Tag: Import-Documents-10-06-2025 EN

Together for a cleaner city: improvements in waste management

Posted on by erik

Dabola is a dynamic city in Guinea, with a population of 47,200. Located approximately 430 km from the capital Conakry, it is a vibrant hub for traditional agricultural activities, trade, and craftsmanship. However, the city faces significant challenges due to rapid population growth and inadequate waste management, which negatively impact public health and the environment. Insufficient infrastructure and the accumulation of waste in public spaces threaten the well-being of residents and the local ecosystem.

In response to these challenges, a partnership between Dabola and Dortmund was established in 2019, focusing on solid waste collection and treatment as well as environmental education.

Since August 2022, a local expert has been assisting the municipality of Dabola in developing a sustainable waste management system and strengthening the capacities of local actors.

The implementation of a waste management plan, developed in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, marked a significant turning point in Dabola. This initiative not only strengthened cooperation between the municipal administration and external actors but also established fruitful partnerships with private companies specializing in the field. As a result of these collaborative efforts, Dabola has seen a notable decrease in street waste.

Version française: Ensemble pour une ville plus propre: améliorations dans la gestion des déchets

Action planning for sustainability reporting

Posted on by erik

The member states of the United Nations (UN) committed to work closely with local and regional governments to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

From 2 to 4 December 2024, Connective Cities organized in collaboration with the Association of German Cities a Dialogue Event in Berlin, in which 37 practitioners from 25 institutions and 15 countries met in order to exchange their experiences in the field of the Voluntary Local and Sub-National Review.
The focus of the dialogue event was on exchanging experiences and providing mutual peer-to-peer advice. The regional diversity, with perspectives and practical examples from South America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Germany, Southeast Europe and Asia, invigorated the discussion and contributed to the success of the event.

Short summary and a photo gallery on our microsite ‘Action planning for sustainability reporting‘

2nd Hands on Public Buildings

Posted on by erik

Documentation of the Connective Cities dialogue event from 24 to 26 September 2024 in Berlin.

Public buildings from the 1960s and 70s are a common feature of many cityscapes around the world. Today, they rarely meet the 21st century’s technical, energy and aesthetic requirements, and are frequently demolished and replaced with new buildings. However, they have great potential for reducing emissions in the construction sector, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation.

At the dialogue event, almost 25 municipal experts from Germany, Kenya, Montenegro, the Palestinian territories, Zambia and Ukraine exchanged views on solutions and challenges for the sustainable reuse of public buildings from the 1960s and 1970s and worked together to develop project ideas. New concepts often include multifunctional use for residential, social, educational, cultural, retail and office space.

Short summary and a photo gallery on our microsite ‘More sustainable than demolition‘

Developing a municipal Geoinformation System

Posted on by erik

Beit Jala, situated on the western outskirts of Bethlehem in the Palestinian Occupied Territories, is a municipality of about 17,500 inhabitants. The town faces several challenges, including a lack of reliable spatial data and contemporary maps that eschews urban planning and development. For this reason, the municipality decided to develop a municipal Geographic Information System (EGIS), which helps to digitalize, update and use spatial data. This system serves as a tool for urban planning and development and a trigger for digital transformation. To implement this project, Beit Jala collaborates with the German city of Jena, with the aim to develop and strengthen and foster mutual technical cooperation between the two municipalities as well as working together to improve the GIS capabilities, as Jena can contribute knowledge and experience in municipal GIS development. From 2020 to 2024, a local expert supported the development of the municipal Enterprise GIS as well as the partnership between Beit Jala and Jena.

The development of an enterprise municipal Geoinformation system in Beit Jala has yielded specific and crucial lessons for future initiatives. One key insight is the imperative of an iterative approach, wherein projects are systematically broken down into manageable phases and where different synergies were created at both the local and international level.

Handing Over Ceremony for the Climate-Sensitive City Development Strategy for Garowe

Posted on by erik

On September 25, 2024, the Garowe Municipality officially received the Climate-Sensitive City Development Strategy (CSCD), developed in collaboration with GIZ and the RACCA Working Group. This strategy offers practical solutions to pressing climate challenges in areas such as mobility, waste management, water resources, and green spaces.

Event Highlights:

  • Presentation of key sectors for climate-friendly urban development in Garowe.
  • Discussion on sustainable measures to improve urban infrastructure.
  • Formal handover of the strategy plan to the municipality, promoting the implementation of climate-friendly projects in Garowe.
  • Expert exchanges and collaborative discussions aimed at ensuring a resilient future for the city.

The ceremony marked the transition from planning to implementation, empowering Garowe in its efforts to become a sustainable and climate-resilient city.

We invite you to read the full publication and documentation of the event to explore the insights and strategies discussed in detail.

Inclusive nature tourism trails for the deaf, disabled and blind

Posted on by erik

In recent years, the tourism industry has been expanding its offerings by providing more inclusive and sustainable options. However, access to tourist attractions is still a major challenge for the deaf, visually impaired and people with disabilities. Even people with temporary injuries or mild sensory impairments often find it difficult to relax and fully enjoy their vacation experiences. This guide aims to address these challenges by updating currently available tourism guidelines and incorporating contemporary design standards for inclusivity. It is one of the outputs of the working group ‘Destination management organisation in tourism in the MENA region’.

Arabic version:
مسارات سياحية طبيعية شاملة للصم والمعاقين والمكفوفين

Kragujevac – renewable energy in district heating

Posted on by erik

‘ENERGETIKA’ Kragujevac, a state-owned company specialising in steam generation and air conditioning, has taken an important step towards environmental protection. In 2021, the old coal-fired boilers were replaced by modern gas-fired boilers, which have been in operation since the 2022/2023 heating season. This conversion has significantly reduced the plant’s environmental impact.

In a further project for the next three years, it is now planned to use the waste heat from a data centre located near the ‘Aerodrom’ boiler house heating plant and feed it into the district heating network using a heat pump. The data centre is planned for two expansion stages and the first has been in operation for less than two years. The currently installed cooling capacity of the 2 modules is 4.4 MW. The expansion of the data centre to 4 modules is expected to double the cooling capacity, which is planned for the coming years. The cooling system is designed for redundant operation.

By using the waste heat from the data centre in Kragujevac and other measures to increase energy efficiency in the hot water system, a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions will be achieved.

The initiative highlights the importance of continuous improvement through the exchange of expertise and experiences, ensuring medium to long-term success.

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

Posted on by erik

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.

Lörrach plans Germany’s first timber-built commercial area

Posted on by erik

In 2020 the town of Lörrach purchased the 8.5-hectare Lauffenmühle site which had formerly been home to a textile factory. The purchase was made possible by urban development grants worth €9.1 million from Germany’s federal government and the state of Baden-Württemberg.

Following discussions with the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, the idea arose of creating a timber-built climate-neutral commercial area on the site.

The historic factory buildings on the site and their stone facades are not protected monuments, but the project still plans to repair and retain their basic structure in order to utilise them for new commercial purposes. By doing this, the project hopes that people will be able to identify with the project, particularly in the surrounding areas.

The project can serve as a model for other municipalities in Germany and around the world, providing that entire commercial areas can be built of timber.

For more impressions, take a look at our Good Practice website!

Establishing a Primary Healthcare Center

Posted on by erik

In Northern Lebanon, the municipality of Al Mohammara confronts conflict, economic hardship, and a persistent refugee crisis. In the framework of the partnership with the German town of Opfenbach that started in 2018, Al Mohammara decided to address the urgent need for accessible healthcare.

Amid Lebanon’s economic crisis and an extremely high inflation rate, Al Mohammara’s annual budget is insufficient to cover basic services provided by the municipality. Recognized by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) as among Lebanon’s most vulnerable municipalities. The implementation of the Primary Healthcare Center project faced significant economic difficulties, primarily in the form of financial challenges during the construction phase.

However, the ongoing partnership between Al Mohammara and Opfenbach is yielding remarkable outcomes for the diverse local population. Despite facing economic challenges and regional tensions, the establishment of the Primary Healthcare Center has evolved from a simple idea into a two-floor, 1000-square-meter facility. Once, the center is operational, it will become a crucial provider of basic healthcare in the Akkar region.

———

Further information:

Securing medical care in Lebanon

Interview: Building a primary healthcare centre in challenging times

—