confirmed the impact of the programme, showing that participants feel demonstrably strengthened in dealing with hate speech, disinformation and conspiracy narratives after completing the classes.

These evaluation results, along with the growing demand for trainings in the private and public sector, point to the relevance of and need for workplace-based civic education in Germany – an area where initiatives like the BC4D play a key role.