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Municipal Partnerships with Africa

Third Conference

Dr Doris Witteler-Stiepelmann, BMZ, welcoming participants. Photo: Martin Magunia

Erfurt, 19 to 21 October 2016. Around 150 interested delegates from Germany, France and twelve African countries took part in the third conference on 'Municipal Partnerships with Africa' at the Erfurt Comcenter. The conference was organised and staged by Erfurt (capital city of the German state of Thuringia) in cooperation with the Service Agency Communities in One World.

Participants included municipal policy-makers and administrators, as well as numerous partnership associations and non-governmental organisations. The slogan for this year's conference was 'Sustainable Partnerships on Equal Terms'. The event offered participants a varied agenda including presentations, discussions and group work. It set out to develop concrete ways of achieving sustainable cooperation. It also aimed to give participants an opportunity to establish new contacts, strengthen joint ownership of their projects, and reflect on the understanding of partnership and what it means for both sides to give and receive at the same time.

In their opening speeches Tamara Thierbach, Mayoress and Councillor for Social Affairs, Education and Culture, City of Erfurt, and Dr Doris Witteler-Stiepelmann, Head of Division, Federal states; local authorities; development education; German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, underlined the major importance of cooperation with African municipalities. Although the problems faced in Africa often dominate what we see in the media, both speakers emphasised the continent's great potential and opportunities that need to be harnessed and promoted. This is where municipal partnerships are making a key contribution towards sustainable development.

This was followed by a discussion between two representatives of the partnership Oldenburg (Germany) - Buffalo City (South Africa) and the Director of the Service Agency, Dr Stefan Wilhelmy, concerning the importance of partnership on equal terms and putting it into practice. In the afternoon the conference continued with bilingual round tables on best practices when working in partnership. In the evening the exhibition 'Mensch Mali!' ('Mali People!') showcasing the work of photojournalist Vera Dähnert was ceremonially opened at the Erfurt City Library.

Video clip of the Third Conference for Africa

Video clip of the Third Regional Conference on Municipal Partnerships with Africa, which took place in Erfurt in mid-October 2016.

Day two

Participants in dialogue during the conference. Photo: Martin Magunia

Day two began with a presentation of the Service Agency's funding and support instruments by Dr Stefan Wilhelmy. Later on, participants - working in small groups and referring to case examples - identified ways of actively shaping work in their partnerships. Based on the results, participants formulated conditions for working together sustainably as equal partners. The highlight of the day was the evening reception in the banquet room at Erfurt Town Hall, which was hosted by the Lord Mayor of the City of Erfurt, Andreas Bausewein, followed by a concert. On the bill were the Burkina Faso musician Ezechiel Wendtoin Nikiema, and the New Chapter band from Erfurt.

Day three

On the morning of day three, five workshops were held on the topic 'Making our partnership more successful'. This enabled participants to extend their knowledge of project management, intercultural communication and project funding. For most participants, the conference then ended on a positive note all round. For some actors work continued, however. This was because the Service Agency had offered 20 partnerships the chance to hold an additional joint working meeting in the German municipality.