No sooner said than done: within a few days, the Ukrainian needs were assessed by the German partners and communicated to the project team. The market was searched and evaluated by experts for the required supplies. Administrative processes were simplified to be able to make decisions at short notice. To better overcome challenges and create short communication channels, Connective Cities organised a regular virtual exchange among the German participating municipalities. The meetings are chaired by the Association of German Cities. Problems are solved together, and situation reports on the situation in Ukraine are exchanged.

 
Like that, progress was made quickly. Soon, the cities had agreed with their Ukrainian friends on five packages of emergency supplies, which were immediately procured: Mobile kitchens, heating stoves, equipment for classrooms including playground equipment, medical products, and municipal vehicles. In the meantime, the participating municipalities completed the necessary preparations and formalities in terms of customs documentation, forwarding, handover protocols - here, too, the community was a great asset, because problems of any kind could be solved through exchange among peers.

For the export of the supplies, in some cases existing structures were used and German municipalities had already organised donation transports to Ukraine on their own initiative. In other cases, logistics solutions were found at short notice.

 
This decentralised approach, which the Association of German Cities in particular had also advocated, is new: relief supplies reach the target groups in need of help in their Ukrainian partner communities more directly and quickly via the German municipalities.

Delivery via the normal state structures and ministries in Ukraine would have entailed longer coordination and distribution processes. This saved valuable time. Also important in this process is the transfer of ownership to the German municipalities, which was coordinated with the respective legal offices. This is the only way for municipalities to obtain the necessary "ownership" and thus the possibility to have wheel bearings, ambulances or school furniture transported to Ukraine on their own initiative. This also deepens existing intermunicipal relationships.

In the meantime wheel loaders, ambulances, and transporters from the city of Hannover arrived in the city of Mykolayiv. Schwäbisch Gmünd also delivered municipal vehicles to its Ukrainian partners in Oboshyne. The city of Schöningen managed to transport about 80 heating stoves to Soloshyne at the onset of winter. The city of Münster has also sent a first aid shipment to Vinnytsia - loaded with mobile kitchens, durable food, and crockery. Many more deliveries will follow soon, even if the snowfall in Poland and Ukraine makes transport even more difficult.

For some partnerships, the cooperation marks the beginning of an official solidarity partnership, while other participating municipalities strengthen their already existing town twinning in the time of crisis. Either way, cross-border solidarity works!

And once again, the great strength of the municipalities in times of need becomes apparent: the ability to quickly and with much humanity overcome all hurdles, no matter how high, and to find new, unbureaucratic ways to thus put the need and hardship of people across borders first. Here lies a great, largely untapped potential - and that is in some way reassuring in these times marked by fear and war.

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For further information on the project and/or participation opportunities, please contact Ms Paulina Koschmieder.paulina.koschmieder(at)giz.de .

Or visit the following website:

Cities4Cities: https://www.cities4cities.eu/LandingPage/Index?ReturnUrl=%2F