Category: GLOBAL COMMUNITY

ENGAGEMENT IN COMMUNITIES AND DIGITALIZATION

Post Author From hawener
Post date June 20

Together for more global responsibility: Participants of the regional development policy conference (Photo: SIMAMA STEHAuf e.V.).

100 VOICES FOR GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY: AT THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY CONFERENCE IN KARLSRUHE, COMMITTED FROM BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG MEET REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CITY OF KARLSRUHE, THE MUNICIPALITY AND THE STATE POLICY AND PUT THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT GLOBAL JUSTICE ON THE POLITICAL AGENDA.

Around 13 people came together in the Karlsruhe Tollhaus on June 2023, 100 under the motto “Global responsibility concerns us all!” There they discussed with Karlsruhe's mayor Frank Mentrup as well as state secretary Rudi Hoogvliet, representatives of the state government and the state parliament at the development policy regional conference about how digitalization can contribute to reducing global inequalities and what civil society needs in its commitment to greater global sustainability.

In workshops, participants had demands from the areas of sustainable agriculture and nutrition, climate justice, migration and young engagement, education for sustainable development and global learning, drones and peace, inner development goals, fair trade, international partnerships with the Global South and social issues entrepreneurship developed. For example, the “Women of Impact” workshop was about feminist development policy and equal access to resources such as education and work for all people. The workshop “Climate Justice, Migration and Young Engagement” dealt with the central topics and target groups for questions of global justice. After the input lecture by Prof. Dr. Sama Mbang (TecFactory of Mercedes-Benz Cars Operations, Daimler) discussed the topic of “Digitalization and global inequalities: a global challenge for the common future”, Courtney Okolo (SIMAMA STEHAuf e.V.), Geraldine de Bastion (connective) and Prof. Dr. Robert Lepenies (Karlshochschule) on the podium about the potential of digitalization to reduce global inequalities.

Praise for civil society – Mayor Mentrup and State Secretary Hoogvliet pay tribute to their tireless commitment to Agenda 2030

Numerous committed civil society actors have been working for a more sustainable world for many decades. Mayor Mentrup acknowledged the contribution of those involved: “The realization of the 2030 Agenda with its 17 goals for sustainable development will largely depend on the performance and willingness to innovate of cities worldwide and their citizens. The many civil society associations, initiatives and groups in the municipalities play a special role here. I welcome the development policy regional conference as a platform for the exchange of expertise and experiences between organized civil society, the administration and the citizens of the region.”

Rudi Hoogvliet, State Secretary for Media and Development Policy, who represents Baden-Württemberg as the state's representative in Berlin, emphasized: "The development policy regional conference in Karlsruhe shows once again what great development policy commitment we have at the local level in our country" and continued “In view of many different crises and major debates about the problems in our globally networked world, meetings like today's are a strong counterpoint.”

Invitation from the country's experts for more global justice

The development policy regional conference was held in 2023 by the Karlsruhe association SIMAMA - STEHAuf, which is part of the One World Promoters program with regional promoter Sylvia Holzhäuer-Ruprecht. The One World Promoters are contact persons for all people in Baden-Württemberg who are looking for solutions to questions about more global justice. Be it in the areas of supply chains and fair trade relations, or questions about how more global sustainability can be brought to schools or what colonial history actually has to do with our lives today. The sponsor of the One World Promoters program is the umbrella association for development policy Baden-Württemberg e.V. (DEAB). The One World Promoters program emerged from the state's development policy guidelines, which formulate how global responsibility is politically anchored in Baden-Württemberg. The program is financed by the federal and state governments. The promoters have been contributing every day for ten years to implementing these guidelines and winning over both the political levels and citizens. Their excellent networking and specialist knowledge are an important resource for development policy actors in Baden-Württemberg. The regional promoters promote One World work, support those who are committed and win new actors in their respective region.

About the regional development policy conference

Asked at the regular development policy regional conference as part of the World: Citizens dialogue format! Representatives of local politics, state politics and the Council for Development Cooperation exchange ideas with the development policy base and those involved in the region about current issues of global inequalities. The Baden-Württemberg Development Cooperation Foundation coordinates the Council for Development Cooperation, which advises the state government on development policy issues.

About SIMAMA – STAND UP e.V.

SIMAMA – STAND UP e.V. is a non-profit association that promotes global responsibility and solidarity. With events such as the Regional Development Policy Conference, SIMAMA – STEHAuf e.V. aims to raise awareness of regional and global challenges and promote practical solutions.

About the DEAB

178 development policy organizations and networks in Baden-Württemberg, a total of over 400 groups and organizations, form the umbrella organization Development Policy Baden-Württemberg e.V. (DEAB). The central tasks of the umbrella organization, founded in 1975, are to support its members through information, advice, networking, training and the political representation of their concerns to politicians and the public. In addition, the DEAB office in Stuttgart is a service point for questions relating to global responsibility and sustainability. State politics, global learning, fair trade and openness to migration society are the focus of the work. DEAB is the publisher of the Südzeit journal. The DEAB is also the sponsor of the One World Promoter Program and the Intercultural Promoter Program. Information: www.deab.de

YOUR CONTACT PERSON

DIANA GRIESINGER

Communication & advice for development cooperation

WORKS! GLOBAL COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP CENTER

More and better networking for partnership groups!

Post Author From hawener
Post date February 27, 2023

The “Statewide Digital Networking Meeting of Partnership Groups” event series, which started in October 2021, will be continued this year.

The series “State-wide digital networking meeting of partnership groups” serves as a digital platform for networking, exchange and mutual support for the numerous Baden-Württemberg associations, initiatives and organizations that are involved in north-south cooperation.

This year there will be four exciting events on different topics. The first took place on February 10th, at which the German-Ugandan initiative “Chat with Uganda” and the association ADEPT e. V. presented their commitments in the field of education in Uganda.

An important offer and approach of the networking meetings is the reflection on how partnership can be beneficial for both sides under unequal expectations and conditions. Prof. Dr. developed very precise ideas about this. Aram Ziai at the networking meeting in November 2022. A handout from the One World Regional Network Germany e.V. (agl) working group on the topic Reflect on partnerships or Practical help to uncover your own fairy tale as well as other useful information can be found in the download area of the Partnership Center: https://sez.de/themen/partners…

You can find even more networking, further training and practical information for those interested and committed to development policy at Practical workshops in Baden-Württemberg.

Further dates for the digital networking meetings of the partnership groups are on 12 May 2022, September 22, 2023 and November 17, 2023 from 16:00 p.m. to 18:30 p.m. We warmly invite you to participate. More information will be available soon here.

Your contact person

DR. KIDIST HAILU

Specialist Promoter for International Partnership Work

COMMITTED IN BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG GLOBAL COMMUNITY MINE. YOUR. ONE WORLD. PARTNERSHIP CENTER

Prices for mine. Your. One World. awarded in 2021

Post Author From hawener
Post date December 14, 2021

Ten municipalities in Baden-Württemberg were selected as part of the nationwide initiative Meine. Your. One World. honored for their special commitment to sustainable development.

Mannheim, Heidelberg, Freiburg, Fellbach, Konstanz, Lahr, Künzelsau, Engen, Reutlingen district and the Enzkreis district. These are the ten municipalities in Baden-Württemberg that took part in the ninth round of the Meine initiative. Your. One World. were honored for their special commitment to a fairer world and received prize money totaling 35.000 euros in recognition. With their actions and events during the nationwide One World Days in September and October, they drew attention to their development policy initiatives and motivated others to join the network of committed people. The Baden-Württemberg Development Cooperation Foundation (SEZ) invites municipalities to Meine every two years. Your. One World. a. The project was once again made possible by the support of Engagement Global's Municipalities in One World (SKEW) service center with funds from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Despite the pandemic, My. Your. One World. In 2021, 16 municipalities from Baden-Württemberg took part in 165 events. A jury made up of development policy experts has now selected the award-winning municipalities in the Meine competition. Your. One World. Selected in 2021.

Overview of the award-winning municipalities

“Large municipalities” category

1st prize (5.000 euros): The first-placed city Mannheim took part in Meine for the sixth time. Your. One World. and was able to mobilize a diverse alliance of actors on issues of the 2030 Agenda with its Fair Week and an impressive overall concept. The jury was impressed by the fact that Mannheim used innovative ideas and easily accessible formats, such as the interactive rally through the “Actionbound” app, to bring people closer to topics such as fair trade, climate protection and sustainable urban development.
2st prize (3.500 euros): Heidelberg was able to take part in Meine for his sixth time. Your. One World. achieve second place. In the diverse program of the One World Days Heidelberg 2021, around 20 events from 30 organizations invited people to address sustainability issues such as world nutrition and climate change. The jury found the variety of formats particularly commendable, ranging from sustainable cooking shows, tastings, city tours, exhibitions, store rallies to lectures, readings and discussions.
3st prize (1.500 euros): On her ninth participation in Meine. Your. One World. could the city Freiburg happy about third place. At the Freiburg One World Days with Fair Week 2021, a variety of artistic and cultural events offered the opportunity to get involved in a fairer world and to network on sustainability issues. The jury particularly praised the anti-consumer city tours, the newly developed broadcast rickshaw that broadcast live on the radio, and the inclusion of a colonial search for traces.

Category “Medium-sized municipalities”

1st prize (5.000 euros): Scored for the fifth time in a row Fellbach first place in the competition from Meine. Your. One World. As part of the 5th Fellbach World Week, 30 participating actors organized around 40 events on the United Nations' sustainability goals. The jury was impressed by Fellbach's broad and diverse offering and emphasized that the entire program was based on strong local networks. For example, using the example of Fellbach's urban climate, awareness was raised about the consequences of climate change.
2st prize (3.500 euros): Konstanz took part in mine for the sixth time. Your. One World. took part and took second place. At the Intercultural Week, over 30 civil society actors from Konstanz and the neighboring city of Kreuzlingen organized around 20 events in which they provided information about development policy connections, refugees and interculturality. The jury particularly emphasized that people with refugee experience and post-migrant organizations had actively helped shape the Intercultural Week in Konstanz and praised the “Babbelllingua” event, which celebrated the native languages of all people in Konstanz.
3st prize (1.500 euros): The committed citizens lahr linked to the actions of Meine. Your. One World. 2019 and achieved third place with this year's program. For example, based on the United Nations' sustainability goals, a poster campaign was implemented in churches in Lahr, which used targeted examples to sharpen understanding of global connections. The fifteenth anniversary of the town twinning with Alajuela in Costa Rica also received particular attention in the Lahr event program.

“Small municipalities” category

1st prize (5.000 euros): The first-placed municipality Künzelsau took part with its program “Shaping the future fairly in Künzelsau” and created a low-threshold interactive offer for those interested, which invited them to engage with the United Nations’ sustainability goals in everyday life. There was a city rally in Künzelsau with puzzles, quizzes and shop windows about sustainability and fair trade. The jury particularly praised the fact that a letter with specific recommendations was sent to the mayor and the local council, which was answered in detail and has already been partially implemented.
2st prize (3.500 euros): On my third participation in Meine. Your. One World. could Engen take 2nd place. Particular emphasis was placed on the good cooperation between the administration and the civil society association Unser buntes Engen e. V. Together with local actors, the “Day of Action for Democracy” could be organized, through which the administration from the mayor, political leaders, volunteers and migrant groups were involved at the local level in order to point out the great value of democracy.

special rates

Innovation Prize (5.000 euros): The prize, awarded for the first time this year, went to Reutlingen district. He impressed so much with the geocaching tour “GeoTürle – discover 17 sustainable treasures in the Reutlingen district” that the jury decided to honor this program with a unique innovation award. The tour to the 17 United Nations Sustainability Goals raises people's awareness of sustainable treasures in the Reutlingen district in a playful way. As an outdoor experience, the concept mobilizes a broad target group and motivates them to deal with sustainability issues. QR codes attached to the outside of the geocaches provide information about the associated sustainability goal. The jury emphasized the flexible transferability and adaptability of the concept to other municipalities or districts.
Recognition prize (1.500 euros): Also for the first time this year, the district Enzkreis awarded with a recognition award. The district convinced the jury with its specially compiled exhibition “Sustainable Enzkreis – Agenda 2030 and Climate Fund” in a central location in Pforzheim city center, which shows the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in the Enzkreis and the importance of CO₂-Compensations highlighted and presented in a comprehensible manner. The jury found that the concept deserves a recognition award and offers high transfer potential for other districts.

Since the celebratory awards ceremony in the New Palace in Stuttgart unfortunately had to be canceled this year due to the pandemic, the awards were sent to the municipalities in writing. “We would like to thank all the municipalities for their commitment to Meine in 2021. Your. One. World. have participated. Through their efforts, they have shown people in Baden-Württemberg that global responsibility and sustainability have to start on their own doorstep,” said Philipp Keil, Managing Director of the SEZ.

The My. initiative, which takes place every two years. Your. One World. is from the Baden-Württemberg Development Cooperation Foundation (SEZ) organized and takes place in collaboration with the Service point for municipalities in one world (SKEW) from Engagement Global with the resources of Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Mine. Your. One World. makes an important contribution to the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and its 17 sustainability goals in municipalities by developing, strengthening and further developing existing potential for greater global responsibility in the municipalities of Baden-Württemberg. Municipalities with their cities, schools, adult education centers, clubs and world shops are central places of human encounters where every day it becomes possible to raise awareness of global issues and strengthen partnership networks.

More information about My. Your. You can find One World 2021 as well as a download area with materials, flyers and images here.

Your contact person

DR. KIDIST HAILU

Specialist Promoter for International Partnership Work

GLOBAL COMMUNITY MINE. YOUR. ONE WORLD.

Successful completion of Meine. Your. One World. 2021

Post Author From hawener
Post date October 29th

The project partners at the opening of GeoTürle, the SDG geocaching tour in the Reutlingen district on September 23, 2021. In the middle solving puzzles: Sandra Teuber, Managing Director of the UNESCO Global Geopark Swabian Alb, and District Administrator Ulrich Fiedler.

We say thank you! Despite the corona pandemic, Meine. took part in the ninth round of the nationwide initiative. Your. One World. In 2021, 16 municipalities took part in 165 events.

The participating municipalities and their committed citizens defied the restrictions imposed by the corona pandemic in a varied, networked and creative way. It was impressive how some municipalities put together their programs and organized diverse and exciting programs in a very short time. Last week there were 25 other events at various locations in Baden-Württemberg.

The second digital exchange and networking meeting took place on October 26.10.2021th, XNUMX, where experiences and challenges of the participating municipalities could be exchanged with each other. “Participating in the networking meeting gave me ideas for the next actions and showed me how networked and diverse collaboration can be achieved. “I’m happy and I’m taking a lot with me,” reports Ms. Juliet Brook Blaut from Engen.

The ninth round of the Meine initiative will take place on December 02nd, 2021. Your. One World. rounded off with the award ceremony at 18:30 p.m. in the New Palace in Stuttgart under the patronage and in the presence of State Secretary Rudi Hoogvliet. On the evening, the One World actors will be honored for their commitment. Prize money totaling 30.000 euros will be awarded.

If you are at My. Your. One World. If you took part as a municipality in 2021 and would like to take part in the competition, please submit meaningful documentation (2 DIN A4 pages, press releases, photos including captions and indication of image rights) to the SEZ by November 08th, 2021 at the latest.

The SEZ would like to thank all participating municipalities and their committed citizens for their great commitment.

Your contact person

DR. KIDIST HAILU

Specialist Promoter for International Partnership Work

GLOBAL COMMUNITY MINE. YOUR. ONE WORLD.

Exciting events to combat the autumn blues

Post Author From hawener
Post date October 25th

Event Fellbach-feminine-colorful: Ms. Ari, Ms. Roth, Ms. Plato, Ms. Brait-Poplawski (from left)

The last week of October is also the last week of the Meine initiative. Your. One World. 2021 (MDEW) and still has some exciting lectures and activities in store.

Since September 01st and until October 31st, 2021, many varied events on one-world topics have been taking place everywhere in Baden-Württemberg.

Here are a few tips for the last week of October:

On Monday, October 25th, two exciting lectures will take place almost simultaneously in Schwetzingen and Fellbach:
In the Schwetzingen district adult education center e. V. presents Dr. Andre Baumann will give a lecture from 18:00 p.m. to 20:30 p.m. on how we want to live sustainably in the future. He shows the current challenges and possible ways out of them. Casper Dohmen's lecture starts at 19:00 p.m. in Fellbach and deals with how the exploitation of people and nature in the global division of labor could be ended. The supply chain law contributes to the fact that large companies have to assume human rights responsibility.

The online lecture jointly organized by various institutions from Freiburg on Wednesday, October 27th at 19:00 p.m. by Anne Jung from medico international will provide information about the current status of the pandemic in the Global South, vaccine distribution and the dispute over the release of patents.

Sustainability Day will take place on October 29th in Königsbach-Stein with a lecture by Dr. Andreas Zahn as well as a wide range of information on the topic of “sustainability”. Also on October 29th in Lahr, the rock/pop department of the music school will present the self-composed and recorded one-world song “Don’t let if fall apart,” thereby showing that we all live in one world.

And if you would like to take some sustainability with you from these exciting MDEW weeks, why not visit one of the open bookcases in Fellbach or the workshop New wallets from old tetra packs: https://www.sez.de/veranstaltungen/event/20124

Not the right one yet? Please take a look at our events calendar for events in your area.

GLOBAL COMMUNITY MINE. YOUR. ONE WORLD.

Mine. Your. One World. 2021 on the home stretch

Post Author From hawener
Post date October 14th

Mine. Your. One World. 2021 is already halfway through and heading towards the home stretch. There are still many exciting events taking place in various places in Baden-Württemberg until the end of October and several campaigns related to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals are coming up.

In the Fellbach town hall area, the 17 goals of Agenda 2030, which was also signed by the city of Fellbach, are illuminated on a wall. Selfies in front of the wall and uploading the pictures to social media are welcome.

On Friday, 15th October 2021, Dr. René Castro Salazar, Deputy Director General of the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) since 2016, gave a lecture in Lahr on the sustainability goals from the FAO's perspective.

Geo Türle invites those interested to discover the 17 sustainable treasures in the Reutlingen district as SDG geocaching until the end of December.

Photo: The exhibition “Sustainable Enzkreis – Agenda 2030 and Climate Fund” in the entrance hall of the Volksbank Haus in Pforzheim. Here is a newspaper report.

You can find other exciting events in your area in the SEZ events calendar.

SDG Jenga: Exhibition “Sustainable Enzkreis – Agenda 2030 and Climate Fund” in Pforzheim

GLOBAL COMMUNITY MINE. YOUR. ONE WORLD.

Mine. Your. A world has reached the halfway point!

Post Author From hawener
Post date September 30, 2021

Campaign from our colorful Engen e.V.: “Democracy – I’m there!” – Day of Action for Democracy

Since September 1st, the actions of municipalities and their civil society actors have been taking place in many places in Baden-Württemberg as part of the nationwide initiative Meine. Your. One World. of the Baden-Württemberg Development Cooperation Foundation (SEZ).

The corona pandemic does not make planning and carrying out events easy. There is great uncertainty as to whether actions can even take place as planned. Despite this challenge, 77 exciting events have already taken place and another 87 will follow until October 31st. The citizens in the municipalities of Baden-Württemberg are committed to working for a fairer world and for the implementation of the 17 sustainability goals of the 2030 Agenda. We would like to say a big THANK YOU for your commitment during this extremely challenging time.

Exhibitions, street activities, film screenings and discussions, lectures, photo exhibitions, virtual city tours, online events, panel discussions, culinary evenings, dance workshops and much more. you find in SEZ event calendar.

You can find an overview of the participating municipalities here:

You can find a musical contribution from Lahr, the sister city of Alajuela, to MDEW here on YouTube.

And you can find the detailed report on our cover photo and the “Democracy – I’m there” campaign here.

COMMITTED IN BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG GLOBAL COMMUNITY MINE. YOUR. ONE WORLD. PARTNERSHIP CENTER

Mine. Your. One World. 2021 has begun

Post Author From hawener
Post date September 2, 2021

The nationwide municipal initiative for a fairer world has begun.

What can we do to reduce global injustice? How can we make our world future-proof and sustainable? And why does global responsibility begin right here in our community – right on our own doorstep? Baden-Württemberg's municipalities will be showing in autumn 2021 as part of the nationwide initiative Meine. Your. One World. How the United Nations Agenda 2030 with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals can be implemented. Mine. Your. One World. creates visibility for what everyone in Baden-Württemberg can do for a fairer world and shows what global impact our local actions have.

From September 1st to October 31st, 2021, 18 municipalities in Baden-Württemberg will be at Meine with over 60 events. Your. One World. 2021 there. “We are particularly pleased that, despite the pandemic, so many municipalities have registered with an extremely diverse program of events. This shows how much expertise and potential there is on topics such as global sustainability and justice in Baden-Württemberg. “It’s a strong sign of the importance of community engagement,” said Dr. Kidist Hailu, specialist promoter for partnerships at SEZ. All participating municipalities, districts and participating local actors can also take part in the initiative’s competition with their program. There are nine prizes up for grabs with a total prize money of 30.000 euros. The recognition of the commitment of the participating municipalities will take place at a celebratory award ceremony on December 02nd, 2021 under the patronage and in the presence of Rudi Hoogvliet, State Secretary for Media Policy and Federal Representative of the State of Baden-Württemberg, in the New Palace in Stuttgart.

My initiative. Your. One World. makes an important contribution to the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the municipalities by developing, strengthening and further developing existing potential for greater global responsibility in the municipalities of Baden-Württemberg. Municipalities with their cities, schools, adult education centers, clubs and world shops are central places of human encounters where every day it becomes possible to raise awareness of global issues and strengthen partnership networks. The My. initiative, which takes place every two years. Your. One World. is from the Baden-Württemberg Development Cooperation Foundation (SEZ) organized and takes place in cooperation with the Service point for municipalities in one world (SKEW) from Engagement Global with the resources of Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Further information, all events from Meine. Your. You can find One World 2021 as well as a download area with materials, flyers and images here.

Your contact person

DR. KIDIST HAILU

Specialist Promoter for International Partnership Work

GLOBAL COMMUNITY MINE. YOUR. ONE WORLD. PARTNERSHIP CENTER SEZ WORLD: CITIZENS ASKED!

Development policy state conference on September 17.09.2021, XNUMX

Post Author From hawener
Post date August 10, 2021

Participants of the state development policy conference in 2019 at the Stuttgart trade fair.

At the annual state development policy conference, committed citizens can help shape Baden-Württemberg's development policy.

Registration for the virtual development policy state conference on September 17, 2021 is now possible. At the annual conference on current development policy issues and new perspectives on global responsibility, committed people have the opportunity to discuss with representatives of the state government and thus put new impetus on the agenda. In open and inclusive discussion groups there is the opportunity to exchange ideas with each other - no special prior knowledge is necessary, because everyone can contribute to the development policy state conference.

By participating in the 2021 State Development Policy Conference, you are participating in the search for solutions for global responsibility in Baden-Württemberg and the establishment of equal partnerships. You can present your own content directly at your own free stand on the FAIRchange virtual market and thus exchange ideas and network directly with others. Further information about the 2021 Development Policy State Conference and the program and workshops can be downloaded here.

Your contact person

Lena Wimmer

Communication team leader

GLOBAL COMMUNITY SEZ

SEZ and city association strengthen cooperation

Post Author From hawener
Post date June 14

Philipp Keil, Managing Director of the SEZ, and Gudrun Today-Bluhm, Managing Board Member of the Baden-Württemberg City Council, after signing the Memorandum of Understanding in June 2021 in Stuttgart.

The Baden-Württemberg Development Cooperation Foundation (SEZ) will work even more closely with the Baden-Württemberg Association of Cities in the future.

Both organizations have now signed a corresponding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The signing took place as part of the 3rd municipal top-level discussion on development policy.

The SEZ and the Baden-Württemberg City Council have been working together successfully in the area of municipal development policy for three decades. These are the latest results of successful collaboration Handbook on local development policy and the action concept for local development policy in Baden-Württemberg as a guiding concept for local development policy in the state. The MoU forms the basis for further cooperation within the framework of various projects such as the nationwide initiative Mine. Your. One World the SEZ, the Fair trade fair or Stuttgart Forum for Development. A regular exchange between the SEZ and the Baden-Württemberg City Association is planned.

The Association of Cities is a full member of the SEZ Board of Trustees and historically chairs the Board of Trustees; Currently, Mayor Richard Arnold, Schwäbisch Gmünd, is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the SEZ.