federführenden

Federführenden is an attributive inflected form of the German adjective federführend, meaning leading or in charge. It is used to describe a person, group, or body that bears the primary responsibility for driving a project, policy, or initiative. Common expressions include die federführende Partei, das federführende Ministerium, or die federführenden Behörden, which designate the entity that coordinates work and sets the agenda.

In use, federführend signals a leadership and coordination role rather than mere participation. It is frequently employed in politics and public administration, but also in project management and collaborative endeavors. A federführender Akteur or federführende Behörde is expected to initiate activities, align other participants, and assume overarching responsibility for results, while other actors may contribute as partners.

Etymologically, federführend combines Feder (feather) and führen (to lead), forming a metaphorical image of taking the lead or providing the primary direction in a joint effort. The noun Federführung is related, referring to the act or responsibility of leading.

Notes on usage: the form federführenden appears in plural nouns or in certain grammatical cases (for example, die federführenden Parteien, den federführenden Behörden). The term emphasizes leadership and accountability in a coordinated action, and it is commonly contrasted with terms indicating shared or supporting roles, such as mitwirkend or koordiniert.

See also: Federführung, Lead agency, Lead partner, Führungsrolle, Leitende Behörde.