South African organisation nni recognised by BMW and UN

A Cape Town-based organisation is receiving international recognition for its work in bringing people together to discuss some of society’s most difficult issues, including xenophobia, diversity and social inclusion.

The no-name initiative (nni) has been named one of 10 recipients of the 2026 Intercultural Innovation Hub (IIH), a global programme jointly established by the BMW Group and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), with support from Accenture.

The recognition was announced at a ceremony in Milan, Italy, on 3 November 2026. Nni was selected from more than 1 400 applications submitted from around the world, placing South African innovation among a group of international initiatives working to strengthen intercultural understanding.

nniChat uses digital conversations to address xenophobia

At the centre of the organisation’s recognition is its nniChat App project, titled Dialogues for an Inclusive Society: Youth on Xenophobia and Inclusion.

The digital platform aims to give young people a safe space to engage with sensitive social issues, share their experiences and listen to perspectives different from their own.

Focusing on participants between the ages of 16 and 35, the initiative uses dialogue to encourage mutual understanding and help communities explore solutions that promote inclusion and social cohesion.

Xenophobia remains an important issue in South Africa, where questions around belonging, identity and the treatment of foreign nationals continue to shape public conversations. Through nniChat, the organisation is exploring how technology can help facilitate constructive discussions rather than deepen divisions.

Picture: Supplied

The platform will receive further development through the international programme, with plans to refine the application, test its use and extend its reach through partner organisations and facilitators.

International support will help expand the initiative

Being selected for the Intercultural Innovation Hub brings more than international recognition.

Nni will receive access to funding of up to $20 000, alongside a 12-month capacity-building programme, professional mentorship and opportunities to connect with international networks.

Experts from the BMW Group, UNAOC and Accenture will support the organisation as it works to strengthen its approach and expand the project’s impact.

For a South African organisation working at the community level, this support creates an opportunity to take conversations that begin locally and introduce them to a wider international audience.

Founder and chairperson of the no-name initiative, Jonelle Naudé, highlighted the importance of listening to different lived experiences and recognising the role that dialogue can play in collective healing.

She said the organisation’s approach is rooted in the understanding that communities are interconnected and that meaningful change requires people to engage with one another, even when their experiences and perspectives differ.

A growing South African presence in the global programme

Nni’s selection also adds to South Africa’s presence in the Intercultural Innovation Hub.

In 2023, another South African organisation, Oasis Reach For Your Dreams, received recognition through the programme.

The BMW Group and UNAOC partnership was established in 2011 and celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2026 under the theme Connect. Empower. Elevate.

Since its launch, the initiative has supported more than 100 organisations worldwide, reaching over seven million people.

This year’s selected organisations come from Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America, with the 2026 cohort scheduled to begin its programme in November.

Building spaces for difficult conversations

Established in 2013, the Cape Town-based no-name initiative has spent more than a decade facilitating public dialogue around diversity, inequality and some of the most challenging issues facing society.

Its work focuses on creating spaces where people can engage with different experiences and perspectives as part of broader efforts towards healing and social transformation.

The recognition by the BMW Group and UNAOC brings international attention to that work, while offering the organisation resources to develop its digital approach further.

For South Africa, where social cohesion remains an ongoing conversation, initiatives such as nniChat highlight the potential of community-led dialogue and digital platforms to encourage greater understanding.

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**Picture: **Supplied

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