Municipal Partnerships for Climate and Sustainability
A global approach to climate protection and sustainability
We promote professional cooperation between municipalities in the Global South and German cities, municipalities and districts through our “Municipal Partnerships for Climate and Sustainability” programme. The aim is to cooperate in the areas of climate protection, climate change adaptation, biodiversity and sustainable development in order to tackle global challenges together.
Tackling global challenges together. Photo: Andreas Grasser
Agreements on achieving climate and biodiversity targets or the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of Agenda 2030 are usually made at international and national level. However, the responsibility of municipalities and the role they play in implementing measures is critical – this is where our Municipal Partnerships for Climate and Sustainability programme comes in.
Whether it's municipal climate protection or biodiversity concepts, measures for adapting to the consequences of climate change or for implementing global sustainability goals – cities, municipalities and districts now have established concepts, well-thought-out approaches and a wealth of experience at their disposal.
Depending on the thematic focus, this expertise is applied in medium-to long-term strategic cooperative arrangements within the framework of Municipal Partnerships for Climate or Municipal Partnerships for Sustainability, actively shared and further developed into project proposals or action plans. Over 100 partnerships have already developed action plans of this type and successfully implemented a large number of projects.
Become a Municipal Partnership for Climate or Sustainability! Actively integrate your municipality within in a strong network of committed cities, municipalities and districts.
Join at any time – talk to your German partners and make the decision to participate together. We will support you on your journey!
Issues such as climate protection, adaptation to climate impacts, biodiversity and sustainable development affect municipalities worldwide – in the Global South as well as in the Global North. They demand action from everyone. You can become a Municipal Partnership for Climate or Sustainability by expanding and consolidating your partnership's areas of activity and benefit from the cooperation and diverse opportunities within an established network of committed municipalities.
Municipal Partnerships for Climate and Sustainability
What does our programme provide you with?
The Partnerships for Climate and Sustainability programme is aimed at all municipal partnerships seeking to actively contribute to greater climate protection, adaptation to climate change and to the preservation and restoration of biodiversity. It is also aimed at municipalities seeking to systematically work towards the Sustainable Development Goals of Agenda 2030 and to firmly embed these in their actions.
What are the specific benefits of participating in the programme?
Theme-based consolidation and strengthening of the partnership In your partnership, you will work together specifically on key areas such as climate protection, climate impact adaptation, biodiversity and sustainable development in line with Agenda 2030 (SDGs).
Strategic integration of partnership work in municipal concepts Within the partnership, you will focus on existing municipal climate protection and climate adaptation concepts as well as sustainability strategies and integrate your activities into existing municipal concepts and strategies.
Development of an action plan or project proposal You will develop a specific action plan on selected topics. This will serve as a structured basis for future cooperation and project implementation – over a medium to long-term perspective. Or, starting with a specific idea, you can develop a project proposal together – from the initial outline to the final planning ready for implementation.
What specific support services are available to you?
The following services are offered to help move partnerships forward in terms of thematic consolidation and the development of action plans or project proposals:
Up to two professional exchange trips for municipal experts to support direct knowledge transfer.
Technical and methodological advice and support with the development of action plans and specific project proposals.
Regular online consultation hours on selected topics and advice required for all participating local municipalities.
Participation in virtual specialist events and international conferences which facilitate the sharing of ideas on current topics and enable networking.
Information and initial consultation on financial and personnel support options offered by Service Agency Communities in One World.
Who can participate?
Existing municipal partnerships are eligible to participate,
who is interested in the issues of climate protection, climate change adaptation, biodiversity and/or sustainability in terms of Agenda 2030 (SDGs) and would like to consolidate their cooperation in these areas, and
are seeking to jointly develop an action plan for their partnership on selected key areas within these topics or to design a specific project plan for an existing idea.
Prerequisite: Participation as an individual municipality without a German municipal partner is not possible; participation is only possible in the form of an existing municipal partnership. South-South partnerships are not eligible to participate. The municipality from the Global South must be in a country which the OECD defines as eligible to receive official development assistance.
Participation is possible throughout the year. You can join at any time – please discuss your interest in participating with your German partner.
Applications are made by submitting a declaration of interest. This can be done at any time. The declaration of interest must be submitted in German by the German municipality. To support coordination and joint completion by both partners, the form is available here to download in English.
The programme is organised the Service Agency Communities in One World of Engagement Global on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.