Built in 1965, the current City Hall of Hebron in the Palestinian Territories has been remodelled and repurposed time and again to meet the increasing demands of a growing city and its administration. The focus was on resource efficiency, technical modernisation and the requirements of work organisation.
Category: Integrated urban development
Towards a more sustainable building sector
The building sector must become more sustainable: It is responsible for up to 40 per cent of all CO2 emissions worldwide. The construction industry also consumes many resources, as valuable building materials are rarely recycled. Moreover, it’s not just about the construction phase: the way a building is constructed plays a decisive role in how much energy is used for heating or cooling throughout the entire life cycle of the building.
In order to fight climate change and protect the environment, the construction sector urgently needs to be decarbonized. There are many innovative ways to do this, for example with bio-based materials such as wood, clay and bricks or by recycling used materials.
Local authorities play a key role in making the construction sector more sustainable: as innovation drivers in their own buildings and in the design of building regulations.
As part of a yearlong learning process organized by Connective Cities, representatives from local authorities and research institutions as well as planners and architects shared their experiences and knowledge of climate-friendly constructions and inspired each other’s work.
Dialogue event: What must be done and what can we do?
The learning process began with a dialogue event in Potsdam from 13 to 15 November 2023, at which participants from Bhutan, Indonesia, Nepal, South Africa, Berlin, Heidelberg, Lörrach, Munich, Stuttgart and Potsdam reported on how they are shaping the green transformation in the building sector. In Heidelberg and Munich, the aim is to reuse as much existing building material as possible when constructing new urban neighborhoods on former military sites. Architect Nyoman Popo Priyatna Danes explained how traditional and modern technologies were combined in the construction of a hotel complex in Bali. It was important to sensitize the population to the fragility of the landscape and to ecological economic activity.
According to Dr. Susanne Winter from the World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) Germany and Peter Heuer, Chairman of the Potsdam City Council, it is important to find a sustainable balance between the protection and use of forests when building with wood. Wood for the construction industry must come from sustainably managed forests. Prof Dr. Jürgen Kropp from Bauhaus Erde and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) pointed out that bio-based building materials could mitigate the dangerous heating of cities and that, contrary to some opinions, wood is a stable and durable building material.
The dialogue took place in cooperation with the City of Potsdam, Bauhaus Erde and PIK.
-> Good practice I: Lörrach plans Germany’s first industrial estate in timber construction
-> Good practice II: Banepa preserves traditional building methods using bio-based materials
Call for Interest: Risk-Informed Urban Development Workshops in the ECOWAS Region
Voir version française ci-dessous
The Resilience Initiative Africa (RIA), in partnership with Connective Cities, invites cities and civil society organizations in the ECOWAS region to participate in a workshop series on Risk-Informed Urban Development. This initiative aims to strengthen urban resilience and disaster risk management by fostering knowledge sharing, cooperation, and innovative approaches.
Key Highlights:
- Risk-Informed Urban Development: Build local capacities to manage urban risks.
- Knowledge Exchange: Promote peer learning between west African and European cities.
- Inclusive Planning: Collaborate with residents of informal settlements, women, and youth groups, among others.
- Bankable Solutions: Develop integrated approaches that combine adaptation and mitigation measures for sustainable financing.
Workshop Timeline:
- Workshop 1: Introduction to Risk-Informed Urban Development (February 2025, Togo)
- Workshop 2: Participatory Risk Analysis and Financing Preparedness (April/May 2025)
- Workshop 3: Action Plan Development for Inclusive Disaster Risk Management (September/October 2025)
Apply now:
Cities are invited to submit their applications by 12 January 2025.
Further information can be found in Invitation to an Expression of Interest
Contact:
RIA@giz.de and jelena.karamatijevic@giz.de
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Appel à Manifestation d’Intérêt : Ateliers sur le Développement Urbain Tenant Compte des Risques dans la Région CEDEAO
L’Initiative pour la Résilience en Afrique (RIA), en partenariat avec Connective Cities, invite les villes et organisations de la société civile de la région CEDEAO à participer à une série d’ateliers sur le développement urbain tenant compte des risques. Cette initiative vise à renforcer la résilience urbaine et la gestion des risques de catastrophe grâce à des échanges de connaissances, à la coopération et à des approches innovantes.
Points Forts :
- Développement Urbain Tenant Compte des Risques : Renforcer les capacités locales pour gérer les risques urbains.
- Échange de Connaissances : Favoriser l’apprentissage mutuel entre les villes africaines et européennes.
- Planification Inclusive : Collaborer avec les habitants des quartiers informels, les groupes de femmes et de jeunes, entre autres.
- Solutions Bancables : Développer des approches intégrées combinant adaptation et atténuation pour un financement durable.
Calendrier des Ateliers :
- Atelier 1 : Introduction au Développement Urbain Tenant Compte des Risques (février 2025, Togo)
- Atelier 2 : Analyses Participatives des Risques et Préparation au Financement (avril/mai 2025)
- Atelier 3 : Élaboration de Plans d’Action pour une Gestion Inclusive des Risques de Catastrophe (Septembre/Octobre 2025)
Posez votre candidature dès maintenant:
Les villes sont invitées à soumettre leur candidature avant le 12 janvier 2025.
Pour plus d’informations, voir Invitation à une expression d’intérêt.
Contact :
From pilot project to real-world laboratory for municipalities
When Connective Cities organised its inaugural event in Leipzig in 2014, it was not yet clear that this new approach to international exchange between municipal practitioners would be accepted and deliver concrete results. In the meantime, a network of around 3,500 experts in over 700 cities and 100 countries has formed. Many project ideas have been developed and worked out in detail. Working groups have become think tanks and municipalities have become living laboratories for the realisation of innovative projects.
Reason enough to celebrate! 65 municipal experts from 15 countries came together at the Connective Cities anniversary celebration, which took place on 4 December 2024 at the offices of the Association of German Cities in Berlin.
Projects for the expansion of renewable energies
The Regional Renewable Energy for Cities Workshop, held from October 23-25, 2024, in Tunis, Tunisia, was organized by Connective Cities, RoAid, the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM), and the City Climate Finance Gap Fund (Gap Fund). The event was part of the Renforcement de la Gouvernance Locale et Modernisation des Service Locaux (REMO) project by GIZ Tunisia due to its close collaboration with Tunisian municipalities, key partners in the project, as well as its partnership with the Ministry of the Interior.
The regional conference aimed to strengthen renewable energy initiatives in urban areas, provide technical expertise, and promote peer-to-peer learning among cities in North and West Africa.
Tunisian cities participating in the workshop demonstrate a strong commitment to improving citizens’ quality of life, enhancing safety, and reducing energy costs through investments in green energy solutions. Their priorities include public lighting using photovoltaic panels and sustainable energy operations for public buildings (e.g., health, education, recreation).
The goal of these cities, regardless of their size or character, is to become more attractive for residents, investors, and tourists by fostering sustainable development and creating a healthy environment.
Tunisian cities face several challenges in their transition to green energy systems. Key obstacles include:
- limited access to non-reimbursable funding,
- modest technical and financial preparation,
- political-administrative constraints, and
- a shortage of technical expertise in the environmental sector.
Despite these hurdles, opportunities exist for cities to access support through initiatives like The Gap Fund, which provides assistance for feasibility studies, cost-benefit analyses, and securing international financing. International development banks prioritize projects that emphasize environmental health, community well-being, and the adoption of green technologies, adding significant value to local populations.
With immense solar potential and a favorable modernization context, Tunisian cities must focus on collaboration with other municipalities or regions to secure larger-scale funding. Leveraging the expertise of institutions such as GIZ, the European Investment Bank (EIB), and other development banks is essential. Additionally, adopting proven, cost-effective solutions from successful global projects can help tailor efforts to their specific needs. By aligning their initiatives with international standards, Tunisian cities can accelerate their transition to sustainable green energy systems and ensure a healthier, more attractive environment for citizens, investors, and tourists alike.
Day 1: Focus on project preparation, financing, and expert presentations
The workshop began with a welcome address by Madame Samira Abidi, President of the Instance Générale de Prospective et d’Appui à la Décentralisation, Ministry of Interior, Tunisia. She emphasized the importance of supporting cities in their renewable energy efforts, highlighting that the Ministry has available funds to support projects. Madame Abidi stressed the need for combined funding opportunities to maximize impact and welcomed all participants to collaborate towards sustainable solutions.
Jelena Karamatijević (Connective Cities) introduced the objectives of the workshop, stressing the organization’s commitment to peer learning and knowledge exchange among cities. She also introduced Connective Cities as a global network facilitating collaboration and capacity-building to tackle sustainability challenges through urban innovation and energy efficiency projects.
Romanian city expertise and good practices
The technical sessions began with a presentation by RoAid, focusing on the experiences of Romanian cities and how they have overcome challenges similar to those faced by cities in Tunisia and other African countries. Romanian experts discussed specific examples of solar energy integration, smart grid technologies, and energy-efficient infrastructure. These insights were particularly relevant, as Romania’s urban energy projects closely align with those of the participating cities. Romanian cities demonstrated innovative urban solutions in solar street lighting, community-driven energy models, and energy-efficient public infrastructure.
Experiences with the restoration of buildings and the construction of new buildings by reusing existing materials
As part of the learning process “Towards a Climate Positive Built Environment Using Bio-based and Re-used Materials”, experts from the City of Munich, the Technical University of Munich and the City of Heidelberg travelled to Nepal in October 2024 to learn about Nepal’s long-standing practices in the field of sustainable construction and the reuse of building materials during a week-long delegation trip.
The German delegation met the R.P. Foundation and the international organisation ICIMOD in addition to Banepa’s municipal stakeholders and learned about the architectural landscape and circular building techniques in Nepal. The aim of the German delegation was to explore possibilities for applying such Nepalese approaches in Munich and Heidelberg. The delegation was also interested in discussing building in mountainous regions and resilient construction with regard to increasing extreme weather events.
Action planning for sustainability reporting
When adopting the 2030 Agenda, the member states of the United Nations (UN) committed to working closely with local and regional governments to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since 2015, cities, regions and their associations have been increasingly committed to tackling global social and environmental challenges in order to localise the SDGs on the ground.
On a voluntary basis, more and more municipalities are reporting on the implementation status in Voluntary Local Reviews (VLR) or Voluntary Sub-National Reviews (VSR) at regional level. These supplement the national reports (VNR) of the governments and are presented each year at the UN High Level Political Forum (HLPF).
From 2 to 4 December 2024, 37 practitioners from 25 institutions and 15 countries met at the German Association of Cities in Berlin to share their experiences in reporting. For the first time, representatives of municipal associations met with their colleagues from city administrations at a Connective Cites dialogue event.
In addition to exchanging experiences on good practices and different approaches to reporting, the aim was also to harmonise VLRs and VSRs with each other and, in a further step, to use the reports to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs at local and regional level.
Manizales: Foundation stone laid for the localization of the SDGs
For the Colombian city of Manizales, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2020 were more than just a list of targets for a better future. The city had just adopted its urban development plan “Manizales + Grande” and the administration now wanted to bring the SDGs into society and bring them to life in the everyday lives of the population. The SDGs are being implemented as global goals in municipalities around the world. So what could be more obvious than exchanging ideas with committed municipalities and giving each other tips and suggestions?
The virtual dialogue event “Strengthening local implementation of the SDGs through reporting and monitoring” in April 2021 – organized by Connective Cities in cooperation with the City of Bonn, among others – came at just the right time for Manizales. Almost 60 municipal practitioners from 19 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and North and South America shared their approaches and experiences in localizing the SDGs – an important milestone for Manizales.
Transforming primary school “Lovćenski Partizanski Odred”
Revitalizing an essential community hub
The Primary School “Lovćenski Partizanski Odred” in Cetinje, Montenegro, has been a cornerstone of education in the community since 2004. Serving 600 students, the school building was constructed as part of a larger plan, which, due to budget limitations, was only partially completed. While the main building was in use, the absence of a sports hall and outdoor facilities, combined with outdated infrastructure, hindered the learning experience.
In 2018, a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Education, Science, and Innovation and the Old Royal Capital Cetinje set out to change this. The joint venture aimed to upgrade the school with a new sports hall, enhanced outdoor spaces, and significant energy efficiency improvements, ensuring a safer, more sustainable environment. This transformation, strengthened by Connective Cities’ knowledge-sharing platform, showcases the power of international collaboration in advancing sustainable urban development.
Connective Cities learning process and knowledge exchange
The Connective Cities network, which fosters sustainable urban practices through peer learning and collaboration, has been an invaluable resource in the transformation of Cetinje’s schools. In October 2023, representatives from Cetinje—Marija Mrvaljević, the City Chief Architect, and Marija Proročić, Secretary for Spatial Planning and Environmental Protection—participated in the Connective Cities Learning Process on Renewable Energy Options at the Municipal Level, in Tbilisi, Georgia. During this event, they presented the school renovation project, gaining valuable insights and technical expertise from other European and German cities facing similar urban challenges. This exchange has been essential in adapting the project to international standards of energy efficiency and sustainable design.
Through the Connective Cities platform, Cetinje has successfully integrated key renewable energy solutions into the renovation of local schools. The municipality installed solar energy systems on school buildings, significantly improving energy efficiency and reducing electricity costs. Additionally, energy-efficient lighting and enhanced insulation were implemented to further decrease energy consumption. These initiatives not only advance Cetinje’s sustainability objectives but also serve as a model for other municipalities seeking to implement similar solutions.
First steps towards the reuse of public buildings from the 1960s and 1970s
In September 2024, the learning process “2nd Hands on Public Buildings“ by Connective Cities began. For over a year, practitioners from municipalities and experts from the fields of urban planning, architecture and sustainable urban development exchange ideas about how buildings from the 1960s and 1970s can be sensibly reused or converted. They come from Germany, Kenya, Montenegro and Zambia as well as from Ukraine and the Palestinian territories and they are united by a common goal: not to immediately demolish and rebuild public buildings that no longer meet today’s standards. Instead, to create new, sustainable usage concepts for the benefit of citizens through climate-friendly renovations. They were inspired by many good practical examples – from the House of Statistics in Berlin or the House of Revolution in Niksic in Montenegro.