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International Community of Practice for Sustainable Municipal Development |
NEWSLETTER – ISSUE NO. 92, February 2026 |
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Dear readers, ‘Hydrogen and oxygen will secure the Earth’s energy supply for the foreseeable future,’ predicted Jules Verne in his 1875 novel ‘The Mysterious Island,’ anticipating the importance of hydrogen electrolysis and fuel cell technology. Technology has the power to open up new worlds. In this issue, we demonstrate how AI visualisations can facilitate the redesign of sustainable and affordable living spaces. We also explore how the rural German city of Borgholzhausen has developed a unique electric car-sharing service for the last mile to and from the train station.
Hydrogen is also the subject of two planned Insight Sessions, to which you are cordially invited. We will present the Heilbronn hydrogen model and the Hamburg hydrogen strategy from German cities. During the last week of March, we will hold two more virtual events to discuss how skilled labour immigration can be organised at a municipal level. We will also explore how mobility data can be effectively managed in the context of urban mobility planning. There are also still places available on the one-year regional learning programme, ‘Protecting critical infrastructure through risk-informed development in Southern Europe/South Caucasus’. We warmly invite local authorities from the region to apply and have extended the application deadline slightly. We look forward to working with you to open up new possibilities for sustainable and socially responsible urban development. Your Connective Cities Team | | |
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REVIEW |
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AI-based Visualisation for Sustainable & Affordable Housing |
Connective Cities’ virtual peer-learning workshop |
On 22 January 2026, Connective Cities brought together municipalities from sub-Saharan Africa, Europe and the MENA region. Using AI-based visualisations, practitioners from cities such as Nairobi, Huye, Hebron, Berlin and Windhoek jointly developed future scenarios for inclusive housing, public spaces and climate-resilient neighbourhoods. These were based on local contexts and inspired by the principles of the New European Bauhaus. The workshop marked the beginning of a new phase for the Connective Cities working group on sustainable and affordable housing. |
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INSIGHTS |
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Free E-Car Sharing for the Trip to the Train Station |
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An innovative mobility concept for rural areas in Borgholzhausen and Halle-Künsebeck that pays for itself. |
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The rural town of Borgholzhausen has developed a new type of electric car sharing service for the last mile to or from the train station. Anyone with a valid public transport ticket can book an electric vehicle free of charge on designated routes between certain stops for a maximum of half an hour. The neighbouring municipality of Halle-Künsebeck is participating in this innovative mobility concept, which is unique in Germany. |
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OUTLOOK |
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| | The Heilbronn Green Hydrogen Model |
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Insight session on building a regional ecosystem
on 26 February 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CET |
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The focus is on how the Heilbronn-Franken region is strategically positioning itself in the green hydrogen sector by developing a coordinated regional ecosystem. In line with the EU and German national hydrogen strategies, the initiative is contributing to climate neutrality by expanding electrolysis capacities, developing hydrogen infrastructure, and connecting to the national hydrogen core network. Take this opportunity to gain practical insights into the development of regional hydrogen structures. |
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| | The Hamburg Hydrogen Strategy |
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Insight Session about an International Hub for the Hydrogen Economy
on 18 March 2026 from 10:00 to 11:30 (CET) |
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Another insight session on the topic of hydrogen will present the Hamburg metropolitan region, which is positioning itself as a leading international location for the hydrogen economy. As a major port and logistics hub, Hamburg is well placed to link global hydrogen supply chains with national demand. The region’s strategy takes an integrated approach to scaling up production, imports, infrastructure, and industrial applications. The aim is to establish Hamburg as a gateway for hydrogen in Germany and Europe, as well as a centre for industrial change and sustainable growth. Join us and take part in the discussion! |
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| | Local Economic Development through
Skilled Immigration and Migrant Entrepreneurship |
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Insight Session on Practical Approaches from Municipalitieson 25 March 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CET (tbc) |
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How can local governments take an active role in shaping skilled labour immigration in their municipalities? This interactive online session will bring together German and international municipal practitioners to exchange experiences, learn from practical examples, and discuss innovative approaches to managing skilled labour immigration at the local level. Further information on the good practices presented will follow shortly. Save the date! |
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A follow-up activity of the learning process
‘Sustainable Mobility. Interaction of Future Proof Mobility Forms.’ |
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The 2.5-hour online event ‘Mobility Data Management’ is aimed at participants in the learning process as well as all interested municipal experts from Germany and the Global South who are involved in data management for sustainable mobility planning in their municipalities. The event is scheduled for the last week of March. The event programme will follow shortly. Interested parties are welcome to contact the project coordinator Marcella Sobisch: marcella.sobisch@engagement-global.de. |
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| | Safeguarding Critical Infrastructure through
Risk-Informed Urban Development |
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Call for participation in the learning process on planning for urban resilience
in Southeastern Europe/South Caucasus |
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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 focus lies on integrated planning, multi-risk governance and the development of implementable project approaches to protect and strengthen critical infrastructure.
Extended application deadline is 15 March 2026. Become part of the process! |
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Engagement Global gGmbH
Service Agency Communities in One World
Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 40, 53113 Bonn | Deutschland
Kontakt: Sibylle Loyeau
Email: sibylle.loyeau@engagement-global.de Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 32 + 36, 53113 Bonn | Deutschland
Kontakt: Ricarda Meissner
Email: ricarda.meissner@giz.de |
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