The consequences of climate change are presenting municipalities around the world with new challenges. At the same time, urbanisation is advancing at an unrelenting pace. However, this development also presents opportunities, particularly with regard to local development policy and international cooperation between cities worldwide.

We cover key AREAS OF FOCUS:

• ■ MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION AND
  GOVERNANCE

  
  
  Digitalisation and forms of participation

• ■ URBAN RESOURCE EFFICIENCY

  
  
  Recycling, circular economy, renewable energy

• ■ LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

  
  
  sustainable, fair and innovative

• ■ CLIMATE-RESILIENT MUNICIPAL
  DEVELOPMENT

  
  
  nature-based solutions, ‘sponge city’ concepts

• ■ DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND
  EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

  
  
  knowledge-based, risk-informed, participatory

• ■ URBANE MOBILITÄTSKONZEPTE

  
  
  nachhaltige Mobilität und Transport

• ■ SAFETY IN CITIES

  
  
  designing public spaces and routes that
  are liveable and safe

• ■ SUSTAINABLE BUILDING STOCK

  
  
  building with renewable raw materials,
  repurposing rather than demolition

• ■ GENDER-SENSITIVE URBAN
  DEVELOPMENT

  
  
  promoting gender and climate justice

• ■ OPERATOR PARTNERSHIPS

  
  
  international cooperation between
  municipal enterprises

The art of sustainable economic development lies in balancing competing priorities in order to achieve development that benefits society as a whole. This can involve reducing poverty and promoting economic growth while conserving natural resources, enhancing competitiveness while upholding high labour and social standards, and shaping the interaction between the state, the private sector, academia, and civil society, as well as local, national, and regional economic policies.

We cover key AREAS OF FOCUS:

• ■ PRIVATE SECTOR PROMOTION

  
  
  SME-Promotion, support for innovation and
  value chains

• ■ ECONOMIC POLICY

  
  
  Pro-poor growth, investment climate,
  industrial policy

• ■ TRADE

  
  
  Regional economic integration,
  international trade agreements

• ■ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

  
  
  in crisis and conflict regions

• ■ ECONOMY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

  
  
  Green economic transition

• ■ CORPORATE SOCIAL
  RESPONSIBILITY

  
  
  labour and social standards, fair trade,
  social entrepreneurship

• ■ PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS

  
  
  Cooperation for mutual benefit

Children and young people are the future of society. They are essential for the healthy development of social structures. Provided they are raised in a safe and healthy environment with ample educational, social and recreational opportunities, and their rights are respected, they can fulfil their potential and contribute positively to society in the long term. However, this cannot be taken for granted. In times of crisis, conflict, natural disasters and climate change, children and young people are particularly vulnerable. Children need special protection!

We cover key AREAS OF FOCUS:

• ■ RIGHT TO PARTICIPATION

  
  
  and social inclusion

• ■ RIGHT TO EDUCATION

  
  
  and information

• ■ RIGHT TO HEALTH

  
  
  and protection from health risks

• ■ PROTECTION FROM SEXUALISED
  VIOLENCE

  
  
  including in the digital sphere

• ■ RIGHT TO PHYSICAL INTEGRITY

  
  
  Protection from female genital mutilation

• ■ RIGHT TO A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT

  
  
  particularly in the context of climate change

• ■ RIGHT TO PLAY AND LEISURE

  
  
  and participation in cultural life

• ■ PROTECTION FROM EXPLOITATIVE
  CHILD LABOUR

  
  
  and work that poses a risk to health

• ■ PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF
  MIGRATION

  
  
  age-appropriate accommodation and integration

Burkhard Vielhaber, is a specialist journalist, consultant and trainer in the fields of sustainable economic and municipal development, and children’s and young people’s rights. He has an MA in Political Science and many years’ experience in the conceptual development of websites and virtual collaboration. This includes the design of specialist portals and networks, and the conception of short films and promotional videos. He has gained international experience in many countries across Latin America, Africa and South and Southeast Asia. He is currently focusing on the role of German-Ukrainian municipal partnerships in promoting resilience and reconstruction in Ukraine, and the impact of climate change on sustainable urban and local economic development.

Dirk Geilen, Politologe M.A., who also has an MA in Political Science, is a specialist journalist and consultant who ensures the quality of all editorial and region-specific assignments thanks to his many years of experience in development and international cooperation, as well as his conceptual knowledge of web design. Key areas of expertise: sustainable economic and municipal development. He has international experience in South Asia. Current areas of focus: Local development policy and the 2030 Agenda, and how they are being implemented in Germany and worldwide.

In our work, we are guided by the idea of providing practical support to experts in making economic and urban development more efficient, climate-just and inclusive, improving local governance structures, managing natural resources more sustainably, and opening up new prospects for the younger generation.

We take a close-up look at local and regional events and conditions. We track how German development co-operation, together with local people, initiates processes of change. At the same time, we always keep an eye on the bigger picture – the international debate, the broad outlines of global strategies and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

Knowledge management does not follow a narrow causal relationship. We operate within networks – our own and those of others – picking up on moods and shifts, changing perspectives and reconnecting. Through dialogue, we make implicit knowledge visible, transform it into practical, explicit knowledge and trigger processes of reflection – acting as a catalyst, both in terms of content and technical expertise.

We support our clients through

• ■ CONSULTANCY & TRAINING,

  
  
  e.g. in the initiation and management of institutional networks

• ■ RRESEARCH & EDITORIAL WORK

  
  
  and other information servicesn

• ■ INFORMATIVE PRESENTATION

  
  
  of individual projects in the form of good practices

• ■ STUDIES & HANDBOOKS

  
  
  for the systematic compilation of practical knowledge

• ■ EXPERT INTERVIEWS AND PODCASTS

  
  
  for the engaging presentation of key topics

• ■ DOCUMENTATION OF CONFERENCES

  
  
  both in person and online

• ■ CONCEPTION AND DESIGN

  
  
  of specialist portals based on TYPO3, WordPress and Contao

• ■ SHORT FILMS AND IMAGE VIDEOS

  
  
  to convey visions and messages

We don't use ready-made templates; we work with our clients to develop bespoke solutions that consider the cultural aspects of knowledge management.

We support research institutions, development organisations, foundations, NGOs and specialist journals active in the field of development cooperation / international cooperation and related areas.

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