16.06.2014

German Association of Cities, Engagement Global and GIZ launch ‘Connective Cities’

New international urban network for sustainable development launched in Leipzig

The new international urban network ‘Connective Cities’ aims to promote sustainable urban development and strengthen a global exchange of experience on innovative solutions. Connective Cities is due to be launched in Leipzig on 24 June 2014.

More than half of the world’s population now lives in an urban environment – and the number is growing. Many cities struggle in particular with serious issues relating to poverty, traffic and the environment. However, in many cases they come up with highly innovative solutions to these problems. The aim of this new initiative is to network good ideas so that other cities can benefit from the solutions being applied elsewhere.

The Association of German Cities, Engagement Global and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Entwicklung (GIZ) GmbH have all agreed to cooperate in the Connective Cities initiative on behalf of Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

This urban network aims to build on existing know-how and to forge strong alliances for sustainable urban development. Via a web portal launched in Leipzig, Connective Cities gives users access to a wealth of experience from around the world. Sixteen international and German best practices are to be showcased in Leipzig. These include improved delivery of public services thanks to citizen participation (Indonesia), the use of renewable energies in urban development (Germany) and the development of innovative mobility concepts (South Africa).

The Connective Cities platform is about bringing practitioners and project managers together to promote an exchange of experience and mutual learning. Moreover, it generates a wide range of opportunities for further training and networking via e-learning, online dialogue, conferences, workshops, training courses and information trips.

Cities play a major role in sustainable, resource-saving global development. The aim is to find holistic responses to some of the complex challenges of urban life: how closed loop systems work, how to manage transport in line with environmental demands, how to enhance energy efficiency, in addition to the important issue of how cities can achieve social integration and social justice.

Journalists are warmly invited to attend the presentation of the urban platform ‘Connective Cities’.
Date: 24 June 2014 , 9:30 am to 10:20 am.
Venue: Altes Stadtbad, Leipzig.

The Association of German Cities is the federation of all self-governing cities (kreisfreie Städte) and most district-affiliated cities (kreisangehörige Städte) in Germany and represents around 3,400 towns, cities and municipalities with more than 51 million inhabitants in total.

Engagement Global GmbH – Service for Development Initiatives is the central contact agency in Germany for development policy initiatives, both at a national and international level. Since 1 January 2012 Engagement Global unites under its roof institutions, initiatives and support programmes of developmental work with the aim to actively promote a fair global coexistence.

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federally owned organisation. We support the German Government in the fields of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education. Through our work we assist people and societies in shaping their own future and improving living conditions.

Press contact:
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH,
Marion Frank,
Tel.: 0228/4460-1866, marion.frank@giz.de

Deutscher Städtetag (Association of German Cities), Volker Bästlein, Press spokesman,
Tel.: 030/37711-130, volker.baestlein@staedtetag.de

Engagement Global, Ute Lange,
Tel.: 0228/20717-120, presse@engagement-global.de