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Category: Democracy and public participation
Call for Applications: Goerdeler Award 2027
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]
Applications and/or enquiries by email to:
Ricarda Meissner Ricarda.meissner@giz.de
Jelena Karamatijevic Jelena.karamatijevic@giz.de
Toolkit for Gender Inclusive Mobility Planning
Author: Lea Gerber
Publisher: German Institute for Urban Studies (Difu)
Women and gender minorities make up more than half the world’s population, yet transportation systems have historically been planned around a default male user. Research indicates that women and gender minorities navigate mobility networks differently, yet their travel patterns and needs remain underserved by conventional planning models. By prioritizing the needs of women and gender minorities, planners can design safer and more accessible transportation systems that enhance the experience for every user. This toolkit offers practical resources and guidance for designers, planners, and policymakers looking to integrate gender-inclusive practices into mobility and transportation planning. Mirroring the key phases of the urban planning process, the toolkit features chapters on topics such as data collection and public participation, each illustrated by a case study from local government projects. The toolkit also includes a Practitioner’s Guide that highlights key points and recommendations, allowing readers to quickly grasp and apply key guidance without reading the entire toolkit. While the toolkit is not comprehensive, it offers a starting point for re-examining and improving transportation and mobility systems at the local level.
Year of publication: 2026
48 pages
External link (Difu): https://difu.de/publikationen/2026/toolkit-for-gender-inclusive-mobility-planning
Artificial intelligence in local governments: opportunities and challenges in an international comparison
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly important for local governments. From more efficient administrative processes to data-driven decisions in urban development, resource use, or citizen participation, AI opens up new possibilities for action. At the same time, questions arise about ethical standards, transparency, and social inclusion.
The expert event brings together municipalities from Germany and the Global South to share international experiences, opportunities, and challenges in dealing with AI in municipal practice.
The aim is to:
- highlight specific best practices from different contexts,
- promote interregional knowledge exchange, and
- provide impulses for the development of individual approaches.
Firstly, the Bonn-based AI company Petanux will present its AI tools and how they collaborate with German municipalities. Secondly, the City of Jakarta will showcase the AI tool employed to support its urban development strategy. The event will conclude with a presentation from the City of Hamburg, sharing its experiences with a Large Language Models (LLMs)-based analysis tool used to monitor the implementation of the SDGs in Hamburg.
Conference language is English.
Location: Online
Free of charge. Registration is necessary:
If you have any questions about the event, please feel free to contact us:
Sibylle Loyeau
sibylle.loyeau@engagement-global.de and Connective-cities@engagement-global.de
Tel.: +49 (0)228-20717-2587
Municipal Observatory for Gender Mainstreaming
“What gets measured, gets managed.” This adage underscores the importance of tracking progress to achieve meaningful change. For municipalities committed to gender mainstreaming, this means developing structured data systems, enriching the knowledge base, and ensuring precise monitoring—essential steps toward truly inclusive, gender-sensitive local governance.
Building on the model pioneered by the National Federation of Tunisian municipalities (FNCT) and its partners,1 this guide provides a unified, practical framework for advancing gender equality by integrating a gender perspective across all municipal services. Beyond policies and projects, it aims to catalyze a cultural shift—one where gender mainstreaming is no longer an add-on, but a fundamental pillar of equitable and effective local governance. Establishing a municipal observatory for Gender Mainstreaming enables municipalities to integrate the gender perspective into all aspects of municipal services, and to foster a shift in mindset where gender mainstreaming is recognized as a core element of fair and inclusive local governance. Employing the guide’s evidence-based approach, municipalities can stimulate dialogue, propose concrete solutions, and develop measurable gender related indicators that municipalities can apply and track.
Municipal Observatory for Gender Mainstreaming
English version [pdf, 11 pp.]
Arabic version [pdf, 11 pp.]
Building New Bridges: Integration of Syrian cities in Connective Cities regional network
This workshop contributed to strengthening the exchange of municipal experiences and paved the way for Syrian cities to be integrated in the network and become active members. Representatives from Damascus and Reef Damascus Governorates shared the current state of comprehensive planning, highlighting the challenges of pursuing a long-term vision for sustainable development while aiming to turn the complexities of post-war reconstruction into an opportunity to build back better.
They also discussed their aspirations for digital transformation in their city administration. Their counterparts from Greater Amman municipality delved into practical experiences in these thematic fields, sharing a wealth of knowledge and lessons learned grounded in the local context of implementation.
Through interactive peer learning activities, the participants showcased good practice examples and fleshed out success factors and impediments faced by municipal workers in the process of city planning, municipal service delivery, and digital transformation. The discussions created an open and honest exchange, allowing both sides to learn from each other’s successes and obstacles.
A site visit to a good practice example was also organized as part of the workshop namely to Al-Zuhour Green Triangle – a model for green infrastructure. On an area of 2300 sq. m, this pilot project that was implemented by Greater Amman municipality and UN-Habitat Jordan demonstrates two concepts of green stormwater management; stormwater bioretention and stormwater detention.
The workshop resulted in a roadmap for future cooperation and institutionalization of knowledge exchange, which outlined priority action areas. Key focus areas include legislation and governance, with an emphasis on fast-tracking a fair reconstruction law in Syria, adopting standardized tendering and contracting procedures, and activating public-private partnership (PPP) frameworks where appropriate. In terms of decentralization, participants agreed on the need to delegate selected powers—particularly in transport and traffic management—to municipalities, supported by technical committees to ensure that master plans align with sectoral strategies. Strengthening resources and capacities was also identified as critical, including securing adequate human and financial resources, and investing in in-house expertise and ongoing training.
Placing the community at the center of urban planning emerged as another key principle, with commitments to maintain public participation through Citizen Hubs and feedback mechanisms that reflect both the social and economic dimensions of urban life. Finally, under the banner of “Build Back Better,” participants called for addressing data gaps, improving cross-sectoral coordination, and using reconstruction as a platform for long-term, sustainable development.
Further information about the presentations can be found on Connective Cities platform.
Connective Cities Newsletter – Issue No. 86, August 2025
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From the Open Municipality to the Smart City
Connective Cities regional network in the Middle East and North Africa organized a virtual insight session on how municipalities can utilise open governance models and harness the power of digitalisation for better urban planning and service delivery. The major potential of employing this approach lies in improved strategies for dynamic urban resource management, devising strategies for urban engagement and civic participation, as well as innovations in urban management, and policy analysis.
The insight session showcased municipal experiences on how open government principles can be localized to enhance transparency and citizen engagement and ultimately promote good governance. The role of digital transformation in increasing transparency and public participation was underscored. Furthermore, the insight session delved into application of digital tools, in particular AI-powered Geographic Information Systems (GIS), for supporting data-driven decision-making for infrastructure development and livability improvements. By showcasing good practice examples from Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Ras el-Matn (Lebanon), participants learned about successful experiences in integrating open government principles as well as urban informatics for sustainable urban growth and making municipalities more inclusive, efficient, and resilient.
The first showcased good practice discussed geospatial solutions to empower governments and municipalities with AI-powered, user-friendly GIS platforms via automation, smart analytics, and seamless decision-making tools. Examples of these tools that are employed by the municipality of Abu Dhabi to achieve higher livability standards are custom GIS applications, smart city dashboards, spatial data infrastructure systems, real-time monitoring solutions, and geospatial decision support tools. These tools are customizable and scalable, and can be adapted to the municipal needs that include spatial analysis, infrastructure planning, data integration for engineering projects, and urban design visualization.
In Ras el-Matn municipality, the principles of the open government were recently adopted to promote transparency and cooperation between municipalities and citizens. These principles were locally-adapted to form a framework for transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in local governance, particularly via increasing transparency and accountability, promoting citizen participation and collaborative governance, deploying technology, innovation and open data, improving access to information , and mainstreaming rule of law , ensuring fiscal transparency and public integrity, and optimizing responsiveness by listening to public feedback and adapting policies accordingly. It was highlighted that the smart municipality complements the open government but does not replace it. Technology is a tool to support transparency and participation, but it is not the ultimate solution to improving livability in cities.
By localizing transparency, citizen engagement, and data-driven decision-making—as demonstrated in Abu Dhabi’s geospatial solutions and Ras el-Matn’s participatory governance—cities can enhance livability and infrastructure planning. While technology enables efficiency, the foundation remains good governance: collaboration, accountability, and citizen-centric policies. The key takeaway: A “smart city” is not just about technology but about leveraging it to strengthen open, equitable, and sustainable urban development.
Recording of the session on Connective Cities platform (in Arabic).
From the open municipality to the smart city
Join us for an insight session exploring how municipalities can utilise open governance models and harness the power of digitalisation for better urban planning and service delivery.
This insight session showcases municipal experiences on how open government principles can be localized to enhance transparency and citizen engagement and ultimately promote good governance. The role of digital transformation in increasing transparency and public participation will also be discussed. Furthermore, the insight session delves into application of digital tools, in particular Geographic Information Systems (GIS), for supporting data-driven decision-making for infrastructure development and liveability improvements. Participants will explore good practice examples of cities successfully integrating smart governance and spatial planning for sustainable urban growth and engage with experts and peers on strategies to make municipalities more inclusive, efficient, and resilient.
Date: 17 June 2025
Time: 9:30 – 10:30 CEST
Language: Arabic (English interpretation)
Enrollment: https://community.connective-cities.net/en/node/1569
Questions? muna.shalan@giz.de
Empowering Communities: The Ripple Effect of Women’s Leadership
The initiative “Making My School More Beautiful,” led by five women elected for the municipal council of Yarmouk al-Jadida municipality in Jordan, showcases a successful model for promoting democracy and empowering girls through school parliaments. By collaborating closely with local communities, schools, and mothers, the project not only enhanced school environments but also fostered civic awareness and active participation among young women. Its structured approach offers a replicable framework for similar initiatives in other communities.