Wanted: Movers and shakers for the municipalities of the future

• Projects will receive awards in the categories of “Energy and heating transition”, “Digital education” and “Affordable and space-efficient housing”
• Additional special prize in cooperation with the German Disabled Sports Association (DBS)
• Open to municipalities or municipally-owned enterprises
• Total prize money of EUR 40,000
• Online applications open until 17 March 2025

Today applications open for the KfW Award Urban Living 2025. This is the second time that KfW Group will be giving out these awards.

Climate change, digitalisation and demographic change present huge challenges for our cities and municipalities. In order to remain future-proof, they need innovative concepts and bold solutions. Germany has already made fantastic progress in this area. In order to give sustainable and pioneering projects in municipalities across the country the recognition they deserve, KfW Group has initiated a new award, the KfW Award Urban Living.

Municipalities of any size as well as municipally funded enterprises have until 17 March 2025 to submit projects they have been involved in that have contributed to a better quality of living. Integration, innovation, affordability and sustainability are just a few of the assessment criteria.

The aim is to use these successful examples to inspire the municipalities of tomorrow and motivate others to follow suit. Projects must be making a visible impact and be focussed on benefiting the community.

Such projects may receive awards in the categories “Energy and Heating Transition”, “Digital Education” or “Affordable and Space-Efficient Housing”. In addition, there is a special prize: “Living Inclusion – Disabled Sports Unites Municipalities”.

The category of “Energy and Heating Transition” will reward municipal projects that have shaped individual sectors of urban life – or even entire neighbourhoods – to be as climate-friendly as possible.

In the “Affordable and Space-Efficient Housing” category, KfW aims to reward municipal housing projects that focus on efficient living spaces and affordability.

The “Digital Education” category will honour municipal projects that have successfully implemented digital training and education.

The special category “Living Inclusion – Disabled Sports Unites Municipalities” honours municipalities that have been particularly successful in fostering inclusion of disabled people in their sports offerings. The invitation to submit applications is issued in cooperation with the German Disabled Sports Association (DBS).

A total of EUR 40,000 in prize money is available as part of the KfW Award Urban Living. The funds are divided equally between the four categories. The winner of the first prize in each category will receive EUR 5,000, the winner of the second prize will receive EUR 3,000 and the third EUR 2,000. The prize money will be paid to a non-profit institution or organisation designated by the respective winning municipality.

The selection is made by a jury composed of experts from the respective category. Details of the jury members will be published in February 2025.

All winning projects will be honoured at a celebratory event as part of the German Municipal Congress organised by the German Association of Towns and Municipalities (DStGB) in Berlin on 3 June 2025. The TV channel n-tv is the media partner of the award and will report on the winners and award ceremony in a special programme.

For further information and application forms, please visit KfW Award Urban Living (in German)