Expertise in self-governance is not only to be found in the administrations of cities and municipalities. Municipal utilities play a key role in sustainable urban development. The quality of their services improves people's quality of life and enables economic development. It protects the environment in the process.

The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) therefore assigns German municipal enterprises an important role in strengthening local services of general interest in the partner countries of German development cooperation. In June 2019, the Conference of Ministers of the Interior reaffirmed this with its resolution on municipal development policy, and the United Nations' New Urban Agenda also emphasises the importance of efficient municipal enterprises for sustainable, climate-resilient, and inclusive urban development.

For this reason, the BMZ has initiated the pilot project "Utility Platform for Strengthening Partnerships of Municipal Utilities Worldwide". During the pilot phase until 2023, the focus is on municipal water companies.

Access to the vital resource of water is a prerequisite for health, economic productivity, and peaceful coexistence. Developing and emerging countries often face major challenges in this regard, such as water scarcity or inadequate infrastructure.

During the pilot phase of the utility platform, four partnerships are being promoted between Stadtentwässerung Dresden and Lvivvodokanal (Ukraine), Hamburg Wasser and Miyahuna (Jordan), Gelsenwasser and Lukanga WSC (Zambia), and between the Oldenburgisch-Ostfriesischer Wasserverband (OOWV) and the Régie Autonome de Distribution d'Eau et d'Electricité de Marrakech (RADEEMA) (Morocco). Other German operators are participating in these partnerships as co-lead partners and project participants.

The pilot project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and is being implemented since July 2019 as a cooperation project between the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and Engagement Global with its Service Agency Communities in One World (SKEW).

The operator platform is developed and implemented in cooperation with the German Association of Local Utilities (VKU) and the German Water Partnership (GWP).

On the new website you can find out everything about the pilot project and the four partnerships.

More: https://utilityplatform.connective-cities.net/en