Reggio Emilia Municipality

The Cooperation between the city of Reggio Emilia (Italy) and the city of Pemba (Mozambique) began in 1975, with the signature of a friendship agreement between the two cities. From that moment on, the collaboration between the two cities has never ceased to be active, evolving over the years in terms of modalities, approaches and forms. From the first solidarity actions of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s the forms of collaboration have evolved with the use of the most current tools and approaches of decentralised cooperation for development. This new course culminated in 2012 with the signature of an effective twinning agreement between the two cities, covering the priority areas of cooperation for a joint common local sustainable development. Over the past 12 years Reggio Emilia and Pemba have put in place innovative ways of cooperation between cities, defining an approach based on the idea of exchange of good practices, as well as collaboration and dialogue among peers through field visits and hybrid exchanges, involving not only the different municipal departments, but also the best expertise from the private and social private sector from both cities. The two communities as well have always been at the centre of the process, always participating in the definition of the priorities of the areas of work addressed by the exchanges and projects.
The exhibition represents the results and innovative approach of this collaboration for sustainable development and the localization of Agenda 2030 in: redefining urban plans in the city of Pemba, guaranteeing participatory paths and the subsequent implementation of urban regeneration interventions in a sustainable and resilient perspective; the definition of the strategic plan for waste collection in the city of Pemba, as well as the reorganization of the collection and management system with a significant impact in terms of environmental protection, urban resilience and improved health conditions at the territorial level.