About us
Utility platform for strengthening partnerships of municipal utilities worldwide
The ‘Utility Platform for Strengthening Partnerships of Municipal Utilities Worldwide’ project was initiated by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in 2019. With the Utility Platform, the BMZ is promoting municipal partnership-based cooperation between German and international operators in the water and circular economy sector. Additionally, long-term structures are being established to support future partnerships between municipal companies worldwide.
The first utility partnerships were established in 2021 and have since been working on topics such as operating and maintaining the facilities, reducing water leakages, optimising the water laboratories and corporate management in order to improve the supply for people in the partner countries. The core of the cooperation between the companies consists of technical advice, exchange of expertise, on-site work assignments, work shadowing in Germany, virtual meetings and the procurement of technology, especially for Ukraine.
Background and objectives
What we aim for
Approach
Municipal water operators and waste disposal companies from Germany, Albania, Jordan, Moldova, Zambia, South Africa, Tanzania and Ukraine work together in innovative utility partnerships – for a water supply and wastewater and waste disposal system that benefits people and protects the environment.
Rubbish bins on the doorstep, drinking water around the clock, sewage connection? Not a matter to be taken for granted in many countries around the world. Municipal utilities and waste disposal companies are key players worldwide for a dignified life and sustainable urban development. Equipped with expertise and resources, municipal companies can also become guarantors of affordable and sustainable basic services close to the people in countries of the global South. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) believes that German municipal companies have an important role to play in strengthening water operators and waste management companies in partner countries: by passing on their knowledge, skills and experience, they can make a difference on the ground.
International engagement is by no means an end in itself. Through development cooperation, municipal companies can make a direct contribution to achieving climate targets, participate in the international exchange of knowledge and position themselves as an attractive employer through exciting and meaningful projects.
Inspired by the United Nations’ Water Operator Partnerships, German water operators, represented by the German Water Partnership’s Working Group on Operation and Education, proposed promoting utility partnerships between German and international water operators based on this model. Together with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and Engagement Global with its Service Agency Communities in One World, the operator platform was launched in 2019.
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is responsible for implementing the Utility Platform. GIZ advises on and supports the initiation and implementation of the partnerships, finances partnership activities via grant agreements, organises network meetings and offers the partners diverse training measures. The Utility Platform is being implemented and further developed in cooperation with the German Water Partnership and the German Association of Local Utilities (VKU).
The partnerships
In each long-term partnership, German municipal water utilities have joined forces with water utilities and waste management companies from Albania, Jordan, Moldova, Tanzania, Zambia, South Africa and Ukraine. They first asked themselves: What are the greatest challenges facing our partners? And what expertise can each company offer in order to tackle these challenges?
Know-how transfer at working level
Peer-to-peer learning – that is the goal of the partnerships. Peer-to-peer means that know-how and experience is passed on from engineer to engineer and from expert to expert. But the focus is not only on technical expertise. Business and organisational know-how and skills are also much in demand from the partners in the Global South.
Know-how is also transferred from South to North: the utilities in Jordan, for example, have much experience in dealing with aridity and drought. Due to climate change, more and more German municipal utilities are confronted with these conditions and are very keen to share information.
Highly motivated partners
The partnerships offer valuable opportunities for both international operators and German municipal utilities. Both sides aim to use the intensive dialogue with their respective partners and the Utility Platform’s network to learn from each other’s experience and expertise, and to jointly seek sustainable solutions to the challenges they face.
Implementing organisation
Who we are
The Utility Platform for strengthening partnerships between municipal utilities worldwide is being implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The Utility Platform is being developed and implemented in cooperation with the German Association of Municipal Enterprises (VKU) and German Water Partnership (GWP).
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
As a service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education work, GIZ is dedicated to shaping a future worth living around the world. Together with its commissioning parties and partners, GIZ generates and implements ideas for political, social and economic change.
As a federal enterprise, GIZ upholds German and European values. The company supports the German Government in achieving its objectives in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development.
GIZ works to deliver effective and efficient solutions that offer people better prospects and sustainably improve their living conditions. The 2030 Agenda is the overarching framework for GIZ’s work in cooperation with partners and commissioning parties.
GIZ bears overall responsibility for the Utility Platform vis-à-vis the BMZ. It stands as guarantor for establishing an efficient utility platform. The municipal enterprises that make up the partnerships in the pilot phase are financed and advised by GIZ. It is expected that close links will be forged and synergies achieved with GIZ projects in the partner countries.
Heiko Heidemann
Lisa Engler
Paulina Spiller
Anastasiia Kahlow
Friederike Barthe-Carpentier
Sarah Walgern
Susan Sharaf
Cooperation partners
Together we are strong
German Water Partnership
The German Water Partnership (GWP) is a joint initiative of enterprises and organisations from the German water industry and research sector and brings together their combined experience and skills. At the same time, it is the point of contact for partners abroad in all matters concerning the German water industry. The aim of the network, which was founded in April 2008 and is supported by five German ministries, is to establish German expertise and the quality label “Made in Germany” worldwide and to work together to strengthen the position of the German water industry in the international market.
Verband kommunaler Unternehmen (VKU)
The Verband kommunaler Unternehmen (VKU) (German Association of Local Utilities) represents the interests of the local public utility sector in Germany, which includes both supply and disposal services. The VKU has around 1,500 member companies, the majority of which work in the areas of energy supply, water supply and sanitation, waste management, municipal cleaning and telecommunications. With more than 285,000 employees, the member companies recorded turnover of around EUR 119 billion and invested more than EUR 12 billion in 2018. The skills and experience of German municipal enterprises in the area of public service tasks are extremely valuable in development work. The Association promotes the development commitment of its member companies and supports them in planning and implementing corresponding projects and establishing international partnerships.
Our offer
What we support and how
We support German utility companies in matching with an international partner and organise networking meetings with the other utility companies involved in the project. For upcoming trips and procurements, we provide logistical support in the partner country, cover travel and procurement costs, and offer training on topics such as intercultural communication. We also support the joint planning of topics and work packages.
Are you considering entering into an partnership with a municipal utility and would like to learn more about the available (funding) opportunities? We are looking for additional operators from the water and circular economy sectors who are interested in forming a utility partnership with an international counterpart. We would be happy to help you find a suitable international partner.
Are you interested?
How can my company benefit from the partnership?
Exchange of knowledge and experience:
Working with international partner utilities creates a mutual exchange of knowledge and experience. Partner companies often have expertise in challenges that may not yet be familiar to us, such as extreme weather events or operating infrastructure under harsh climatic conditions.
Increasing employer attractiveness:
Engagement in development cooperation projects offers meaningful and exciting opportunities for employees, including travel and stays abroad. This helps to enhance the attractiveness of the employer, especially in the competition for skilled professionals.
Expanding skills and competencies:
International cooperation offers the opportunity not only to exchange knowledge but also to develop soft skills. Employees have the chance to improve intercultural competencies and language skills, such as English or French.
Improving reputation:
Through its development cooperation efforts, the company contributes to improving supply conditions, living standards, as well as climate and environmental protection at the international level. This not only strengthens its reputation nationally but also internationally.
Legal protection for participating companies
Under Publications, you will find further information such as expert reports and policy decisions on the development cooperation efforts of municipal companies, as well as relevant publications on topics related to water and municipal partnerships. Of particular interest for the legal protection of participating companies are the following:
VKU May 2021: Kommunal verankert, weltweit engagiert
SKEW March 2019: Dialog Global Nr. 52 „Rechtliche Aspekte des entwicklungspolitischen Engagements kommunaler Unternehmen“
Innenministerkonferenz Juni 2019: Sammlung der zur Veröffentlichung freigegebenen Beschlüsse der 210. Sitzung der Ständigen Konferenz der Innenminister und -senatoren der Länder
