As part of the “Connected Cities” initiative and at the invitation of the GIZ Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, 40 representatives from African and German municipalities and industry discussed how regional value chains can be established on a large scale with green energy and green hydrogen. Participating cities included Arandis and Lüderitz (Namibia), Mombasa, Nairobi and Naivasha (Kenya), Nouakchott (Mauritania), Waterberg (South Africa), as well as Karlsruhe and Heilbronn (Germany).
The Export-Akademie Baden-Württemberg presented its best practice projects for green transformation in Africa and South America at the conference. The ‘Global Alliance for Sustainable Technology Transfer’ forms the framework for the sustainable development of regional value chains in the Global South. Another element is the “Kinshasa Process” of the UNGSII Foundation for the certification of mines according to the criteria of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). At the same time, sustainable ecosystems are established, and the regions are enabled to sell their raw materials and green products on the world market at ‘fair’ prices.
Africa’s abundant raw materials and renewable resources, such as solar and wind energy, offer enormous opportunities to produce green products and components. With our integrated solutions, we support regions in the Global South to use their own resources sustainably and catalyze their energy transition on a large scale.
A detailed report on the “Connected Cities” conference, held from 15–17 May 2025 in Naivasha, Kenya, was published by the editorial team of Connective Cities/GIZ under the title:
“Green Hydrogen for Local Development – Municipal Strategies and International Cooperation in Focus”
(Available at: https://www.connective-cities.net/en/news/green-hydrogen-for-local-development)
The article provides in-depth insights into the strategies discussed, cooperation models, and opportunities for sustainable urban development through green hydrogen.