After two-and-a-half years, the first phase commissioned by the BMZ of setting up the international Connective Cities platform is coming to an end. In this initial development and implementation phase, the cooperation partners DST, EG and GIZ have established a range of specialised services that have met with an overwhelming positive response among municipal practitioners from Germany as well as  from the partner countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. In 14 dialogue events, more than 400 municipal experts from 20 countries exchanged practical experiences, views and opinions relating to urban sustainable development issues, advised each other on the latest challenges and developed solution options together in fields of activity such as sustainable mobility, flood risk protection, financing tools or other sustainable urban development topics. The methodological design of the events enabled participants to learn from locally tried and tested practical examples, an exchange at eye level and identifying what German and international experiences have in common. In addition, the Web Portal and the Newsletter facilitated the exchange of information and the dissemination of Good Practices as well as access to possible experts. An extension of the services range has been started with the introduction of virtual services. During these two-and-a-half years, the Connective Cities platform has been able to demonstrate that it is providing a new, complementary range of services alongside already existing networks. So far, the participants have above all appreciated the platform’s methodical approach, access to international practical experience and opportunities for peer-to-peer consulting.

With its new commissioning for a further three years, the BMZ has recognised success scored with the Connective Cities platform so far and is therefore ensuring financing for this new phase. In the context of the follow-up measure to be launched in 2016, thematic areas such as Good Urban Governance, Integrated Urban Development and Local Economic Development are to be addressed in more depth, and new exchange formats are to be developed. Also, a business model established in the first phase is to be applied that will enable other commissioning parties to mobilise additional resources and an expansion of the Connective Cities services. Apart from the continuing fields of activity in the expert services range and the business model, a third field of activity is to be opened up that will be dedicated to strategic networking with global cooperation partners and a positioning of the Connective Cities platform in international processes such as Habitat III.