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International Kick-off Workshop for the Seventh Phase

'Climate change does not stop at national or local borders.'

Delegations from ten municipal partnerships met at a historic location to jointly address global challenges as part of the 'Municipal Climate Partnerships' project.

A group smiles in the direction of the camera, some people hold documents in their hands.
Ceremonial handover of the project participation agreements at the evening reception in the historic town hall hall. Photo: Martin Magunia

Münster, 14 to 16 May 2019. This was how the next, seventh phase of the Municipal Climate partnerships project kicked off – by invitation of the Service Agency and LAG 21 NRW, some 90 participants including local policy-makers, administrators and civil society met in Westphalia. They were welcomed by the Münster’s Mayoress, Wendela-Beate Vilhjalmsson. In her welcome address she emphasised how worthwhile it was to work together in municipal partnerships. She explained that since the global causes and effects of climate change do not stop at national or local borders, a global response is required. Cooperation across national borders and continents – as exemplified by climate partnerships – provide a ray of hope in this regard, she added.

'Climate change affects us all, and does not stop at national or municipal borders. Most people have now realised that a "Carry on, it'll be all right" attitude cannot be the right approach in this day and age. Only global cooperation can have global effects and stop climate change in its tracks.'

Wendela-Beate Vilhjalmsson, Mayoress, City of Münster

For the delegates from these new climate partnerships, the next step is to draw up joint programmes of action for climate change mitigation and adaptation within the next two years. The kick-off workshop set itself the goal of introducing all the participating municipalities to the project's objectives, work flow, methods and instruments, and facilitating dialogue within the partnerships. For most participants the workshop was at the same time a first opportunity to meet their partners face-to-face. Sufficient time was therefore also set aside to allow people to get to know each other and begin dialogue.

As in the previous phase, this phase involves two partner regions – Africa and Latin America. One distinctive feature of the new phase is that all the partners from the South come from different countries. Of the total of eleven partnerships, eight involve African municipalities – from Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Tunisia, and three involve Latin American municipalities – from Argentina, Brazil and Guatemala. With the exception of the delegation from the partnership with Rwanda, all of them were able to attend the workshop.

Evening reception in the historic town hall

After the participating municipalities had introduced themselves, Thiago Garcia, Project Manager at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), held a lecture on the effects of climate change on local policy-making. Following that the project team provided a presentation on German municipal development cooperation and the project 'Municipal Climate Partnerships'. A discussion with participants from the previous project phases then provided the new partners with some insights into other climate partnerships.

The day ended on a festive note with the evening reception at Münster town hall, where the agreements on project participation were ceremonially handed over to the participating municipalities. This took place at a historic location: the town hall of the City of Münster, the place where the Westphalian peace negotiations brought the Thirty Years' War in Europe to an end. A symbolic place on the path to a united Europe – and on this evening a symbol of international cooperation in response to the global challenges of climate change.

'Here, where peace was made between countries, partnerships can come together.'

Wendela-Beate Vilhjalmsson, Mayoress, City of Münster

Breakout groups and intensive dialogue

Days two and three were then all about working in groups and intensive dialogue within the climate partnerships. The manual for designing the joint programmes of action was presented, and participants formed smaller groups to study it in depth. This was followed in the afternoon by an excursion to Münster's Rieselfelder nature reserve, a wetland on the city's former wastewater irrigation scheme. On the final day expert input was provided by Moritz Schmidt, LAG 21 NRW, who held a lecture on the topic of Germany's climate change policy and the role of municipalities.

The breakout groups that followed focused on the challenges created in municipalities by climate change, and strategies and projects to address them. Potential actors for the respective climate partnerships were identified, and presented to their partners. The final day also focused on technical details and conditions for the respective climate partnerships, as well as continued cooperation – with a particular focus on the next steps for designing the programmes of action.

Immediately before the kick-off workshop – or immediately after it – the delegations from the African and Latin American municipalities took the opportunity to visit their respective German partner municipalities. For many delegates this was a good opportunity to gain a better impression of their partner municipality, build face-to-face relationships and explore possible topics for joint cooperation. Participants were also able to agree specific details on the upcoming reciprocal missions by municipal experts.

To conclude, in summary we can say that the foundations for the climate partnerships in the seventh phase of the project, and thus for cooperation in the field of climate change mitigation and adaptation, were successfully laid – across countries and continents, at a historic location.

The municipalities taking part:

  • Bad Berleburg (Germany) - Morogoro District (Tanzania)
  • Erfurt (Germany) - San Miguel de Tucumán (Argentina)
  • Gersthofen (Germany) - Baringo County (Kenya)
  • Hanseatic City of Rostock (Germany) - Panajachel (Guatemala)
  • Karlsdorf-Neuthard (Germany) - Guabiruba (Brazil)
  • Rural District of Reutlingen -(Germany) Ulundi (South Africa)
  • Rural District of Teltow-Fläming (Germany) - Katima Mulilo Town (Namibia)
  • Münster (Germany) - Monastir (Tunisia)
  • Neu-Isenburg (Germany) - Kwadaso Municipal Assembly (Ghana)
  • Osterode am Harz (Germany) - Département de Kaolack (Senegal)
  • Combined Municipality of Leiningerland (Germany) - Rubavu District (Rwanda)

Impressions of the international kick-off workshop

A woman is at a speaker's desk talking.
A woman is at a speaker's desk talking.
A woman is at a speaker's desk talking.
A group smiles in the direction of the camera, some people hold documents in their hands that they present.
Four people sit at a table, a man gives a lecture and points to a laptop.
There are people sitting at several tables. At the table in the foreground, a man explains something to those present by pointing to a sheet of paper.
Three people stand in front of a pinboard, a man points to the pinboard and explains something.
A group walks along wooden footbridges built above water; trees are visible in the background.
Standing in front of a tree, a birdwatcher holds up a brochure with pictures of birds. In front of him stands a telescope on a tripod. A woman with a microphone in her hand points to this brochure. A group, partly equipped with headphones, listens.
Six laughing people can be seen; in the background a modern building. A man stands with his back to the observer. At the back of his shirt is written: International Climate Partnership 2019.
A woman is at a speaker's desk talking.

Dr. Doris Witteler-Stiepelmann, Head of Division, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), holding an official welcome address
Photo: Martin Magunia

A woman is at a speaker's desk talking.

The Mayoress of the City of Münster, Wendela-Beate Vilhjalmsson, welcoming attendees
Photo: Martin Magunia

A woman is at a speaker's desk talking.

Jessica Baier welcomes the guests on behalf of the Service Agency SKEW.
Photo: Martin Magunia

A group smiles in the direction of the camera, some people hold documents in their hands that they present.

Ceremonial handover of the agreements on project participation during the evening reception at the historic town hall
Photo: Martin Magunia

Four people sit at a table, a man gives a lecture and points to a laptop.

Days two and three were all about working in groups and intensive dialogue within the climate partnerships.
Photo: Martin Magunia

There are people sitting at several tables. At the table in the foreground, a man explains something to those present by pointing to a sheet of paper.

The breakout groups focused on the challenges created in municipalities by climate change, and strategies and projects to address them.
Photo: Martin Magunia

Three people stand in front of a pinboard, a man points to the pinboard and explains something.

Potential actors for the respective climate partnerships were identified, and presented to the partners.
Photo: Martin Magunia

A group walks along wooden footbridges built above water; trees are visible in the background.

Participants on the excursion to Münster's Rieselfelder nature reserve, a wetland on the city's former wastewater irrigation scheme
Photo: Martin Magunia

Standing in front of a tree, a birdwatcher holds up a brochure with pictures of birds. In front of him stands a telescope on a tripod. A woman with a microphone in her hand points to this brochure. A group, partly equipped with headphones, listens.

The city's former wastewater irrigation scheme – now a European bird sanctuary
Photo: Martin Magunia

Six laughing people can be seen; in the background a modern building. A man stands with his back to the observer. At the back of his shirt is written: International Climate Partnership 2019.

The 'climate partners' proudly presenting their new outfit
Photo: Martin Magunia

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