Intermunicipal Cooperations (Funding Guideline IKZ NRW)
NRW supports new exemplary inter-municipal cooperation projects with a 90% grant. Applications can be submitted continuously until the end of 2026.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The state of North Rhine-Westphalia supports new and exemplary projects of inter-municipal cooperation in order to strengthen local self-government, reduce costs, and secure the municipalities' capacity for action in the long term.
Eligible expenses
- Personnel expenses
- Material costs
- Third-party services
- Project preparation and implementation
- Shared Service Center infrastructure
Non-eligible expenses
- Retroactive costs
- Debt settlement
Eligible to apply
- Public Institutions
Funding requirements
- The grant recipient must be a municipality in North Rhine-Westphalia or an association of municipalities under public law
- The cooperation project must represent a first-time, permanent (at least 5 years) collaboration
- Significant contributions to task fulfillment must be present
- Proof of resolutions from the participating councils
- Efficiency gain of at least 15% savings or substantial benefit gain
Documents required for application
- Application form (Annex 1)
- Project description
- Financing plan
- Committee resolutions
- Proof of efficiency gain or added value
Evaluation criteria
- Innovative content of the project
- Sustainability and efficiency aspects
- Role model function for other municipalities
- Scope and quality of cooperation
Description
The funding supports municipal authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia in the implementation of new and exemplary cooperation projects focusing on infrastructure, digitalization, business financing, and consulting. Applications can be submitted continuously until 31.12.2026, with approval granted by the respective district government. Under the guidelines, the state covers 90% of eligible expenses, such as personnel costs, material expenses, third-party services, and shared service center infrastructure. For cooperation projects involving two participating local authorities, the funding amount is €175,000; from the third partner onward, grants increase by €35,000 each. A duration of up to 60 months provides planning security. Only new cooperations with a minimum long-term duration of five years and a demonstrable efficiency gain of at least 15% are funded. Resolutions of the local councils serve as proof of political legitimacy.
The measure aims to sustainably strengthen municipal self-administration and permanently reduce costs. Eligible applicants are district-affiliated and district-free cities, municipalities, municipal associations, as well as publicly and privately managed companies based in NRW. Evaluation criteria include, among others, the degree of innovation, sustainability aspects, and the exemplary function for further cooperations. To apply, a project description, financing plan, application form, and evidence of committee resolutions and efficiency gains must be submitted. The initiative supports a broad spectrum of municipal action fields, from shared service centers and inter-municipal procurement and purchasing processes to digitized administrative procedures, thereby making an important contribution to the modernization and performance of municipal administrations in North Rhine-Westphalia.
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