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Urban development
Urban development: an important field of development policy activity
Sustainable urban development is the key to achieving international climate targets and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). That is why it is an important field of German development policy activity. More than 210 urban development projects with a total volume of some 2.1 billion euros (Technical and Financial Cooperation) are currently being carried out in over 50 countries.
When it comes to urban development German development cooperation aims to contribute to making a lasting improvement to the lives of the urban poor, to enable citizens to participate in political and economic life, to limit the negative consequences of urban growth, to maintain the natural bases of cities and their surroundings, and to tap into the potentials in settlements, in particular in cities, to benefit a country's development.
Cities provide space to live, work and do business. Political decisions and social changes become visible and concrete for people in urban areas. Here the interests of the most diverse actors collide in a relatively confined space and have to be reconciled. City councils are called to promote peaceful coexistence, to guarantee basic social services and to take transparent political and financial decisions.
According to the Report of the Fifth Session of the Urban Forum held in Rio de Janeiro in March 2010, "... if well guided, the urbanisation process can be an engine for economic and social development. If, however, it is poorly managed or simply not managed at all, urbanisation will lead to social exclusion, poverty and a greater urban divide."
German development cooperation supports partners in developing countries in tackling the considerable challenges that result from rapid urban growth. The aim is to create cities that are worth living in, so that they can provide diverse opportunities for shaping life and development. Current urbanisation and the associated socioeconomic changes cannot be mortgaged against future generations, but should provide them with opportunities. All citizens must have equal access to infrastructure, services and housing. At the same time, resource consumption needs to be reduced and irreversible environmental and climate damage avoided.
According to the BMZ's Sector Strategy Paper on Sustainable Urban Development, lasting improvements are in particular to be made to the living and working conditions of the poor urban population. The goal is to tap into the potentials in urban centres to benefit each country's economic development and at the same time to preserve the natural resources available in cities and their surrounding areas.
German development cooperation thus addresses the following fields of activity:
Information
Publications
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Managing Urbanisation – Towards Sustainable Cities
(PDF 786 KB, accessible) -
The Millennium Development Goals
Background – Progress – Activities
BMZ Information Brochure
(PDF 3.6 MB, accessible) -
Climate Challenges
Germany’s international approach
(PDF 1.8 MB, accessible) -
The Inclusive City
Documentation of a joint networking event of BMZ and Cities Alliance at the World Urban Forum 3, 21 June 2006 in Vancouver
(PDF 2.8 MB)
