From 14 to 16 September 2026, the 19th Federal Congress on National Urban Development Policy will take place in Cologne. The theme is “Act together, act faster, think further: shaping cities for everyone”. This event will bring together stakeholders from local governments, politics, public administration, academia and civil society to discuss innovative approaches to sustainable, resilient and forward-looking urban development.
For the first time this year, Connective Cities will have a stand at the event run by the Service Agency Communities in One World (SKEW). The congress offers an excellent opportunity to raise the profile of the international city network and its services for facilitating professional exchanges between local authorities. We will be focusing on discussions with local authority experts from the fields of urban development, mobility, climate adaptation and sustainable transformation.
At the SKEW stand, we particularly want to show experts what Connective Cities has to offer and discuss potential opportunities for participation and cooperation. We will also present selected examples of good practice from the relevant specialist areas, as well as the Connective Cities Media Centre as a knowledge platform. We warmly invite network members attending the Federal Congress to take this opportunity to speak to the team at the stand. We look forward to exchanging ideas, making new contacts, and generating new impetus for municipal development cooperation.
Connective Cities is pleased to once again support the call for applications for the Municipal Award 2027 of the Carl and Anneliese Goerdeler Foundation Fund (CAG), following its integration into the Leipzig Foundation. The award recognises outstanding achievements in local governance and administration.
The 2027 edition focuses on “Resilient Municipalities: Municipal Partnerships for Civil Protection, Critical Infrastructure and Crisis Preparedness.” It highlights innovative and transferable good practices developed through cooperation between municipalities—particularly in an international context.
A prerequisite for application is the involvement of a German municipality or a municipal alliance.
Across the world, municipalities are facing increasing challenges, from natural disasters and infrastructure disruptions to cyber risks and geopolitical tensions. Strengthening resilience at the local level requires not only technical solutions, but also strong collaboration between administrations, municipal services, civil society, and other local actors.
The award therefore seeks cross-border municipal partnerships that demonstrate practical and innovative approaches in areas such as:
civil protection and disaster preparedness
protection and development of critical infrastructure
digital security
crisis communication
Special attention is given to inclusive and participatory approaches that address the needs of different population groups, especially women, children, and other vulnerable groups.
The award includes a prize of EUR 2,000 and public recognition.
Application deadline: 31 August 2026
As part of its mission to foster international municipal exchange, Connective Cities encourages municipalities and municipal alliances within its network and beyond to apply and share their experiences.
Find out more about the call and application process here: CAG-Announcement [pdf, 3 pages, in German]
When electricity fails, water pumps stop working. When communication networks are disrupted, emergency response slows down. Critical infrastructure is interconnected—and so are the risks municipalities face.
Across South Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus, municipalities are increasingly confronted with complex and interconnected risks. Climate change, ageing infrastructure, cyber threats and geopolitical instability are placing growing pressure on the systems that provide essential public services.
To support municipalities in addressing these challenges, Connective Cities launched the regional learning process Planning for Municipal Resilience: Safeguarding Critical Infrastructure through Risk-Informed Development.
At the kick-off of the regional Connective Cities Learning Process in Tirana, 30 experts from 13 municipalities and nine countries worked together to identify local vulnerabilities and develop practical solutions. The result: eleven municipal action plans – ranging from backup power and digital infrastructure monitoring to flood prevention, crisis communication and new approaches to municipal coordination.
What challenges do municipalities share, what solutions are they developing – and what can other local governments learn from them? Read more in this full documentation.
International Community of Practice for Sustainable Municipal Development
NEWSLETTER – ISSUE NO. 96, July 2026
Dear Readers,
‘A ship in harbour is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for,” wrote the American author, John A. Shedd. In keeping with this motto, this issue shows how plans are turned into concrete actions, taking into account all risks and side effects. As always, we rely on dialogue among experts.
We provide insight into the development of a 36-month roadmap for the implementation of green hydrogen and sustainable economic development in South Africa, which was created during a five-day expert mission and through inter-municipal cooperation. At the UCLG World Congress, our Lab addressed the question of how municipalities can transform local plans into public services, with a deliberate focus on the challenges involved. A three-day open exchange among 11 municipalities from seven countries on startup support, innovation and career prospects for young people in Bremen has now formed the basis for further collaboration as part of a new learning process. This process is aimed at developing concrete, future-oriented measures and preparing them for implementation.
Best practices can be a source of inspiration. For instance, the municipality of Bağcılar, a district of Istanbul, has developed a digital twin for disaster management in this earthquake-prone region. This digital twin is now also being used for infrastructure planning, particularly with regard to climate resilience, and provides digital citizen services.
Municipal partnerships for civil protection, critical infrastructure, and crisis preparedness are also recognized by the 2027 Goerdeler Prize. In addition to the prize money, the award offers high-profile recognition.
We hope you find this an inspiring read.
Your Connective Cities Team
REVIEW
Driver of Green Transformation: Connective Cities Expert Mission in Waterberg
Communal Dialogue on Green Hydrogen and Sustainable Economic Development
From 8 to 12 June 2026, Connective Cities organised an international expert mission in partnership with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and the Waterberg District Council. The mission aimed to support economic transformation and green industrial development at a local government level. The mission brought together municipal representatives, researchers, and experts from industry and practice from South Africa and Germany to share knowledge and identify the economic potential of green hydrogen. The mission concluded with a strategy workshop, during which participants created a 36-month regional development roadmap.
From Challenge to Practice: How Municipalities Turn Local Plans into Public Services
Connective Cities Lab at the UCLG World Congress 2026
The lab focused on a challenge shared by local authorities worldwide: strategies and development plans are in place – yet translating them into effective, inclusive and sustainable public services is often a complex task. The session therefore deliberately centred on concrete experiences of implementation, challenges and collaborative learning. Among other things, the discussion covered examples from waste management in the city of Krefeld, the Kiunga Solar-Powered Desalination Initiative in Lamu County, Kenya, and the implementation of infrastructure projects in the municipality of Pékine in Senegal. The lab highlighted how international municipal exchange can go beyond traditional ‘good practice’ presentations, with local authorities speaking openly about challenges and working together to find solutions.
Start-ups and Innovation: Labour Market Opportunities and Prospects for Young People
International Municipalities Exchange Ideas in Bremen, Germany
From 30 June to 2 July 2026, around 35 experts from 11 local authorities and seven countries gathered in Bremen to exchange experiences, learn from one another, and develop new approaches together. The event focused on the opportunities that start-ups and entrepreneurship create for employment, economic development, and social participation among young people. A key finding was that, despite differing local conditions, municipalities around the world face many similar challenges. Young entrepreneurs need access to advisory services, networks, financing, suitable infrastructure, and practical education. Municipalities play a crucial role as facilitators, supporters, and enablers of thriving local entrepreneurial ecosystems. The event marked the launch of a new Connective Cities learning process.
How a municipality in Istanbul combines citizen services with data-driven urban risk management
Bağcılar is one of Istanbul’s most densely populated districts, with approximately 710,000 inhabitants. Located on the coast of the Sea of Marmara, it covers an area of about 22 square kilometers. As a municipality in a region with a high risk of earthquakes, Bağcılar faces the urgent task of taking precautions to protect its population and urban systems in the event of a crisis. With their ‘Digital Urban Twin Platform’, the administration aims to enable faster assessment of situations in emergencies and disasters. Digital simulation of risk scenarios – such as tsunamis following earthquakes – allows for improved civil protection measures and necessary adjustments to urban systems. Furthermore, continuous digital monitoring of building conditions enables the identification of heat islands, for example, and supports the efficient planning of photovoltaic systems.
Public service delivery, local gender equality policy and the start of a new governance cycle
From 22 to 25 June 2026, the World Congress of the World Organisation of Local Authorities (United Cities and Local Governments, or UCLG) took place in Tangier, Morocco. With the theme of ‘A New Generation of Universal Local Public Services’, the event attracted over 3,000 delegates from around the world. Alongside the technical discussions in numerous barcamps and side events, and the many networking opportunities, the Congress marked the beginning of a new governance cycle for the international local government movement. Another significant event was the inaugural UCLG Women’s Assembly, which convened female mayors, governors, and other female local decision-makers from across the globe. The focus was on exchanging views on local gender equality policies, empowering women in political leadership roles and developing the Feminist Municipal Movement within the UCLG further.
Resilient Municipalities: Municipal Partnerships for Civil Protection, Critical Infrastructure and Crisis Preparedness
Connective Cities is pleased to once again support the call for applications for the Municipal Award 2027 of the Carl and Anneliese Goerdeler Foundation Fund (CAG), following its integration into the Leipzig Foundation. The award recognises outstanding achievements in local governance and administration. It highlights innovative and transferable good practices
on the theme of ‘Resilient Communities’ developed through cooperation between municipalities — particularly in an international context. The award therefore seeks cross-border municipal partnerships. A prerequisite for application is the involvement of a German municipality or a municipal alliance.The prize includes a high-profile award and is endowed with 2,000 euros. The deadline for applications is 31 August 2026.
Engagement Global gGmbH
Service Agency Communities in One World
Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 40, 53113 Bonn | Deutschland
Contact: Sibylle Loyeau
Email: sibylle.loyeau@engagement-global.de
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 32 + 36, 53113 Bonn | Deutschland
Contact: Ricarda Meissner
Email: ricarda.meissner@giz.de
Bağcılar is one of Istanbul’s most densely populated districts, with approximately 710,000 inhabitants. Located on the coast of the Sea of Marmara, it covers an area of about 22 square kilometers. As a municipality in a region with a high risk of earthquakes, Bağcılar faces the urgent task of taking precautions to protect its population and urban systems in the event of a crisis. To this end, the municipal administration has been driving digital transformation since the 2000s and has conducted a comprehensive inventory of existing building structures – information that has been incorporated as data into a digital 3D model of the municipality.
With this ‘Digital Urban Twin Platform’, the administration aims to enable faster assessment of situations in emergencies and disasters. Digital simulation of risk scenarios – such as tsunamis following earthquakes – allows for improved civil protection measures and necessary adjustments to urban systems. Furthermore, continuous digital monitoring of the building stock enables targeted on-site inspections of building regulations, thereby increasing administrative efficiency. Citizens can access the platform via an app to book various municipal services.
According to Cüneyt Yilmaz, head of the IT Department at Bağcılar, the central criterion for the applicability of the platform is the creation of a sustainable data foundation.
The documentation describes in detail the development process, activities and future application areas of the continuously evolving digital twin platform.
Connective Cities participated in the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) World Congress 2026, held from 22–25 June in Tangier, Morocco. Under the overarching theme “A New Generation of Universal Local Public Services,” the Congress brought together more than 3,000 local and regional leaders, municipal practitioners, city networks and development partners from around the world.
As part of the Local4Action Track, Connective Cities, together with the Association of German Cities, organised the 90-minute Lab “From Challenge to Practice: How Municipalities Turn Local Plans into Public Services.”
From Planning to Implementation
The Lab addressed a challenge shared by municipalities worldwide: while local strategies and development plans are often well designed, translating them into effective, inclusive and sustainable public services remains a complex task. Rather than focusing solely on success stories, the session encouraged municipalities to share real implementation experiences, discuss practical challenges and learn from one another.
Gabi Schock from the City of Krefeld (Germany) opened the session with insights into strategic municipal waste management, demonstrating how citizen participation can become a key success factor in planning and implementing public services. Using Krefeld’s waste management strategy as an example, she illustrated how local government, political representatives, businesses and citizens were involved at an early stage of the planning process. The presentation showed that participation not only increases public acceptance of new measures but also helps integrate local knowledge into decision-making, identify potential conflicts early on and develop sustainable long-term solutions. Krefeld’s experience highlighted that successful municipal service delivery is built on transparent governance, continuous dialogue and trust-based cooperation with citizens.
The second case was presented by H.E. Governor Issa Timamy of Lamu County (Kenya), who introduced the Kiunga Solar-Powered Desalination Initiative. The project addresses the challenge of providing reliable access to clean drinking water in a remote border region. By using solar-powered desalination technology, Lamu County has not only improved water supply but also reduced dependence on fossil fuels and strengthened resilience to climate change. Governor Timamy emphasised that the initiative’s success was made possible through close cooperation between the County Government, local communities and development partners. The project demonstrates how integrated municipal planning can simultaneously contribute to improved public services, better health outcomes, social cohesion and local economic development. In recognition of these achievements, Lamu County received the UCLG Peace Prize, accompanied by prize money of €20,000.
The two presentations highlighted a common message: effective public service delivery is achieved where technical solutions are combined with good governance, active citizen participation and strong local partnerships.
Peer-to-Peer Consultation: Developing Solutions Together
The second half of the Lab shifted from presentations to collaborative problem-solving.
An Introduction to the Peer-to-Peer Consultation Methodology | Photo: Connective Cities
A representative of the Municipality of Pékine (Senegal) presented a real implementation challenge: complex procurement procedures, lengthy administrative processes and staff turnover were delaying infrastructure projects and slowing down municipal service delivery.
Participants jointly analysed the challenge during a facilitated Peer-to-Peer Consultation and developed a range of practical recommendations. Proposed solutions included:
strengthening knowledge management to preserve institutional memory;
developing clearer procurement roadmaps and process guidelines;
improving coordination across municipal departments;
establishing clear responsibilities and accountability mechanisms;
promoting knowledge exchange with neighbouring municipalities;
investing in continuous capacity development for municipal staff;
creating databases of qualified service providers;
introducing minimum quality standards for contractors and service providers; and
assessing the political and institutional context at an early stage to identify opportunities for implementation.
The discussion demonstrated that municipalities across different regions often face remarkably similar implementation challenges. This is precisely where the Connective Cities approach creates value: structured municipal exchange enables practitioners to jointly develop practical solutions that can be adapted to their respective local contexts.
The Lab also illustrated how international municipal exchange can move beyond traditional good practice presentations. By openly discussing implementation challenges and working together to identify solutions, peer learning becomes a practical instrument for strengthening local public service delivery.
The Connective Cities team and participants in the Lab | Photo: Connective Cities
How can municipalities translate strategies and local development plans into effective public services? This question lies at the heart of the Connective Cities Lab “From Challenge to Practice: How Municipalities Turn Local Plans into Public Services”, organised in cooperation with the Association of German Cities.
Municipalities around the world face similar challenges when implementing local development plans. In this Lab, municipal representatives from different regions will share practical experiences: What obstacles had to be overcome? Which approaches proved successful? And what lessons can be adapted to other local contexts?
Following a series of short case presentations, participants will engage in a moderated peer-to-peer exchange to discuss challenges and jointly explore practical solutions for effective local public service delivery.
Objectives of the Lab
Exchange experiences on challenges related to local public service delivery
Share practical and transferable implementation approaches
Promote international networking and peer learning
We look forward to welcoming municipal practitioners, experts, and partner organisations from around the world.
Participation: The Lab will take place exclusively in person as part of the UCLG World Congress 2026. All participants and speakers must register through the official Congress registration system: https://registration.uclgcongresstangier2026.com/
International Community of Practice for Sustainable Municipal Development
NEWSLETTER – ISSUE NO. 95, June 2026
Dear Readers,
Water is not only a driver of development; it is increasingly becoming a strategic resource. Falling groundwater levels, more frequent and prolonged heatwaves and droughts, as well as heavy rainfall events, are creating major challenges for municipalities around the world. At the same time, relatively modest investments in nature-based and technological solutions can help balance local water systems, protect lives, and prevent far more costly damage to urban infrastructure.
With this in mind, 16 practitioners from six countries have embarked on a two-year Deep Dive on Water Resilience, working together to develop and implement innovative, locally adapted solutions to their specific challenges. Following a three-day in-person meeting in Wuppertal, we take stock of the progress achieved so far.
Can AI-generated visualizations help make housing projects more transparent and accessible for all stakeholders, or do they risk oversimplifying complex planning realities? This question sparked an insightful discussion during a professional conference organized by Connective Cities and the German Association of Cities at the World Urban Forum 13 in Baku, Azerbaijan. In this issue, we look back at the key insights and debates that emerged from the event.
The Kenyan city of Kisumu offers a practical example of how public spaces can be made more livable: pedestrian-friendly, nature-based, and climate-conscious through the promotion of e-mobility. The initiative serves as an inspiring pilot project and a model for future urban space improvements.
We would also like to draw your attention to several upcoming events.
At the UCLG World Congress 2026 on 25 June in Tangier, Morocco, we will explore how municipalities can successfully translate strategies and development plans into concrete public services. Through practical examples, participants will discuss challenges and solutions related to implementing local sustainability and development strategies.
Sustainability will also be the focus of our next dialogue event, taking place from 20–22 October 2026 in Berlin. The event will examine the implementation of sustainability strategies in the context of major sporting events. Municipal practitioners, particularly those working in event management, sports, and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), are warmly invited to participate.
We hope you enjoy this issue and find inspiration in the experiences and ideas shared within it. We look forward to welcoming you to our upcoming events.
Yours sincerely,
The Connective Cities Team
REVIEW
Connective Cities at the World Urban Forum 13 in Baku
AI-Powered Visualisation for Affordable Housing and the Upgrading of Informal Settlements
At the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF) in Baku, the German Association of Cities, in collaboration with Connective Cities, organised an interactive academy session on how AI-powered visual tools can help local urban planners discuss housing challenges, the upgrading of informal settlements and neighbourhood development in a more concrete and accessible way. On the one hand, the AI visualisations proved very useful for making decision-making transparent, particularly in dialogue with the public. At the same time, however, they also carry the risk of oversimplifying complex planning realities or suggesting solutions before key issues have been clarified. This tension gave rise to an insightful discussion, which could well continue beyond WUF13.
The Pedestrian-friendly Redevelopment of a Commercial District
Making Kisumu a better place to live: In the city centre, the three main roads – Oginga Odinga, Ang’awa Avenue and Jomo Kenyatta Avenue – form a triangle around a sports and park area. These roads are used by over 2,200 pedestrians every day. The redesign of the so-called ‘Walkable Triangle’ into a more pedestrian-friendly space has made it safer, more pleasant and more accessible, whilst preserving and integrating the existing tree population. Furthermore, the city is promoting e-mobility in public transport through the introduction of a battery-swapping system for motorbike taxis, known as ‘boda-bodas’, and three-wheeled taxis, known as ‘tuk-tuks’.
Water Resilience – Municipalities Prepare for Drought and Heavy Rainfall
Documentation of the Connective Cities Deep Dive event held from 5 to 7 May 2026 in Wuppertal
Examining their own challenges in water resilience, learning from experiences on other continents, and finding the courage to put innovative ideas into practice – these were the key elements of the first in-person meeting as part of the Connective Cities Deep Dive, held in Wuppertal from 5 to 7 May 2026.
In early 2026, a total of 16 experts from the German municipalities of Dresden, Wunstorf and Wuppertal, as well as from Akkaraipattu (Sri Lanka), Homa Bay (Kenya), Hyderabad (India), Natitingou (Benin) and Niš (Serbia), have started a two-year long working together to analyse innovative approaches and how they might be implemented. On this basis, they are developing and implementing locally adapted solutions to their respective challenges. The meeting in Wuppertal is a first interim step.
From Challenge to Practice – How Municipalities Turn Local Plans into Public Services
Local4Action Track – Lab as part of the UCLG World Congress 2026 in Tanger, Morocco
How do municipalities succeed in translating strategies and development plans into concrete public services? The Connective Cities Lab, organised in collaboration with the German Association of Cities, will address this question as part of the UCLG World Congress 2026. Municipalities worldwide face similar challenges when it comes to implementing local development plans. In the Lab, international municipalities will share concrete practical experiences: What obstacles had to be overcome? Which approaches have proven successful? And what can be applied to other contexts?
Call for Participation – Global Green Sports: Implementing Sustainability Strategies for Major Sports Events
Invitation for Municipal Experts to the Dialogue Event in Berlin, 20–22 October 2026
How can sustainability strategies for major sporting events be embedded in policy? How are these strategies implemented within city administrations and event management? How can the public be engaged and informed about sustainable development during major sporting events? Organised by Connective Cities in collaboration with the Education for Sustainable Development Unit and the Berlin Senate Department for the Interior and Sport (SIUS), the event invites cities from around the world to exchange experiences, showcase best practices and jointly develop innovative solutions for sustainable sporting events.
Engagement Global gGmbH
Service Agency Communities in One World
Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 40, 53113 Bonn | Deutschland
Contact: Sibylle Loyeau
Email: sibylle.loyeau@engagement-global.de
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 32 + 36, 53113 Bonn | Deutschland
Contact: Ricarda Meissner
Email: ricarda.meissner@giz.de
Water is becoming a key challenge for an growing number of local authorities worldwide. On the one hand, they are increasingly exposed to heatwaves and drought. But on the other hand, heavy rain and high water levels are leading to more frequent flooding. These risks come together to not only impact public health, but jeopradize private property and public infrastructure. Global water demand could significantly exceed available supplies by 2030. Water is thus becoming a strategic resource. It is therefore critical for municipalities to strengthen their water resilience.
Examining their own challenges regarding water resilience, learning from experiences on other continents and developing the courage to implement innovative ideas – all these were the ingredients of the first in-person meeting as part of the Connective Cities Deep Dive, held from 5 to 7 May 2026 in Wuppertal. The group had already met for a virtual kick-off in March 2026. In early 2026, a total of 16 experts from the German municipalities of Dresden, Wunstorf and Wuppertal, as well as from Akkaraipattu (Sri Lanka), Homa Bay (Kenya), Hyderabad (India), Natitingou (Benin) and Niš (Serbia) have started a two-year long working together to explore and analyse innovative approaches such as sponge city concepts, blue corridors and integrated blue-green-red infrastructure, and the possibilities for their implementation. On this basis, they develop and implement locally adapted solutions to address their specific challenges.
The report describes practical examples from Wuppertal and Leipzig, outlines the planned pilot projects of the six municipalities and summarises the key takeaways from the process so far.
Language: English – Turkish simultaneous translation
How can digital and AI applications help municipalities become more resilient and prepared for future risks?
As urban areas face growing climate and infrastructure-related risks, municipalities require digital tools that support rapid emergency response, long-term risk planning, and resilient urban governance. The Insight Session will introduce participants to the concept of “Digital Twins for Risk-Informed Urban Development” through practical applications and international good practices.
Urban Digital Twinning (UDT) refers to digital representations of urban systems connected to real-time data and predictive modelling tools. Increasingly used in urban development, UDT applications support areas such as mobility management, energy monitoring, disaster preparedness, infrastructure planning, and citizen participation. Successful examples can already be found in different countries, among them Japan, Singapore, Netherlands, Turkey, and Germany.
As a practical illustration, the session will present the ongoing work of practitioners, such as from the IT department of Bağcılar Municipality in Turkey, which is currently developing an AI-supported Digital Urban Twin platform focused on disaster resilience and data-driven municipal decision-making. The project integrates LiDAR-based 3D city modelling, IoT sensor infrastructure, GIS/MIS systems, panoramic urban imaging, and AI-supported analytics within a unified municipal data ecosystem.
After the presentations, a room for discussion will allow participants to ask questions and exchange thoughts on how to include digital urban twins into planning strategies and how to further advance the use of artificial intelligence for risk-informed and sustainable municipal development.
