Category: Location development

Call for Participation – Global Green Sports: Implementing Sustainability Strategies for Major Sports Events

Posted on by burkhard

Version française ci-dessous

Major sports events inspire billions of people worldwide – while also standing at the centre of the global sustainability debate. How can cities design major sports events in ways that create ecological, social, and economic added value? Which solutions are already proving successful in practice – and what can cities learn from one another?

In Berlin, these questions are being explored intensively. Together with Connective Cities, the district of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf and the Berlin Senate Department for the Interior and Sport are inviting five additional German and six international municipalities to participate in a dialogue event on sustainability strategies for major sports events.

Who is the call for participation addressed to?

We look forward to welcoming two experts from your municipality, particularly from the fields of event management, sports, sustainability & climate action or Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).

The event language is English. Travel costs will be covered by Connective Cities.

How can you participate?

If you would like to participate in the dialogue event, please send us the following information via email:

  • the name of your municipality / organisation (including universities or NGOs) and your role/function,
  • a short description of a project from your municipality that you would like to present to the other participants as a good practice. You are also welcome to describe a local challenge you are currently facing and would like to discuss with the other municipal experts.

 

Please get in touch about your participation until 5 July 2026.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us:
Nikola Krause, project coordinator Connective Cities
nikola.krause@engagement-global.de; +49 (0)228 20717 2922 and connective-cities@engagement-global.de

Further information can be found in the Call for Participation (download on the right).

Appel à candidatures – Global Green Sports : mise en œuvre de stratégies de durabilité pour les grands événements sportifs

Invitation adressée aux experts municipaux à participer à la rencontre de dialogue à Berlin, du 20 au 22 octobre 2026

Les grands événements sportifs enthousiasment des milliards de personnes – tout en étant au coeur du débat mondial sur la durabilité. Comment les communes peuvent-elles organiser les grands événements sportifs
de manière à créer une valeur ajoutée écologique, sociale et économique ? Quelles solutions fonctionnent déjà dans la pratique – et que peut-on apprendre les uns des autres ?

À Berlin, les responsables s’occupent déjà activement de ces questions. Aujourd’hui, l’arrondissement de Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf et l’administration sénatoriale chargée des affaires intérieures et des sports, en collaboration avec Connective Cities, invitent 5 autres communes allemandes et 6 communes internationales à échanger, lors d’une rencontre de dialogue, sur les stratégies de durabilité pour les grands événements sportifs.

À qui s’adresse cet appel à participation ?

Nous nous réjouissons de la participation de deux experts de votre commune, notamment issus des domaines de la gestion d’événements, du sport, de l’éducation au développement durable ou des services de l’ordre public.

La langue de l’événement est l’anglais. Les frais de déplacement seront pris en charge par Connective Cities.

Comment participer ?

Si vous souhaitez participer à cet événement de dialogue, veuillez nous envoyer les informations suivantes par e-mail :

le nom de votre municipalité / organisation (y compris les universités ou les ONG) et votre rôle/fonction, une brève description d’un projet de votre municipalité que vous souhaiteriez présenter aux autres participants en tant que bonne pratique. Vous pouvez également décrire un défi local auquel vous êtes actuellement confronté et dont vous aimeriez discuter avec les autres experts municipaux.

Merci de nous faire part de votre participation avant le 5 juillet 2026.

Vous trouverez toutes les informations complémentaires dans
l’appel à participation [pdf]

Si vous avez des questions, n’hésitez pas à nous contacter:

Nikola Krause, coordinatrice du projet Connective Cities
nikola.krause@engagement-global.de ; +49 (0)228 20717 2922 et connective-cities@engagement-global.de

Start-ups and Innovation: Labour Market Opportunities and Prospects for Young People

Posted on by burkhard

How can municipalities help young people successfully start businesses while also driving local development? This question was at the heart of the international Connective Cities dialogue event “Start-ups and Innovation: Labour Market Opportunities and Prospects for Young People”, held in Bremen from 30 June to 2 July 2026. Around 35 experts from 11 municipalities and seven countries came together to exchange experiences, learn from one another, and jointly develop new solutions.

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 participants are discussing in a historic hall
Reception for participants at Bremen City Hall | Photo: Connective Cities

Participants gained insights into successful municipal approaches from Germany, Namibia, North Macedonia, Rwanda, Serbia, South Africa, and Zambia. Examples included business incubators, one-stop shops for advisory services, digital platforms, mentoring programmes, and initiatives supporting women, migrants, and young people in rural areas. Particularly impressive was the diversity of solutions tailored to local challenges.

“We use storytelling and share the stories of start-ups so that others can see: this could be my story as well.”
Oliver Götz, Gründungswerft e.V., Germany

One example from the Global South came from Windhoek, Namibia. The Bokamoso Entrepreneurial Centre supports young businesses with affordable infrastructure and training opportunities to help them enter national and international markets. The centre has successfully assisted companies in sectors such as crafts, the creative industries, and food production. It also specifically promotes business concepts focused on resource efficiency and recycling, thereby strengthening the circular economy in Windhoek.

From Germany, Bremen presented its closely connected start-up ecosystem, which brings together stakeholders from business, academia, and public administration. Through Starthaus Bremen & Bremerhaven, the city offers a central point of contact supporting aspiring entrepreneurs with advice, networking, financing, and funding opportunities. Bremen also promotes entrepreneurship awareness among young people through partnerships with schools and universities.

 

Eine Frau aus Sambia steht vor einem Pinboard und erklärt mit viel Gestik ihr Projekt,
Project presentation from Choma, Zambia | Photo: Connective Cities

The connection between education and entrepreneurship was a central theme throughout the event. Professor Dr. Jörg Freiling of the University of Bremen emphasized that young people today need skills such as creativity, initiative, problem-solving abilities, and entrepreneurial thinking to succeed in an increasingly complex world. Universities, schools, and companies must therefore work more closely together and expose young people to real-world challenges and innovation processes at an early stage.

“I often tell my students: you are the innovators in our society.”
Professor Dr. Jörg Freiling, University of Bremen

During the working groups and peer-to-peer consultations, participants developed numerous practical solutions. Topics included strengthening the links between education and business, creating new training and mentoring formats, introducing mobile advisory services for remote regions, and reducing bureaucratic barriers for entrepreneurs.

Drei junge Leute stehen vor einer Tafel. Die Frau in der Mitte hält eine Karte hoch mit der Aufschrift: Bureaucratic barriers".
Presentation of the group work | Photo: Connective Cities

Representatives from Munich contributed ideas on how to better support entrepreneurs with migration backgrounds. Proposed measures included multilingual information services, mentoring programmes to help navigate administrative procedures, and closer cooperation with Welcome Centres and other advisory institutions.

Another widely discussed solution came from eThekwini, South Africa, addressing the challenges faced by remote and rural communities. Participants explored the concept of mobile hubs—vehicles that regularly deliver advisory services, training, digital infrastructure, and information on funding opportunities directly to hard-to-reach communities. This approach would allow young people outside major urban centres to access essential support services.

We need to encourage young people to not just work for self-sustenance, but to create jobs to the local communities as well.“
Dumisani Nhlengethwa, eThekwini Municipality, South Africa

The dialogue programme was complemented by study visits to Bremen and Bremerhaven’s start-up ecosystem. Visits to Starthaus Bremen & Bremerhaven, the hoi startup factory, and other local initiatives demonstrated how a well-connected innovation ecosystem can support entrepreneurs throughout their journey.

The event marked the beginning of a new Connective Cities learning process. Additional online formats, expert exchange visits, and a closing online event will continue the collaboration among municipalities in the coming months. The strong interest and vibrant discussions highlighted that supporting youth entrepreneurship is increasingly seen worldwide as a key driver of sustainable economic and social development.

“This event gave me a bird’s-eye view. It is often difficult to see what is truly important when you are deeply involved in projects.”
Era Bektashi, Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz, Germany

 

Further Impressions:

Photos: Connective Cities

Author: Katrin Riß, text+welt

Skilled Immigration and Migrant Entrepreneurship for Local Economic Development

Posted on by burkhard

Migration policy may be a national matter – however, its success or failure is also determined at the local level. Convinced by this, around 50 local government professionals came together for a virtual Insight Session organised by Connective Cities. The focus was on the question of what role municipalities can play in the immigration of skilled workers and in supporting migrant entrepreneurship.

In addition to a study by the German Institute for Employment Research IAB, practical examples from the German Pinneberg District, Mersin (Türkiye) and Oberhausen (Germany), Munich (Germany) and Gharb Irbid (Jordan) formed the basis of in-depth working group discussions. These clearly demonstrated that local governments can play a crucial role in realising the economic potential of migration at the local level.

The key findings are documented here.

Green Hydrogen for Local Economic Development

Posted on by burkhard

Green hydrogen is rapidly gaining global prominence as a crucial energy carrier for the future. Although much of today’s discussion focuses on hydrogen production and its export potential, domestic consumption of green hydrogen offers equally significant opportunities for local economic development—strengthening municipal infrastructure, creating skilled jobs, and stimulating new economic activities along various value chains. For many African countries, abundant solar and wind resources give cities a unique advantage, positioning them not only as innovation hubs but also as centers for technology transfer, workforce training, and industrial diversification. By integrating sustainable use of green hydrogen into urban planning, municipalities can enhance energy security, attract long-term investment, and build more resilient, climate-friendly local economies—ultimately becoming key drivers in the global clean-energy transition.

Group photo of participants in front of the conference building
Conference participants | Photo: Connective Cities

To advance the exchange of best practices and accelerate strategy development between African and German cities, Connective Cities hosted its second workshop on “Exploring the Potential of the Green Transition for Local Economic Development” held on 25–27 November 2025 in Mombasa. Representatives from Mauritania, Kenya, South Africa, and Germany participated. This edition focused on improving technological readiness for green hydrogen production, addressing local implementation challenges andstrengthening regional competitiveness among other readiness issues. The discussions further emphasized the importance of involving , and integrating universities, research institutions  and start-ups as key drivers of job creation and innovation.

The City of Nakuru, Kenya presented its benchmark strategy to position itself as a model green city and a leading hub for green fertiliser production within is floriculture sector,  reducing import dependency and supporting the emergence of new green industries. With its proximity to the rift valley geothermal vents, Nakuru is well positioned for cost- competitive green hydrogen production. The city aims to attract pilot projects, applied research initiatives, and local and international start-ups working along the green hydrogen value chain., reinforcing its long-term vision as a regional clean-energy and innovation hub.

Nine people are standing on a terrace in the harbour area of Mombasa.
Field visit to the port of Mombasa | Photo: Connective Cities

Kenya has adopted a national Green Hydrogen Strategy and participates in regional African hydrogen initiatives. Mombasa, as a major port city, holds strategic significance for export logistics and coastal project siting. While early national activities have focused on potential assessments and pilot sites, coastal locations like Mombasa are increasingly viewed as gateways for logistics, export-oriented hydrogen production, and coastal renewable-energy projects. The city now seeks to leverage its strategic location to establish itself as a global player in hydrogen-powered logistics and to develop the port into a logistics cluster that attracts innovative local and international investment supported by a skilled workforce.

In South Africa, the Waterberg region in Limpopo forms part of the national “Hydrogen Valley,” stretching across Limpopo, Gauteng, and KwaZulu-Natal. Mining and industrial operations in the Waterberg–Mokopane corridor are being integrated into hydrogen and platinum-group-metal value chains. Recent feasibility studies and national green hydrogen planning have made the region increasingly attractive to investors. The local development vision is to integrate renewable energy generation with mining operations and downstream green hydrogen and green ammonia applications. This approach aims to link industrial decarbonisation and new export opportunities with local job creation and investment. Waterberg is also seeking to strengthen collaboration with universities by fostering local and international research partnerships to spur pilot projects and nurture green start-ups across emerging value chains.

Mauritania has become a high-potential green hydrogen country due to its exceptional wind and solar resources and favourable export position toward Europe. Several large-scale, export-oriented hydrogen and ammonia projects have been announced or are under development. While the national strategy prioritises export-driven green hydrogen production, it also emphasises renewable energy use to support domestic power grids and industry. However, as national projects advance, municipalities within Nouakchott—particularly Sebkha and Ksar, – continue to face high electricity costs, pollution, limited infrastructure, and the absence of clear municipal hydrogen strategies. These communes are not seeking merely to host hydrogen developments, they aim to participate meaningfully in shaping equitable, community-centered value creation within Mauritania’s emerging green hydrogen economy. The City of Nouakchott through its private sector and international partnerships, now seeks to position itself as an active player in his transition with a focus on modernizing urban services , strengthening governance, and building local private-sector capacity ultimately becoming a regional hub for green urban development, logistics, and industrial enterprises linked to the green hydrogen value chain.

The participating German cities also shared key insights and updates on their latest initiatives. Karlsruhe highlighted its hydrogen hub around the Rhine ports (H2iPortKA) and its strong research ecosystem in collaboration with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the Fraunhofer Institutes. Particularly noteworthy is the dynamic start-up and spin-off environment, which demonstrates how the green transition can generate new jobs and investment for an entire region.

Heilbronn, well known as a centre for technology and hydrogen innovation within Germany’s automotive and engineering clusters, aims to use green hydrogen to diversify its industrial base, upgrade workforce skills, and anchor research-driven companies in the region. Heilbronn University and nearby Fraunhofer initiatives are expanding applied research and innovation centers—including those focused on hydrogen technologies—leveraging strong industry links for piloting and skills development.

 

Nine people are standing on a terrace in the harbour area of Mombasa.
Field visit to the port of Mombasa | Photo: Connective Cities

The workshop underscored the vast opportunities emerging around green hydrogen production across regions endowed with abundant renewable energy resources.. However, cities and regions hosting these new green industries are often overlooked in national strategies that prioritize high-profile investments and export ambitions. Many localities remain uncertain of how they and their populations can directly participate in these developments. Significant technological and institutional gaps persist, and synergies between international high-tech initiatives and local realities are not automatic. As a result, municipalities are increasingly seeking models, international experiences, expertise, and partnerships to strengthen their capacity and create a level playing field:- one that enables prosperous, innovative and equitable local economies in which nations, investors, and communities all benefit alongside advancing technologies

Exploring the Potential of Green Transition for Local Economic Development

Posted on by burkhard

African and German Cities Power a Shared Vision for a Just, Climate-Smart Hydrogen Future

Cities across Africa and Europe are accelerating their role as frontline actors in the global green transition, driving innovation, investment, and climate resilience from the ground up. Following the successful launch of the Hydrogen Cities Working Group earlier this year in Naivasha, Kenya, Connective Cities will convene the second peer-learning workshop on 24–27 November 2025 in Mombasa, Kenya.

This flagship event will bring together city leaders, practitioners, industry innovators, researchers, and development partners to scale up municipal hydrogen strategies and unlock new pathways for green industrialization, inclusive growth, and just transition at the local level.

From Naivasha to Mombasa: Turning Ideas into Impact

The inaugural workshop in Naivasha brought together over 30 municipal representatives and technical experts to explore how cities can anchor the emerging green hydrogen economy in local value creation and job generation. It underscored hydrogen’s role not only as a clean-energy vector but as a catalyst for climate-neutral industrial ecosystems, skills development, and innovation-driven urban transformation.

Case studies showcased how municipalities are positioning themselves along the hydrogen value chain — from production and storage to end-use applications in mobility, manufacturing, and port logistics. Examples ranged from Namibia’s evolving hydrogen hubs to Germany’s Heilbronn and Karlsruhe regions, where local governments are building innovation clusters, R&D partnerships, and market linkages for hydrogen deployment.

An expert stands next to a screen showing a PowerPoint presentation.
Specialist presentation during the meeting in Naivasha | Photo: Connective Cities

Participants also highlighted the importance of integrated urban governance — combining spatial planning, transparent land management, and strong stakeholder engagement — to ensure hydrogen projects deliver tangible community benefits.

 Key takeaways from Naivasha included:

  • Municipal leadership as a driving force for innovation, investment, and policy alignment.
  • Local value creation through SME participation, skills training, and green entrepreneurship.
  • Institutional capacity and human capital as preconditions for hydrogen readiness.
  • Peer-to-peer collaboration as a catalyst for scaling solutions and knowledge transfer.

Since Naivasha, cities have been actively refining their project concepts, forging cross-regional partnerships, and identifying bankable entry points to accelerate their green transition agendas.

Green Hydrogen: Powering Sustainable, Inclusive Urban Futures

Africa’s vast solar and wind potential places its cities at the heart of the global clean-energy transformation. Green hydrogen — and its derivatives such as green ammonia and e-methanol — offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity for low-carbon industrialisation, climate resilience, and circular economy development.

For municipalities, this transition means:

  • Developing innovation clusters and hydrogen corridors that attract private investment.
  • Expanding renewable energy infrastructure and smart urban grids.
  • Enhancing water security and resource-efficient technologies such as desalination and wastewater reuse.
  • Creating green jobs across engineering, construction, logistics, and research sectors.
  • Catalysing start-ups, incubators, and technology partnerships.
  • Building skills pipelines aligned with future hydrogen markets.

Yet, challenges persist — from infrastructure gaps and regulatory complexity to financing bottlenecks and local ownership. The Hydrogen Cities Working Group provides a collaborative platform where cities can co-create solutions, de-risk investment, and ensure the green transition remains inclusive, equitable, and locally anchored.

What to Expect in Mombasa: Scaling Up and Going Deeper

The upcoming workshop in Mombasa will mark a critical shift from strategic visioning to operationalisation and project implementation. Over three days, participants will:

  • Present project updates and refine concepts through structured peer-review and coaching.
  • Engage in interactive sessions on land use, water-energy nexus, and industrial cluster design.
  • Explore innovative financing instruments, including blended finance and PPP models.
  • Participate in hands-on peer-coaching clinics to advance project maturity.
  • Exchange with international experts on policy frameworks, investment pipelines, and market integration.
  • Join a site visit to the Mombasa Port and Special Economic Zone to identify real-world opportunities for green hydrogen applications.

The event will feature keynotes from government and private-sector leaders, expert panels, and networking sessions to strengthen partnerships between African and German municipalities.

Confirmed participants include cities such as Mombasa, Naivasha, Lüderitz, Arandis, Nouakchott, Waterberg District, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Heilbronn, and Freudenstadt — forming a growing alliance of municipalities championing decentralized, climate-smart hydrogen ecosystems.

Looking Ahead: Cities as Catalysts of a Just Green Economy

As the global energy landscape transforms, cities that act decisively today will become the engines of tomorrow’s green prosperity. The Mombasa workshop represents another milestone in empowering municipalities to lead the hydrogen-powered urban transformation — advancing climate action, economic resilience, and social inclusion in equal measure.

Through the Hydrogen Cities Working Group, Connective Cities continues to bridge continents, connect expertise, and translate ambition into action — ensuring that the hydrogen revolution drives sustainable, locally embedded, and future-ready urban economies.

From Naivasha to Mombasa, cities are demonstrating that the green transition starts locally — and scales globally.

Green Hydrogen for Local Development

Posted on by erik

Naivasha, Kenya | 14–17 April 2025 – Green hydrogen is gaining global attention as a key energy carrier for the future. While much of the discussion centres on export potential, green hydrogen production also holds significant potential for local development—boosting municipal infrastructure and stimulating local economies, especially in Africa, where the continent’s high potential for solar and wind energy brings African cities in a unique position to become innovation hubs and key drivers in the global energy transition.

To foster exchange of experiences and best practices between African and German cities, Connective Cities organised the workshop “Exploring the Potential of Green Transition for Local Economic Development”, bringing together over 30 municipal professionals from both regions.

The role of cities in promoting green hydrogen

The workshop, which focused on the role of cities in advancing green hydrogen as a lever for sustainable economic growth, facilitated a peer-to-peer learning space for municipal actors to exchange experiences, address challenges, and explore pathways for green hydrogen adoption at the local level.

Municipal strategies and shared challenges

Konferenzraum: Teilnehmende sitzen gruppiert an runden Tischen. Auf dem Plenum sitzen fünf Personen und diskutieren.
Photo: Connective Cities

A central focus of the exchange was how technological innovation can align with local development needs. Discussions ranged from decentralised hydrogen production systems and seawater electrolysis to the use of organic waste as a renewable source. Especially for coastal or water-scarce cities in Africa, such technologies were seen as promising solutions to local resource constraints.

However, participants agreed that technology alone is not enough. Effective local hydrogen strategies require strategic urban planning, transparent land management, and strong community engagement. Several municipalities shared examples of inclusive planning processes, involving traditional authorities and local universities in shaping future-oriented land use plans and infrastructure projects.

Eine Gruppe von zehn Personen sitzen um einen runden tisch und diskutieren intensiv. Im Hintergrund steht eine Metaplan-Tafel.
Peer Learning Session | Photo: Connective Cities

Participants from countries including Namibia, South Africa, Mauritania, Kenya, and Germany presented concrete initiatives demonstrating how hydrogen projects can generate local value. The example of Arandis (Namibia) illustrated how targeted investment and strategic partnerships are enabling the town to position itself as a production hub for green hydrogen. In contrast, the Heilbronn region (Germany) focuses on the application and industrial use of hydrogen, building a regional value chain by attracting user industries and technology providers.

Furthermore, Karlsruhe (Germany) showcased a successful ecosystem for start-ups working in hydrogen technologies, supported by research institutions and public-private partnerships. Across all cases, one message became clear: municipal masterplans and coordinated strategic planning are essential for cities to fully benefit from the emerging hydrogen economy.
The discussions underscored the growing role of cities not only as implementers of national energy goals, but as active shapers of the green transition. The workshop aimed to empower municipalities to position themselves as testing grounds, innovation platforms, and investment destinations within a future green hydrogen economy.

Outlook and next steps

The workshop concluded with a strong call for municipal leadership in developing local hydrogen strategies that reflect both environmental ambitions and socio-economic priorities. Participants identified three key areas for action:

  1. Local value creation: Prioritising domestic use of hydrogen for local industries – such as fertiliser or building materials – rather than relying solely on export models.
  2. Education and skills development: Aligning vocational training and higher education programmes with future labour market needs in the hydrogen sector.
  3. Partnerships and knowledge exchange: Strengthening peer-to-peer learning and cooperation among municipalities through platforms such as Connective Cities.

Participants also highlighted that green hydrogen offers more than energy solutions – it can help create future-oriented jobs, stimulate innovation, and improve urban living conditions. By linking clean energy production with economic development, municipalities can promote both resilience and inclusivity.
The workshop in Naivasha confirmed that green hydrogen can become a key pillar of sustainable urban development – provided that cities take a proactive role. Where political commitment, technical capacity and community participation come together, green hydrogen has the potential to drive long-term prosperity and shared growth.

Gruppenbild mit sechs Teilnehmenden aus Deutschland und Kenia
Photo: Export-Akademie Baden-Württemberg

 

“Whether peer learning sessions, inspiring impulses or practical insights into hydrogen strategies, sustainable mobility and local project development – the variety of formats impressively demonstrated how much potential there is in partnership-based cooperation.“

– Felix Sossalla, Wirtschaftsförderung Raum Heilbronn GmbH (LinkedIn, translated)

 

“We’re looking forward to partnering with more cities, industries, and changemakers who share our vision for a greener, more inclusive future. Let’s create the green cities of tomorrow — together.”

– Export-Akademie Baden-Württemberg (LinkedIn)

The Haus der Statistik

Posted on by erik

Author: Dr. Susanne Reiff

Publisher: Connective Cities

A new district for administration, housing, social affairs and culture is being built on the large site of the former administrative building for the Federal Statistical Office – Haus der Statistik – in the center of Berlin. A civil society initiative had prevented the demolition of the existing building from the 1960s and, together with the administration and other stakeholders, developed the concept for the conversion – a beacon for alternative approaches to urban development.

4 pages

Year of publishing: 2025

Celebrating Decentralized Cooperation and Heritage-Driven Tourism

Posted on by burkhard

On 20 March 2025, in honor of the International Day of Happiness, Connective Cities hosted an insightful session highlighting the transformative power of decentralized cooperation in advancing sustainable development. This session aligned with the global theme of happiness by fostering collaboration, cultural exchange, and community engagement—key pillars of thriving and cohesive societies.

The session explored how decentralized cooperation empowers municipalities to tackle shared challenges, drive innovation, and promote inclusive growth. Participants gained valuable insights from successful heritage-driven tourism strategies implemented in various municipalities, inspiring them to leverage partnerships for meaningful local and global impact.

The session opened with a heartfelt address by Ms. Barbara Baumbach (BMZ), who emphasized Connective Cities’ success in facilitating global exchanges of municipal expertise and supporting the development of locally-adapted solutions to urban challenges. This was followed by three engaging panel discussions featuring representatives from Battir and Brühl, Bethlehem and Madaba, and Nablus. These discussions showcased how municipalities and civil society effectively utilize local and international collaborations to create opportunities for societal, economic, and environmental progress.

 

Panel discussion of the partnership Brühl-Battir | Photo: Connective Cities

The panels addressed key topics such as:

  • Bridging communities through cooperation – success factors and challenges in decentralized cooperation
  • Revitalizing decentralized cooperation
  • Harnessing local stakeholder collaboration for sustainable tourism development

By drawing on international, regional, and local examples, the session demonstrated how municipalities can harness decentralized cooperation to foster sustainable tourism while balancing cultural preservation and economic growth. The discussions underscored the importance of engaging local communities and stakeholders, integrating academic contributions, and strengthening international partnerships to address global challenges effectively.

Master Presentation of the Insight Session on Connective Cities platform including the recording of the session for registered users (Arabic and German).

Author: Muna Shalan | Connective Cities

Impressions

Input from the Nablus Chamber of Commerce
nput from the Ministry of Tourism of Palestine
Input from media representatives from Nablus
Input from the academic community of Nablus
Twinning agreement between Bethlehem and Madaba
Commonalities between Bethlehem and Madaba

Avoiding vacancy by opening buildings to interim use

Posted on by erik

During the process of redefining a building’s purpose and outlining the procedure and financing of the venture, constructions might fall vacant. A vacant building is wasted potential in many ways, for both the community and the cities’ urban development.

Moreover, an unused building often leads to an increase in visual and atmospheric pollution due to the accumulation of waste, water infiltration and possible growth of mold or toxic materials. Besides these ecological consequences, vandalism may increase as well as insecurity in the surroundings. Hence, the revitalisation of vacant buildings can come costly to municipalities and possible investors.

How can vacancy be avoided? Opening public buildings to interim use was one of the topics that participants of the learning process “2nd Hands on Public Buildings” wanted to focus on during the one-year-long learning process on reusing public buildings from the 1960s and 1970s. Therefore, experts from Germany, Kenya, Palestine and Montenegro came together virtually on March 12, 2025.

During the meeting, the German guests Oliver Hasemann, ZwischenZeitZentrale Bremen, and Moritz Tonn, Transiträume e.V., elaborated on the facilitation of interim use in Bremen and Berlin. With years of experience and quite some examples of moderating agreements between the buildings’ owners and users, the inputs allowed for a general understanding of the opportunities and challenges related to intermediate tenants. Given the vibrant cultural scene in Berlin, Transiträume e.V. has successfully allowed artist to transform vacant halls to impressive exhibition spaces, attracting large numbers of visitors. Among other, ZZZBremen showcased its “Wurst Case” (translates into “Sausage Case”), in which a sausage factory was reused involving the public in an extended participation process. The factory was then rented in a small scale to local entrepreneurs, artists, and for social initiatives and artisans testing of various kinds of use (offices, workshops, studios).

Giving the buildings a temporary use helps their protection, reduce the operational and maintenance costs for public vacancy and can support the cultural and creative industry. Through the participation of neighbourhoods, the interim use of vacant buildings also helps revitalizing disadvantaged areas. The main challenges consisted in setting a frame for interested users, which means to create the basic infrastructure and the legal framework for working in the abandoned buildings as well as finding sponsorships and raising awareness for the new project.

Based on these inputs, the group of experts discussed their project examples and ideas regarding a possible temporary use. Twenty floors of the former Hilton Hotel in Nairobi are currently vacant and the participants were interested in how interim use might lead to the attraction of possible investors. Although in one case an investor who had visited an exhibition in Berlin had finally bought the complex, the guests stated that this was not the main objective of interim utilisation. Financing was also a concern of a participants from Montenegro and Regensburg.

The consense was that those who profit most from the interim use should also be hold financially responsible. In most cases, tenants only pay a symbolic rent, but their conservation of the building presents an economic advantage for the owner. Cases are very individual. In Regensburg, the activation of central heating in the concerned building would have caused high costs. While the guest suggested house in house solutions, Regensburg had yet found creative forms of interim use and offered the fireguard and police to use the building for training purposes. Asked from Hebron, questions concerned the public participation process and best practices. The ongoing Connective Cities learning process will offer another follow-up activity on the involvement of the public, soon.

„Think about your interim project from the end. How is it guaranteed that the project ends in everybody’s consent?” Oliver Hasemann, ZweischenZeitZentrale Bremen