Category: Categories

Development of Covid-19 recovery solutions at municipal level in the area of digitalisation

Posted on by erik

To support digitalisation capacity building in cities and municipalities, four intensive workshops were conducted with urban practitioners and relevant representatives throughout SEE. The workshop consisted of two parts: a learning activity, followed by collective work. These events took place online, using Miro and video conference tools, with 2-4 facilitators. 

Watch video at YouTube ansehen:

https://youtu.be/3D3F4iKCENY

More: Digitalisation: Developing your own ideas based on international practice – Insights into the work of the Digitisation Working Group in South Eastern Europe

Unturning the Stones – Exploring Climate Finance for Asian Cities

Posted on by erik

In the event 25 urban practitioners and experts from 6 countries exchanged on innovative and efficient financing approaches to build climate resilient and low-carbon cities. They were united by the fact that all of them are working at the forefront of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in their cities. The event was jointly organised by Connective Cities, TURBOCLIC (Transformation – Urban Opportunities – Climate Change), an initiative from GIZ’s sector networks TUEWAS (Transport Environment Energy and Water in Asia) and SNGA (Governance Asia).

Further information, presentations and impressions

First Response Mechanisms, Fake News and Crisis Communication

Posted on by erik

Working group of crisis management, consisting of urban practitioners from 14 municipalities across 9 countries: Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and Ukraine, commenced its work on 20th September 2021 with Kick-off meeting.

Considering that this initiative comes as part of Connective Cities COVID-19 Programme and its objective is to support cities’ resilience during and after COVID-19, working group had embarked on a journey of rigorous analysis and discussions on matters and issues most relevant to their realities, worsened due to pandemic.

Process of work for the group consisted of homework being prepared for each session, depicting various scenarios of crises, disasters, their solution schemes as well as plans that could have been internalized by institutions for future preparedness.

During the session’s topics of Disaster Risk Reduction, First Response Mechanisms, Fake News and Crisis Communication were featured as important structures and knowledge basis for participants to take into account in their everyday works.

As work in the sessions continued, group members had jointly worked on the list of challenges, they considered important, such as lack of resources invested in piloting of appropriate technologies, contingency plans or in support of most vulnerable groups or even establishments such as SMEs. After compiling a comprehensive catalogue of challenges, participants were asked to focus on coming up with initiatives that would come as interventions dealing with issues indexed before. Participants were later using S.M.A.R.T. scheme for assessment of initiatives and solutions they have come forward with.

As a consequence of this series of workshops on guided peer-to-peer exchange, involved urban practitioners gained, tremendous experience in coming up with action plans, they learned methods and outlets of effective crisis communications, while also gaining some theoretical practice in potential risk and loss assessment.

Sessions in Retrospect

Working Group has met on four occasions, allowing members to present their initiatives, projects and thoughts on establishing elaborate crisis response mechanisms in their respective municipalities.

Workshop I: identification of crisis management, resilience and Covid-19 response challenges

Workshop II: analysis and definition of the challenges based on experiences, knowledge transfer and international discussion

Workshop III Crisis Management Southeast Europe (SEE): Prioritisation and solutions scan

Workshop IV Crisis Management in Southeast Europe (SEE): Identification of cities’ future initiative

The Integrated Development Plan of Livingstone Municipal Council, Zambia

Posted on by erik

Prior to the introduction of the Integrated Development Plan in 2015, all departments of Livingstone Municipal Council had their own isolated planning process, resulting in a waste of resources. In 2015, an integrated planning approach was introduced for a 10-year period with broad participation of residents. Stan Mwanakayaya, Director of Urban Planning at Livingstone Municipal Council, describes the experience of the first five years in this podcast.

View podcast at YouTube:

https://youtu.be/EIWK5zV7FJc

More videos, interviews and podcasts

Call for participation: The post-COVID City – towards greener cities

Posted on by erik

Connective Cities and its partners invite you to the sixth Insight Session, which will be held under the title “The post-COVID City – bringing together urban practitioners to work towards greener cities” virtualy on 18 October, 10:00-11:30 CEST.

The Insight Session will address the question “The city after Corona? When urban planners, climate scientists and health experts work together, the result can only be green”. The session is part of the so-called Urban October. During the month of October, UN-Habitat and partner organisations organise activities and discussions on sustainable urbanisation. The Insight Session will focus on the challenges and lessons learned in designing cities to better resist the spread of disease and redesigning urban planning to adapt to the risks of health crises.

Further information:  Insight Session: The post-COVID City – bringing together urban practitioners to work towards greener cities | Connective Cities Network

Event Language: English

The Insight Session will be moderated by Franziska Loibl, Ute Maas and Tino Bosire. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us:

Franziska Loibl (franziska.loibl@giz.de)
Ute Maas (ute.maas@giz.de)
Tino Bosire (tino.bosire@giz.de)

Call for Participants – Covid-19 and municipal waste management

Posted on by erik

Connective Cities and its partners invite municipal practitioners to a two-day Covid-19 Response Dialogue on Covid-19 and municipal waste management to be held virtually on 9 and 11 November 2021.

The event brings together municipal experts from Germany with international urban practitioners to discuss municipal waste management during and after the pandemic.

Two main aspects of waste management and Covid-19 will be covered during the event:

  1. The importance of a more circular economy, including a more sustainable approach to (re-)use of resources, recycling and the creation of jobs and
  2. the adaptation of operation practices due to the pandemic and its experiences.

Both aspects can be better dealt with if gender-sensitive strategies are considered. Therefore, the exchange will give special attention to the gender perspective.

More information: Call for participants [pdf, 3 Seiten, 339 kb]

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us:

Thiago Garcia
thiago.garcia@engagement-global.de
Phone +49 (0)228-20717-2633

Alice Balbo
Alice.Balbo@staedtetag.de
Phone: 49 (0)221-3771-573

Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) Sanitation and Water Project for Ghana

Posted on by erik

The Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) Sanitation and Water Project was launched to increase access to improved and affordable sanitation and water services in the GAMA, including reducing the cost of a toilet from US$600 to about US$50. The GAMA project benefited more than 230,000 people in low-income communities, increasing household toilet coverage by 12%. Cholera and waterborne disease outbreaks have decreased thanks to improved environmental sanitation conditions, household sanitation facilities and 282 km of water pipelines.

Charlotte Akwaah Adjei, project manager of the project, describes (in English) the project’s approach and achievements in the podcast.

Listen to the podcast at YouTube: https://youtu.be/MRNfkALjmIw

More information: Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) Sanitation and Water Project for Ghana

Towards a gender-sensitive city – first group meetings

Posted on by erik

On 24 September, the launch event “Towards a gender-sensitive city” with about 45 participants from 8 countries laid the foundation for the formation of various working groups.

Professionals, including those who could not attend this event, are now cordially invited: Join the working groups and benefit from collegial advice, international good practices from Vienna, Barcelona and other cities, international consultation, work on your project idea/challenge and participate in at least 4 meetings with international peers. Starting on 30 September 2021 with workshops on the following topics:

Gender-sensitive urban planning and development, 16:00 – 17:00 Uhr MESZ

Urban approaches combating domestic violence, 16:00 – 17:00 Uhr MESZ

Gender responsive urban mobility, 17:30 – 18:00 Uhr MESZ

To the overview, further information and registration on the Connective Cites Community Platform.

More information, latest news and good practices on the topic: Gender sensitivity in the pandemic

A market crèche in Kenya – enhancing economic security and social life for mothers

Posted on by erik

In Tharaka-Nithi County,, which is east of Mount Kenya, women usually stop working for about six months when they have a baby. Women who trade in the market face problems as they lose customers, sometimes even their stalls are given to other people and they have to start from scratch. In the market of Chuka town, where 90 % of the approximately 3000 traders are women, the municipality has set up a crèche for these women. The care is free of charge for them. This is a good practice that can easily be transferred to other markets, provided the traders are involved in the design of the crèche from the beginning.

Watch video at YouTube: https://youtu.be/O9Y3KdzD9M4

More videos, interviews and podcasts

Building mental health resilience during times of COVID-19

Posted on by erik

Since the outbreak of the global pandemic, municipalities have faced a multitude of challenges. Following prolonged lockdowns, travel restrictions, financial losses and job cuts, mental health problems have been on the rise.

Municipalities have been key players in fighting the spread of the virus and in managing the overall situation. As a result of these complex responsibilities, mental health issues, including burn out, have been observed among municipal employees, social workers, teachers, and civil society activists. Citizens have also been psychologically affected by the pandemic and are in need of support.

Connective Cities cordially invites you to participate in the virtual Public Health Cluster kick-off on “Building Mental Health Resilience during times of COVID-19” on  29 September 2021, from 15:30 to 17:30 CEST (Berlin Time).

The event will cover the following issues:

  • What are municipal challenges in the field of mental health, and why is the topic relevant?
  • What are the recommended actions to promote mental health in municipalities, also considering limited financial resources?
  • What can municipalities do to mitigate the mental health impacts of the pandemic?
  • How can different target groups be reached, including those for whom mental health is considered taboo?

The event is aimed at international municipal actors from local governments, civil society, business and academia who wish to share their challenges and good practices in the field of public health.

The aim is to present municipal challenges and practical examples and to develop new solution approaches through a joint exchange. The kick-off event lays the foundation for the formation of working groups that will further develop these solutions through collective consultation and with the support of regional and international experts.

In order to learn more about your experiences and wishes for the workshop, we kindly ask you to fill out this short questionnaire (5-7 min): Survey Mental Health | Connective Cities Network (also available in Arabic, German & Spanish). The results will be presented anonymously during the event.

To register for the workshop and stay updated on the agenda, the announcement of speakers and further details of the session, please visit our Connective Cities Community.

Please also visit our COVID 19 topic pages. Here you will find more event information, videos, good practices and publications, including on public health.

We are looking forward to your participation!

Public Health Cluster kick-off “Building mental health resilient during times of COVID-19”

Date: 29 September 2021

Time: 15:30 – 17:30 CEST (Berlin time)

Event Language: English. Translation into German, Arabic and Spanish (tbc)

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Contact: Paulina.koschmieder@giz.de