Traslated by Andrés Martínez Forero
In a key step toward strengthening Bogotá’s international partnerships, Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán met with Germany’s Ambassador to Colombia, Martina Klumpp, and Thorsten Schäfer-Gümbel, spokesperson for the Board of Directors of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).
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The meeting focused on identifying new areas of collaboration to improve quality of life for city residents, with leaders placing special emphasis on initiatives that support migrants, caregivers, and individuals affected by the armed conflict.
Discussions also reviewed progress on the Bogotá 2.0 initiative, ongoing projects, and future priorities in areas such as migration, economic integration, caregiving, and sustainability.
Concrete Results for the City
A central topic was the conclusion of Bogotá 2.0, a GIZ-funded program implemented from 2021 to 2025 with a €17 million investment, channeled primarily through civil society organizations. The initiative delivered meaningful results:
- 7,000 people received job training; 400 secured formal employment.
- 500 small businesses received seed funding and technical support.
- The initiative provided eight ultrasound machines to public hospitals.
- 2,300 public officials were trained in differential care, sexual health, and human rights.
These outcomes demonstrate how international cooperation can have a direct and lasting impact on local communities.
A New Agenda for Social Impact
Bogotá expressed its commitment to deepening the social and economic integration of migrants, while extending support to other vulnerable groups such as victims of armed conflict, caregivers, youth, and older adults.
Proposals included improving public transportation access for caregivers, reinforcing the city’s vision of a more equitable and gender-sensitive urban model.
“We want this cooperation to help close social gaps and drive reconciliation, inclusion, and overall wellbeing. That’s at the heart of our approach,” said Jimena Niño, Bogotá’s International Relations Advisor.
Environmental Collaboration for a Sustainable Future
Beyond the social dimension, the Bogotá-Germany partnership also includes key environmental initiatives. GIZ is currently leading three flagship projects in the city:
- ProUSAR, which promotes circular economy practices in sectors like plastics and textiles.
- PREVEC II, aimed at creating green jobs and advancing circular solutions in restaurants, markets, and urban areas.
- SolER, supporting the installation of solar panels on public buildings.
In addition, the City Climate Finance Gap Fund—backed by the German government—has helped Bogotá explore models to electrify its school bus fleet.
“What makes our cooperation with Bogotá so valuable is the ability to work collaboratively, bringing together diverse actors and perspectives. Projects like the circular economy initiative show the city’s strong institutional capacity to drive real change at the local level,” said Ulrich Höcker, GIZ Country Director in Colombia.
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Next Steps
The meeting concluded with a joint commitment to develop a roadmap for the next phase of collaboration. Priority projects are expected to be defined and formalized in the coming months, with implementation set for the 2026–2029 period.
“This meeting is an important milestone in deepening a strong, long-term partnership between Germany and Bogotá. We share a vision of a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient city,” said Ambassador Martina Klumpp.
The highlights of this strategic cooperation meeting were also shared by Bogotá’s International Relations Office on its official X (formerly Twitter) account:
🇨🇴I🇩🇪 El alcalde @CarlosFGalan se reunió con @EmbAlemaniaCOL y @giz_gmbh para fortalecer la cooperación entre Bogotá y Alemania.
— Relaciones Internacionales Bogotá (@BogotaInter_nal) July 16, 2025
Se exploraron nuevas líneas de trabajo para impulsar integración migrante, cuidado y sostenibilidad urbana.
¡Alianzas que mejoran la vida de todos! pic.twitter.com/wdTiIhBHty
*This article was created using information provided by the Bogotá’s International Relations Office and curated by a journalist from Portal Bogotá. For suggestions, questions, or more information, visit Bogotá Te Escucha: https://bogota.gov.co/sdqs/
