FEDERAL CONGRESS ON NATIONAL URBAN DEVELOPMENT POLICY
From 14 to 16 September 2026, GFA Consulting Group once again participated in the Federal Congress on National Urban Development Policy. Organised by the Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Construction and hosted this year by the City of Cologne, the event brought together experts from across the sector. Two GFA employees, Hendrik Jaschob and Pauline von Keitz from our Governance Department, attended the congress to represent the company and engage directly with key stakeholders.
The congress opened with a discussion between Federal Minister Verena Hubertz and Torsten Burmester, Lord Mayor of Cologne, before moving into the main programme. The event covered the entire spectrum of urban development, drawing on keynote presentations, panel discussions and specialist forums.
“The congress gives us the opportunity to learn about current trends in German urban development while also connecting with stakeholders from the development cooperation sector, particularly GIZ and KfW,” summarises Hendrik Jaschob, urban planner and Consultant in GFA Consulting Group’s Governance Department.
Delegations from Ukraine, Namibia, and South Africa, amongst others, attended the congress this year. The event addressed a wide range of topics touching on both German and international issues, including settlement development, climate change, urban networks and artificial intelligence in urban planning.
Topics relating to administration and governance structures - which are also highly relevant to our work at GFA - formed a key part of the discussion. “The wide range of topics opens up new opportunities for us to develop further, both thematically and professionally. Meeting new stakeholders and experts who could prove valuable in the long term, both for our business development and for project implementation,” said Pauline von Keitz, Junior Professional in the Governance Department.
The many different project models presented at the congress by local authorities, academic institutions and other civil society initiatives provided inspiration for our own work – and for strengthening our offerings in the field of urban development.
> Find more information on the congress webpage.
