Connective Cities / MILE Learning Exchange & Practitioners’ Workshop
Cities are gaining increasing importance globally, and urban actors worldwide are facing similar urban development issues. While local solutions are required, these issues are becoming increasingly relevant at the global level. Many innovative solutions for sustainable urban development exist locally—such as in energy efficiency, mobility, or municipal services—but they are often not widely known. A lack of systematic access to these practical solutions further compounds the challenge. The pressing demands of global urbanization call for efficient and innovative approaches, particularly in good urban governance, integrated urban development, local economic development, and municipal services—which are the four focal themes of Connective Cities.
Connective Cities: A Platform for Sustainable Urban Development
Connective Cities, the International Community of Practice for Sustainable Urban Development, is a joint initiative of:
- The Association of German Cities (Deutscher Städtetag)
- The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
- The Service Agency Communities in One World (a division of Engagement Global gGmbH)
Connective Cities is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The platform provides demand-based services to enhance cooperation among urban practitioners globally. It facilitates the exchange of good practices, provides access to expert knowledge, and promotes peer-to-peer consulting. Through dialogue events, project workshops, training sessions, study tours, virtual forums, and webinars, Connective Cities fosters knowledge-sharing and the development of transformative solutions tailored to local needs. Additionally, it supports the initiation of joint projects among urban stakeholders to disseminate innovative solutions across cities.
MILE: Municipal Institute of Learning
MILE (Municipal Institute of Learning) is a Knowledge Management initiative by eThekwini Municipality, aimed at positioning Durban as an international city of learning. MILE enhances the capacity of local government professionals—both in Africa and beyond—to tackle developmental challenges, from foundational governance to contemporary global issues.
MILE operates under four learning pillars:
- Capacity Enhancement
- Municipal Technical Support
- Academic Collaboration
- Learning Partnerships and Networks
These pillars are supported by an integrated Knowledge Management system.
Since its inception, MILE has facilitated numerous Management Seminars, Councillor Seminars, Master Classes, Peer Learning Exchanges, and International Learning Exchanges. Through its Municipal Technical Support program, city officials have provided strategic planning and energy efficiency assistance to municipalities such as Umdoni, Umzumbe, Vulamehlo, Ezinqoleni, Emnambithi/Ladysmith, Ulundi, and others across Zimbabwe, Namibia, Malawi, and Mozambique.
Academic Collaborations & Global Partnerships
MILE collaborates with leading academic institutions, including:
- University of KwaZulu-Natal
- Durban University of Technology
- Mangosuthu University of Technology
- UNISA
- HSRC
- University of Zululand
Recently, eThekwini Municipality signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Simon Fraser University (Canada), fostering a unique collaboration aimed at enhancing local government service delivery.
A Unique Learning Platform for Municipal Practitioners
MILE is the only local government-driven, practitioner-based institute of learning in Southern Africa, offering high-quality, cutting-edge learning opportunities to municipal practitioners free of charge.
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