GIZ Libya reported last Tuesday (1 October) that a Libyan delegation, led by Badreddin Tumi, the Minister of Local Government, recently visited Berlin’s municipal Waste Management Enterprise (Berliner Stadtreinigungsbetriebe (BSR) and the German Association of Municipal Enterprises (Verband Kommunaler Unternehmen (VKU), accompanied by a team from GIZ.
The purpose of the visit was to learn about the role and mandates of municipal enterprises and to explore best practices for integrated municipal solid waste management.
The delegation’s itinerary, GIZ reported, included a comprehensive overview of Berlin’s innovative waste management and city cleaning strategies, as well as an engaging tour of a cutting-edge waste-to-energy plant that showcased the operational efficiencies of the municipal service company. Additionally, the delegation met with representatives from VKU, an organisation that serves as a vital network for municipal enterprises across Germany.
The VKU plays a crucial role in facilitating the exchange of knowledge and advocating for the interests of municipalities at various governance levels, particularly during the introduction of new legislation or shifts in municipal responsibilities, GIZ explained.
During discussions at the VKU, key topics included the mandates of municipal enterprises, challenges related to funding, and the delivery of essential services such as public swimming pools, water supply, wastewater management, and local public transportation, which are critical for community wellbeing.
The primary objective of this visit was to foster collaboration centred on decentralisation and local governance, with a particular focus on fiscal decentralisation, municipal finance, service delivery, urban planning, and effective waste management practices, GIZ reported.
