With the launch of Connective Cities learning process on carbon reduction pathways and improvement of outdoor thermal comfort, municipal actors and urban experts from Germany, Southeast Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and the MENA region have been engaging in peer learning, technical advisory and capacity transfer to devise local solutions that align the stakeholder’s needs with what is economically and technologically feasible. The kickoff event held from 30 November to 1 December 2022 marked the first step of this process, during which the participating municipalities identified key factors influencing ongoing practices and projects for climate action.

As a second milestone of the learning process, a workshop focusing on ideation and prototyping of solutions by the participating municipal experts will be held in Amman- Jordan from 7 to 9 March in Amman, Jordan. The participants include municipal actors from Jordan, Palestine, Tunisia, Kenya and Zambia. Within thematic working groups, participants will exchange ideas and experience on the following topics:

1. Designing climate-responsive outdoor public spaces and promoting engagement of citizens
2. Strengthening steering structures: Interdepartmental communication framework/platform in municipalities
3. Optimizing existing building and urban design regulations by introducing key performance indicators and improving in-house capacity
4. The role of municipality as a regulator and implementer: budget analysis and strategies for cost recovery of climate action measures

For more information on this Learning Process, please visit the Action for Cool Cities group on our network platform!