Category: Participation and urban planning

Turning polluted streams into green-blue corridors

Posted on by erik

For the Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia, the world looked very different when it was participating in the Connective Cities learning process on urban development adapted to climate change between 2019 and 2021. The war in Ukraine began in 2022 and has forced a fundamental shift in priorities for municipal administrations. However, the renaturation of small rivers, which Vinnytsia began as part of the learning process, remains an important project for the city as it forms a key element of its sustainable future.

Recognition of environmental, urban planning and social potential

The city, with its population of around 370,000, is located 260 kilometres to the south-west of Kyiv with 64 small rivers and streams flowing through it. Their potential has long been underestimated. The locals referred to them simply as “stinking streams”, they were frequently full of rubbish or routed underground and the water quality was dreadful. Today, the municipality understands the environmental, urban planning and social potential these watercourses and their banks provide – as blue-green corridors, local areas for recreation and for protecting and promoting biodiversity. “To begin with we really had no idea what renaturation of a water course involved. We thought removing all the rubbish from the streams would be enough,” recalls Yanna Chaikovska, director of the municipal Institute of Urban Development in Vinnytsia.

Urban Thinkers Campus in Amman, Jordan

Posted on by erik

Connective Cities co-organized the Urban Thinkers Campus (UTC) that was held for the first time in Amman-Jordan. It aimed at generating insights and discussions to inform urban policies and strategies, fostering sustainable and inclusive urban development. Topics under focus were affordable/adequate housing, green infrastructure, and sustainable mobility. With representation from Jordanian and German municipalities, the Ministry of Transportation, NGOs, and academia, the UTC served as an inclusive forum for meaningful dialogue among urban researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, aimed at fostering constructive urban change.
 

Local Development Strategy Guidebook

Posted on by erik

This guidebook is an outcome of the working group ‘Local development strategies for municipalities in MENA’. It outlines a comprehensive methodology for municipalities to develop strategic sustainable planning with a mid- and long-term vision.

The objectives include:

  • Strengthen Resilience and Capacity
  • Enhance Participatory Strategic Planning
  • Define Long-Term Development Strategies
  • Improve Local Services
  • Develop Project Card Templates

The manual also addresses the importance of having up-to-date data to improve the accuracy of analysis and decision-making processes. This includes staff training on data collection and interpretation methodologies.

Sustainable Low-Cost Housing in Sub-Saharan Africa

Posted on by erik

The Working Group on Sustainable Low-Cost Housing for Sub-Saharan Africa held a successful kick-off workshop from June 4-6 in Windhoek, Namibia. This pivotal event brought together key stakeholders from across the region to address the pressing challenges of sustainable and affordable housing.

Graced by Namibia’s Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Hon. Erastus Uutoni, and other notable attendees, the workshop facilitated dynamic peer learning sessions among participating cities from Namibia, Kenya, Zambia, South Africa, Rwanda, and Tanzania. The discussions focused on slum upgrading, funding mechanisms, and sustainable building technologies, with participants exchanging innovative solutions and best practices.

Notably, the workshop highlighted the importance of integrated planning and sustainable development, emphasizing the need for improved funding models, research into affordable building materials, and the expansion of social housing initiatives. The collaboration between cities, international organizations, and local institutions was a cornerstone of the event, ensuring a holistic approach to addressing the housing crisis.

Data-driven municipal planning

Posted on by erik

Connective Cities’ working group ‘Local development strategies’ is supporting municipalities in the MENA region to embark on their process of local strategic planning. With the aim of formulating local development strategies, this process involves data collection, engagement with community stakeholders, collaboration between municipal departments and accurate needs assessment. Data collection in particular has been identified as a major impediment in devising local development strategies that respond to the current needs of the local communities. Taking the first steps towards establishing up-to-date robust municipal database presents an opportunity for making informed planning decisions that are evidence-based.

Bonn benefits in the long term from expert exchange on SDG monitoring

Posted on by erik

The city of Bonn is considered a pioneer in reporting on the local implementation of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda. In 2022, it presented its second voluntary implementation report – a Voluntary Local Review (VLR) – to the United Nations. A significant milestone in this journey was a dialogue event held in April 2021, which the city organized jointly with Connective Cities.

Growing attention for Voluntary Local Reviews

Bonn embarked early on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015. It was among the first of approximately 40 cities worldwide to submit a VLR. Following the publication of its first VLR in 2020, there was a desire to further advance its work through international exchange and to share its experiences with others.

Showcasing the Amman Urban Observatory

Posted on by erik

The insight session on “Showcasing the Amman Urban Observatory” was held on 24 April 2024, delivered by Mr. Akram Khreisat from the Greater Amman Municipality. The session was organized by Connective Cities and presented to the global community of urban practitioners, as part of the Connective Cities network. Among the participants were urban practitioners, local and national government actors, academic researchers, non-governmental organizations, and local community members.

Mr. Akram Khreisat, director of the Amman Urban Observatory, introduced the participants into the working mechanisms and the fields of action of the Amman Urban Observatory and its role in tackling planning challenges in the capital city of Jordan.

The Amman Urban Observatory generates ‘urban indicators’ to monitor various aspects of the city that are important for urban development. Based on real-time monitoring of these urban indicators, planning processes in urban development are improved, as planners and developers are empowered to make informed decisions. In doing so, the observatory works together with ministries, government departments, national organizations, NGOs and companies from the private sector. The observatory works together with over 40 partners and stakeholders. Such urban indicators include vital characteristics for measuring sustainable urban development such as unemployment rate, land cover or the percentage of people living in poverty.

The Amman Urban Observatory has proved itself to be an effective tool for strategic and urban planning. Mr. Akram Khreisat described the observatory as not being a tool, but as a “process to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”. In the case of the Amman Urban Observatory, the indicators created focus on the thematic areas of the following SDGs: Good Health and Well-Being (3); Affordable and Clean Energy (7); Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (9); Sustainable Cities and Communities (11); Climate Action (13) and Partnerships for the Goals (17).  

After the presentation by Dr. Akram Khreisat, the attendees asked questions about the Amman Urban Observatory. When asked about the challenges and difficulties the observatory faces, he elaborated on the large influx of refugees that Amman receives and the associated challenges for the measurement of urban indicators. As the city recently receives many refugees, indicators need a certain flexibility to account for the inconstant change of inhabitant numbers. Furthermore, Mr. Khreisat was asked whether the observatory uses the gathered data for spatial analysis or 3D cadaster purposes. In answering this, he elaborates that they work together with the city’s GIS Department in order to deliver scenario plans for spatial growth.

The Connective Cities Network intends to create a working group to identify different best practices for the observation of urban parameters. Furthermore, interested cities are intended to be assisted through the development of templates that can be used to implement in a similar process to the one in Amman. Any city representatives interested in joining the working group are very welcome to contact Dr. Muna Shalan (muna.shalan@giz.de) and Mr. Jimmy Yoedsel (jimmy.yoedsel@giz.de) for further information and the possibility to take part.

Connective Cities would like to thank Dr. Akram Khreisat and all the participants for the presentation of the Amman Urban Observatory and for the fruitful exchange and discussion.

Dar es Salaam Metropolitan Development Project (DMDP) – Phase 1

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The Dar es Salaam Metropolitan Development Project (DMDP) aims to improve connectivity and mobility within the city while reducing flooding through structural and non-structural measures. As part of the project, 67 kilometres of rainwater channels were built. The focus was on training local government experts, solid waste management and urban greening initiatives.

However, the DMDP also became aware of various issues and challenges that the city faces in drainage management. These include the effects of climate change, such as flooding, storms, heat, drought and sea level rise, as well as an inadequate stormwater drainage system due to a lack of suitable corridors and space for retention basins. Unrestricted access to stormwater drains has led to misuse for sewage and waste disposal.

The effects of rapid urbanisation also had to be taken into account: Around 70 per cent of Dar es Salaam’s population lives in unplanned settlements, mostly in very exposed locations. Community involvement is crucial here: it can help build trust, ensure sustainability and promote ownership of flooding control projects. Cooperation and coordination between different stakeholders, including authorities, municipalities and other organisations involved in the project, as well as effective communication and coordination are essential.

Strategic planning in municipalities– Impediments, framework and benefits

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Managing municipalities effectively and achieving sustainable development for residents are priorities for local authorities. As the link between the central authority and the local population, municipalities need to develop mid-term and long-term strategies to fulfill their developmental role in basic service provision, managing resources, infrastructure development, as well as achieving economic growth and sustainability. Strategic planning is key to shaping a vibrant community and economically competitive environment. It focuses on leveraging assets and strengths rather than overcoming challenges and are characterized by a sharp focus on the competitive advantage, key clusters of opportunity, workforce characteristics, quality of life standards and other economic and demographic differentiators.

However, long-term strategic planning is weak if not non-existent in the majority of municipalities in the MENA region. While some municipalities have made significant progress in adopting strategic planning, many face greater challenges related to urbanisation, service delivery, economic development, natural resources, environmental issues, social disparities, changing demographics, and response to crises. To overcome these challenges effectively, municipalities must have up-to-date local strategies that guide them in setting development scenarios, priorities, and making informed decisions to meet the diverse needs and challenges of the local population. In essence, local development strategies are the foundation upon which successful local governance is built.

A Strategy for Climate-Sensitive Urban Development in Garowe, Somalia

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Connective Cities has supported the development of a bottom-up strategy for climate-resilient urban development, known as the Climate-Sensitive City Development Strategy (CSCD). This involved a participatory methodology for identifying and analyzing key entry points for municipal action. Garowe was the first pilot project where this methodology and the design of the CSCD strategy were tested. We are pleased to present this strategy to you here.

Connective Cities was commissioned by the GIZ project “Promotion of social and economic inclusion of extreme poor IDPs and residents of host communities in Puntland, Somalia” (SEIPP) to support the development of an integrated climate protection concept (adaptation and partial mitigation) for the city of Garowe, Puntland, Somalia. SEIPP is dedicated to promoting the socio-economic integration of extremely poor internally displaced persons and residents of host communities in Puntland, Somalia.

If you have any questions about the methodology or are interested in discussing it, please contact Paulina Koschmieder: paulina.koschmieder@giz.de