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Category: Security in cities
Kick-off in Tirana: Strengthening Municipal Resilience Together
The new regional learning process for Southeast Europe and the South Caucasus will kick off with a dialogue event in Tirana (16–18 June 2026). The focus will be on: “Planning for Municipal Resilience – Safeguarding Critical Infrastructure through Risk-Informed Development.”
The event brings together professionals from municipalities as well as municipal enterprises from nine countries: Albania, Armenia, Georgia, Germany, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, Türkiye and Ukraine. Even ahead of the event, the learning process has attracted strong interest from municipal administrations and service providers, highlighting both the relevance of the topic and the growing pressure to act across the region.
Participating municipalities represent a wide range of sizes, structures and fields of municipal service delivery. These include, among others, Gjirokastër, Roskovec and Mat in Albania; Gavar and Noyemberyan in Armenia; Poti and Gori in Georgia; Drenas in Kosovo; Cetinje in Montenegro; Priboj and Kraljevo in Serbia; İznik in Türkiye; as well as Dnipro, Drohobych and in Ukraine. From Germany, participants include municipal representatives from the City of Leipzig as well as experts from Cologne’s municipal wastewater utility.
This diversity enables a highly practice-oriented exchange on different governance contexts, institutional frameworks and challenges in municipal development.
Starting point: Increasing risks to critical infrastructure
Municipalities are facing increasingly complex challenges: climate-related extreme events, rapid urbanisation, as well as technological and hybrid threats are intensifying the vulnerability of critical infrastructure such as energy, water, transport and IT systems.
At the same time, there is often a lack of structured opportunities to systematically exchange and further develop existing experiences and solutions. The learning process addresses this gap by combining municipal practice with a structured, application-oriented exchange.
Dialogue event in Tirana: From exchange to joint prioritisation
The dialogue event marks the starting point of the multi-phase learning process and lays the foundation for continued collaboration. Its objective is to deepen and compare existing risk and vulnerability analyses and to define initial priority areas for action.
The focus will be on:
- exchanging existing risk and vulnerability assessments across municipalities
- comparing different approaches through peer-to-peer learning
- identifying key weaknesses in critical infrastructure systems
- defining priority intervention areas and first concrete steps
In addition, remaining data gaps will be identified and approaches developed to address them throughout the learning process.
A structured learning process with a focus on implementation
The dialogue event is the first building block of a year-long learning process. It combines in-person formats with virtual exchange and aims to move from analysis to concrete implementation.
The methodological framework is based on an integrated approach to risk-informed municipal development, in which risk analysis is systematically embedded into planning and decision-making processes.
Tirana was deliberately chosen as the venue, as it exemplifies dynamic transformation processes in the region. The city provides an ideal setting to discuss challenges and solutions related to resilience and critical infrastructure in a practical and collaborative way.
For questions or expressions of interest in participating in the learning process, please contact Paulina Koschmieder paulina.koschmieder@giz.de or Jimmy Yoedsel jimmy.yoedsel@giz.de
Water Resilience – Preparing Municipalities for Drought and Heavy Rainfall
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.
The “Walkable Triangle” in Kisumu, Kenya
Kisumu, a port city on the shores of Lake Victoria and one of Kenya’s largest cities, is becoming increasingly important for the movement of goods and trade between Kenya and its neighbouring countries, Tanzania and Uganda. With an annual population growth rate of just under 4 per cent, the population has more than doubled in 15 years, rising from around 205,000 in 2001 to at least 422,000 in 2025. This has led to a series of major infrastructure projects, which, however, have primarily focused on motorised transport, even though 53 per cent of residents’ daily journeys are made on foot.
One project under the ‘Kisumu Sustainable Mobility Plan’ is the ‘Walkable Triangle’: the pedestrian-friendly redesign of the three main streets—Oginga Odinga, Ang’awa Ave and Jomo Kenyatta Ave—in a commercial district in the city centre. These streets form a triangle around a sports and park area and are used by over 2,200 pedestrians every day. The aim is to promote non-motorised transport along the 1.5-kilometre stretch, making it safer, more pleasant and accessible, whilst preserving and integrating the existing tree population.
In addition, the city is promoting e-mobility in public transport through a battery-swapping system for motorcycle taxis, known as ‘boda-bodas’, and three-wheeled taxis, known as ‘tuk-tuks’.
The documentation describes the approach as well as the outcomes achieved by this good practice.
Author: Burkhard Vielhaber
Copyright: Connective Cities
NEWSLETTER – ISSUE NO. 94, May 2026
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Safeguarding Critical Infrastructure through Risk-Informed Urban Development
Municipalities and regions from Southeast Europe, the South Caucasus and Germany are invited to participate in the regional learning process “Planning for Municipal Resilience” and jointly develop approaches to protect critical infrastructure.
Municipalities are increasingly facing complex risks: climate-related extreme events, technical disruptions, growing inter-dependencies between infrastructure systems and new security challenges threaten the functioning of urban areas. Protecting critical infrastructure – energy, water, transport, communication and health – has therefore become a central task of modern local governance.
The learning process brings together municipalities from Southeast Europe, the South Caucasus and Germany to exchange practical experience, develop joint solutions and strengthen local capacities for risk-informed urban development. The focus lies on integrated planning, multi-risk governance and the development of implementable project approaches to protect and strengthen critical infrastructure.
Who is the call for participation addressed to?
- Professionals and managers from municipal administrations, municipal utilities and regional authorities
- Staff working in planning, infrastructure, disaster risk management and municipal management
- Cities, municipalities, districts and regions from Southeast Europe, the South Caucasus and Germany
Timeline and Format
- Virtual kick-off meeting: End of April 2026
- First face-to-face workshop (3 days): Beginning of June
- Duration: approx. 1 year
- Formats: on-site workshops, digital exchange modules and short expert missions (“peer visits”)
The learning process is structured in three phases:
- risk and vulnerability analysis,
- integrated planning and solution development, and
- implementation readiness and financing.
- Thematic priorities include urban systems and critical infrastructure resilience, integrated risk governance, and data, early warning and continuity management. The structured process promotes peer-to-peer learning and technical cooperation between municipalities in Europe and the partner regions.
Participation and Contact
The participation costs (accommodation and board) are covered. The conference language is English
Expression of interest deadline: 13 April 2026
Application: https://community.connective-cities.net/en/form/connective-cities-see-learning-p
Further information: Call for participation [pdf, 3 pages ]
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions:
Paulina Koschmieder – paulina.koschmieder@giz.de
Jimmy Yoedsel – jimmy.yoedsel@giz.de
Cities Leading by Example
Cities play a dual role in climate change—they are both major contributors to it and highly vulnerable to its impacts. This dynamic creates a feedback loop that exacerbates urban challenges, where urban contributions to climate change worsen the very risks that urban centers face. As cities worldwide experience the impacts of climate change including rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves, the need for proactive, risk-informed planning has never been more urgent.
Cities Leading by Example: A Guidebook on Risk-Informed Planning and Heat Mitigation serves as a practical guide for municipal actors, urban planners, policymakers, and community leaders seeking to adopt risk-informed approach and to integrate heat adaptation into their planning processes. Drawing on practice-oriented examples, this guidebook delves into city experiences in devising policies and strategies, optimizing the institutional set-up and steering structures, pursuing effective communication and public engagement as well as utilising evidence-based planning using climate data.
Results of the Connective Cities Deep Dive process ‘Heat in the city’
How does your city deal with increasing heat? What can you do to protect the urban population from the impacts of heat burden in cities?
We would like to invite you to learn from the intensive exchange of expertise between the cities of Aswan in Egypt, Heidelberg and Lüdenscheid in Germany, Mombasa and Nairobi in Kenya and Lviv in Ukraine. The experts jointly identified and analysed challenges and developed locally-adapted solutions in the form of pilots that were implemented in their respective cities. We would like to present and discuss the results of the two-year deep dive process ‘Heat in the city’ on 12 June 2025, from 9:00 – 12:00 am:
You will have the opportunity to ‘dive’ into the projects and understand which key elements are important for successful implementation and upscaling in the future. In Lüdenscheid, efforts began with forming a multi-departmental core team to guide the development of a comprehensive heat action plan tailored to the city’s needs. Meanwhile, in Aswan, an integrated heat action framework was developed to address the unique challenges of the region’s hot climate. In Mombasa, initiatives focused on raising awareness and mapping urban heat island hotspots to inform better both stakeholders and citizens. Similarly, in Nairobi, schools became the focus of heat mitigation efforts, using temperature data to guide the strategic planting of shade-providing fruit trees, complemented by awareness programs aimed at students and educators. Meanwhile in Lviv, the participatory initiative of pocket parks was successfully launched in three different sites. Heidelberg is planning both to create a climatological database for all public spaces and outdoor areas and to develop up to three best practice examples for urban heat mitigation in public spaces.
The event is aimed at municipal experts from Germany and around the world as well as at potential donors and financial institutions who may be interested in supporting the projects. We look forward to welcoming you!
The working language of the event is English. In order to attend the meeting, subscribe here.
For more information, please contact Sibylle Loyeau sibylle.loyeau@engagement-global.de
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 :
Strengthening Risk-Informed Urban Development in Sub-Saharan Africa
SADC Peer-to-Peer Learning Platform for Integrating Disaster Risk Management into Urban Planning and Development
The race against time to determine resilience-driven solutions to highly complex and existential urban disaster risk challenges is increasingly necessary more so in Africa. Projections point to the fact that by 2050, 90% of the global urbanization will be experienced in Africa and Asia. Despite Africa’s low contributions to Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, the continent remains the most vulnerable to hazards and risk drivers like such as, but not limited to, climate change and (climate) variability. Evidently, Africa’s cities face exponential growth, unplanned urbanization trends and unfolding vulnerabilities threatening thus, to undo urban development gains. By 2050, most of the countries in the region will have made an urban transition, meaning that more than 50% of their population will live in urban areas, which are in turn, the cornerstone of Africa’s socio-economic development (IFRI 2022). As hubs of infrastructure, services, trade and people, cities are faced with one of the major urban threats in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), namely floods, subsequently challenging the continent’s socio-economic development ambitions. Urbanization is arguably an inevitable, unstoppable yet positive trend which nevertheless has the potential to greatly increase risk.
To incorporate integrated Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and climate change adaptation measures into multilateral and bilateral development cooperation programs – within and across all sectors -, Connective Cities (CC) and the Resilience Initiative Africa (RIA) have called the joint initiative on risk-informed urban development (RIUD) to enable peer to peer exchanges through a hybrid modular learning processes (LP). The LP focuses on strengthening risk-informed urban development by creating innovative solutions for flood risk management in urban systems situated in Sub-Sahara Africa with a focus in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Region.
The LP enables the use of an agile, barrier-reduced learning and exchange platform for RIUD, which is used by regional, national, and local governmental and non-governmental actors. The modular and systemic approach of the LP for RIUD includes areas related to “Sustainable Urban Development” and “Good governance” facilitating the formation of new partnerships across vertical and horizontal scales for urban/regional resilience. Through the differentiated yet complementary political counterparts, between CC and RIA, the GIZ is able to ensure scalability and wide-spread transfer and communication of the results (i.e. RIUD SADC Publication).
To enhance resilience in southern African cities, CC and RIA developed a series of hybrid modular LPs (Live Events and virtual Insight Sessions) which focus on peer to peer exchange on integrated flood risk management in SADC as part of Sub-Sahara Africa.
The kick-off event in Windhoek, Namibia took place in April 2023 and marked the first round of the LEP by creating feedback loops to inform the development of context-specific, gender-equitable and climate-change-sensitive solution options directed at tackling urban flood risk challenges in both structural and non-structural terms. During the kick-off event, the peer-to-peer exchange was guided by initial thematic areas i.e: 1) Understanding and managing flood risk drivers, 2) Green infrastructure and nature-based approaches for risk-informed solutions, and 3) Risk communication flows and good governance.