Intentions
The intentions of SURE Synergy Workshop 2 were to have an exchange on experiences from previous programmes and projects, to get insights into different research programmes and projects and to learn from each other’s experiences. In addition, the workshop intended to address the duality of research and implementation, to deepen implementation issues and to establish contacts to external organisations (e.g. GIZ).
The SURE Synergy Workshop 2 was related to work package 3 of the SURE Facilitation and Synthesis Research. A key objective of this work package is to ensure the programme’s impact beyond the projects. A main product of work package 3 is the impact framework as a tool of reflection and selfreflection to observe progress of projects and programme towards impact.
The first part of the SURE Synergy Workshop 2 consisted of four contributions on the topic »Lessons Learned from Research to Action«. The four contributors were asked to briefly introduce the project or programme and share the framework, the approach, and the key ideas. However, the focus was on the success and failure factors, the project design and project work that led to impact. The workshop’s second main part was a moderated Panel Discussion, where the lessons learned were further detailed. In addition to the content-related exchange on »lessons learned«, an informal networking format and time without content-based synergies, but with social proximity was provided.
Contributions
Carsten Zehner, Consultant for Urban Development, Planning and Management; »Future Megacities«
Dr. Daphne Frank, Senior Climate Coordinator for the Department of Africa at GIZ; »Cities Fit for
Climate Change«
Prof. Dr. Frauke Kraas, Professor and Chair of Human Geography, Department of Geography at
the University of Cologne; »Megacities – Megachallenge: Informal Dynamics of Global Change«
Dr. Wolfgang Scholz, Academic Staff of the IPS-Department at the Faculty of Spatial Planning,
Dortmund University; Research Projects in Tanzania
Key Topics
- Mandate of the projects and its benefits in relation to the local partner consortia
- Cooperation between agencies and ministries in Germany and the partner countries
- Effects of changing structures in the partnerships on the project work (e.g. personnel changes
due to elections) - Flexibility of the research design and the possibilities of redesign
- Different interests of research and practice
Practical Takeaways
- Finding suitable financing/funding models to empower the local partners
- Set up a publication series and publication process that meets the projects’ needs
- As part of Work Package 3, the SURE Programme Facilitation & Synthesis Research will provide a handout which synthesises the contend-based findings of the SURE Synergy Workshop 2