Connective Cities: Newsletter Connective Cities No. 46, 3-2022

NEWSLETTER - EDITION No. 46, March 2022

Dear readers,

The Omicron variant has brought the COVID-19 pandemic into a new phase. Although infection numbers are still high worldwide, hospitalization rates are declining. In this issue we continue to focus our attention on good practices and learning experiences gained during the pandemic that are now leading improvements in many areas of sustainable urban development - from tactical urbanism to expanding cycling infrastructure to integrated GIS-based land use planning; from improving waste management and circular economy to implementing urban gardening projects and supporting vulnerable groups.

Yesterday was Equal Pay Day in Germany, which symbolically draws attention to the wage gap between women and men. In Germany, the pay gap is 18%, which puts the country at the bottom of the European rankings. Today is International Women's Day, but unfortunately, we realise that the pandemic has set many countries back in terms of gender equality. Gender-sensitive urban development is therefore an important focus of our work. We cordially invite you to our Insight Session on "Urban Safety for Women and Girls" tomorrow, 9 March.

Moreover, we are also keeping an eye on the risks and uncertainties in times of climate change. To better assess these, Connective Cities and the GIZ Global Initiative on Disaster Risk Management have jointly launched the Risk Informed Urban Development Working Group, which is open to all interested municipal experts.

At the same time, our thoughts and solidarity are with the people of Ukraine. The current developments of the Russian attack are massively threatening people’s lives, causing immeasurable suffering and the development successes of the past years are in danger of being destroyed.

There are more than 70 municipal partnerships between Ukrainian and German municipalities. Connective Cities has worked closely with colleagues from Brovary, Kharkiv, Khortiv, Lviv, Oleksandriia, Novograd, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr and other municipalities in Ukraine in a whole series of learning processes and peer-to-peer consultations. Many German partners are now working intensively to deliver aid transports to Ukraine as a visible sign of solidarity.

The current state of the world shows us once again how fragile peace is and that "peace is not everything, but everything is nothing without peace.” (Willy Brandt). This makes it even more important for cities, communities and their citizens around the world to unite in partnership, friendship and solidarity across all borders.

Your Connective Cities team

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^{Photo above: Peace Bridge in Tbilisi, Georgia | Photo: Boris Stroujko, Adobe Stock}

Review

Creating an integrated GIS land management system for Livingstone City Council, Zambia

Virtual Expert Mission: Exchange between Livingstone City Council and the City of Munich, Germany in January 2022

An expert mission to support the Livingstone City Council on land management issues took place online on 20 January. The consultation aimed at creating a system to use existing geodata effectively in all departments of the city administration. An intense exchange created orientation and starting points for further action and put the timetable on a realistic basis.

Planning by doing – Tactical Urbanism during the COVID-19 pandemic

Review of the Insight Session on 16 February 2022

How can innovative ideas for redesigning public spaces be implemented quickly, without bureaucracy and without great expense in a joint process between planning authorities and local residents? Successful examples of tactical urbanism from Barcelona, New Delhi, Chennai, Kochi and Coimbatore were presented to the more than 50 participants. The presentations were followed by a question-and-answer session.

Insights

Does the Covid-19 pandemic have an impact on consumption patterns and waste volumes?

Forecast by the German Association for Waste Management

The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly altered economic activities and people’s lifestyles. These changes also have a great impact on industrial, commercial and private waste volumes. Precise information and forecasts help municipal waste management companies to better plan the effectiveness of their facilities.

Trash to Cash

Social entrepreneurship and community engagement for a circular economy in Lebanese municipalities

Despite a very complex and difficult national situation, the two Lebanese municipalities of Al Manara and Ghalboun managed to tackle their environmental problems, such as air, water and soil pollution and to create new jobs in the solid waste sector. This success was made possible by the commitment of both – the municipality and the local community.

No return to the “old normal” after Covid-19

Right of way for bicycles and pedestrians in the Ecuadorian capital Quito

With the Covid 19 pandemic and the expansion of cycling infrastructure, the number of cyclists in Quito has increased by 600 per cent. Pop-up bike lanes are permanently redesignated to maintain this momentum. Pedestrians also benefit from traffic-calmed zones.

Support for vulnerable groups in Tbilisi, Georgia

Mitigating the consequences of the pandemic together with the private sector and civil society

As part of its support during the Covid-19 pandemic, Tbilisi has adopted a number of measures and social projects to help vulnerable groups in the city. Many different actors are involved in the implementation: Local businesses, the Red Cross and civil society volunteers.

Urban Gardening Guidebook

by the Connective Cities biodiversity working group in the MENA region

This Connective Cities guide is the result of an extensive exchange among experts in the second half of 2021. It explains why urban gardening is important and guides the reader through all the steps of an urban gardening project - from the initial situation analysis to the preparatory work, the implementation phase and a final monitoring and evaluation.

Outlook

Urban Safety for Women and Girls

Join our Insight Session on safer public spaces on 9 March 2022!

As part of our virtual global exchange series “Insight Sessions: (Post)-COVID Urban Futures”, this online event aims at discussing policy strategies for safer public spaces and at being inspiration for the participants to address the needs of women and girls in urban planning.

Urban Diplomacy Exchange

Call for applications from German-US partner municipalities

The project “Urban Diplomacy Exchange” aims to assist German municipalities and their partner cities in the USA to work together on democracy-building and promoting sustainable development within the framework of the 2030 Agenda. Applications are welcome by 16 March 2022.

Assessment and planning for risks, uncertainties and ambiguities

Invitation to the Open Working Group on Risk Informed Urban Development

The complex nature of risk and ambiguity needs to be incorporated into planning and financing processes in times of climate change, and the skills of decision-makers need to be strengthened with regard to risk-informed development. Connective Cities and the GIZ Global Initiative on Disaster Risk Management have partnered to establish the Working Group on Risk-Informed Urban Development. The regional focus is on Africa. The race against time to find solutions to highly complex urban challenges is nowhere more critical than in Africa.

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