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Nine new climate partnerships good to go

Kick-off workshop for phase eight of the Municipal Climate Partnerships project

The international kick-off workshop brought together all the municipalities from Germany and Africa involved in this round of the project. Participants, including delegates from previous project phases and development experts based in Germany and abroad, were able to take part in this official event via livestream.

There are three people on a stage. In the background there is a large screen with other people logged in.
The virtual kick-off workshop for the new climate partnerships between Germany and Africa was a success. Photo: Engagement Global

Darmstadt/ online, 24 and 25 November 2020. The new and eighth phase of the Municipal Climate Partnerships project got off to a successful start under particularly challenging conditions. Broadcast in three languages to all municipalities as an interactive livestream, this varied virtual event enabled the new project partners to get to know each other. With pandemic restrictions in place, the original venue in Darmstadt was turned into a makeshift studio. Moderator Alexander Thamm steered the two-day event from the stage. With him in the studio and able to provide some key background information on the climate project's objectives were Marie Mévellec from the Service Agency Communities in One World, and Moritz Schmidt from the cooperation partner North Rhine-Westphalian Working Party on Agenda 21 (LAG21 NRW).

Following the opening address by Daphne Gross-Jansen from Germany’s Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), day one focused on the new climate partnerships, which were given ample opportunity to present themselves. Many had filmed short videos to present their partnership's special features and challenges for the other participants. These authentic presentations took the viewers on a journey to the respective municipalities, but also made it abundantly clear just how great the need for action is in the face of the climate crisis, especially in Africa. All of the climate partnerships showed they were highly motivated to shape their future and their projects constructively.

Having joined the conference from Congo, keynote speaker Olivier Mushiete, Director and site manager of the Bombo Lumene hunting grounds and reserve (DCRBL), made a special contribution in which he directed attention to the relationship between population growth and climate change. High population pressure in the greater Kinshasa area means that more and more forest areas in the Congo are rapidly being cut down and used for human settlement. This results in an irretrievable loss of biodiversity. This topic was touched on several times in the course of the conference, as it is very important that climate action should also address biodiversity depletion.

Old and new climate partnerships enrich each other

Graphic recording of the kick-off meeting for the eighth phase of the Municipal Climate Partnerships.
Nine German-African municipal partnerships are working together for the climate. Photo: Engagement Global

By way of an introduction on day two, participants were given some key background information in two presentations by Marie Mévellec and Moritz Schmidt concerning municipal development cooperation and German climate policy respectively. Afterwards, moderator Alexander Thamm handed over to Dr Klaus Reuter from LAG21 and Mandy Wagner from the Service Agency Communities in One World, who revisited the project's basic concept and reviewed its almost ten-year history. Klaus Reuter stressed that, with their specific expertise, municipalities in the North and South have a key role to play in climate change mitigation and adaptation. By continuously working together in partnership, they can bring about long-term changes.

A round table provided a platform for discussion between old and new climate partnerships. This was symbolic of the networking concept underlying this project, which is due to celebrate its 10th anniversary next year with a special anniversary programme. All municipalities that are new to the project are always able to benefit from the wealth of experience the previous partnerships have built up over time. J

essica Baier, Department Head at the Service Agency, also had a few words for the climate partnerships embarking on this new project phase. In her speech, she emphasised the importance of multi-actor partnerships, saying: 'We need multi-stakeholder partnerships more than ever before – as envisaged in the 2030 Agenda'. Climate action can only work if as many local, regional and international actors as possible all pull together.

Courage and vision for climate action

At the end of the intensive two-day conference, everyone’s verdict was positive – in spite of the difficult pandemic conditions. Even though they could only meet up virtually, they were all pleased about their growing sense of community. It is also thanks to the moderator and interpreters that the flame of partnership between the two continents was further rekindled, and will now inspire cooperation in the months ahead. It also became clear that it is high time for climate action.

Klaus Reuter from LAG21 summed it up in nutshell: 'We need courage and vision to tackle the climate challenges.' And that’s precisely what the climate partnerships have now set out to do.

These are the nine climate partnerships of the eighth phase of the project:

  • Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis - Mekelle, Ethiopia
  • Gemeinde Pfinztal - Kidira, Senegal
  • Landkreis Passau - Département Kédougou, Senegal
  • Landkreis Gießen - Mubende, Uganda
  • Landkreis Miltenberg - District Njombe, Tanzania
  • Nürtingen - Mansakonko Area Council, The Gambia
  • Pforzheim - Mtwara, Tanzania
  • Pfungstadt - Oshikuku, Namibia
  • Schwäbisch Gmünd - Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Find out more

View the video - Review of the Kick-Off conference - Day 1

View the video - Review of the Kick-Off conference - Day 2

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