German-Middle Eastern Municipal Partnerships

German municipalities have in-depth knowledge and experience in municipal services of general interest that are needed in the countries of the Middle East. They share their expertise on various municipal issues - water supply and waste management, education and social integration, decentralisation and good governance, climate protection and renewable energies or sustainable urban development. At the same time, they benefit from the exchange of knowledge and innovative approaches of the partner municipalities in politically fragile contexts: from innovative irrigation systems in agriculture against increasing drought, IT-supported communication in administration to crisis resilience in the context of regional political crises and social and religious participation.

The programme's regional approach enables networking and cooperation between the partner municipalities across national borders. In this way, experiences and solutions can be shared and common challenges can be overcome together.

The challenges in the focal countries of Jordan, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories include

• Weak municipal structures and a lack of resources: local self-government is often still young and fragile. There is a lack of expertise, financial resources and technical equipment to fulfil the necessary tasks.
• Political instability in the region: The work of the municipalities is made even more difficult by the difficult political conditions in the region and various crises.
• Rapid population growth: The arrival of refugees poses major challenges for municipalities in providing basic services such as water supply, waste management and education.
• Social tensions: The region is characterized by political conflicts and social inequalities. This also has an impact on the municipal level, where social tensions are increasingly being felt.