About Us
Association for Sustainable Development (ASD)
The Association for Sustainable Development (ASD) (in German: Gesellschaft für Nachhaltige Entwicklung - GNE) is a non-profit educational and consulting institute based at the University of Kassel in Witzenhausen. As a member of the "Education for Sustainable Development Network - North Hesse," ASD is dedicated to promoting sustainable development through knowledge transfer in areas such as sustainable environmental and resource management. ASD also works on renewable energy management, climate protection and adaptation management, capacity building in international project management, development cooperation, humanitarian emergency aid, and impact-oriented monitoring and evaluation.
ASD actively participates in regional and international projects aimed at promoting organic farming and developing sustainable land use systems both in emerging countries and in Germany at the regional level. Witzenhausen, where ASD is based, is surrounded by numerous landscapes and nature reserves and is known as an organic farming pioneer town. It is a member of the "Organic Farming Model Region North Hesse" and, since 2018, a member of the "Global Sustainable Municipality" network. The University of Kassel's Department of Agriculture, established in Witzenhausen in 1971, created the world's first professorship for organic farming in 1981, leading to the foundation of the world's first Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences in 1996. Graduates of this programme have significantly influenced urban and rural life with various socio-ecological initiatives and companies.
Recognising the increasing importance of local climate action, ASD is implementing the cross-border project ELCA in collaboration with two partner organisations, People In Need (PIN) and UPT (Romanian Polytechnic University of Timisoara). The comprehensive approach of the project ensures that the Association for Sustainable Development (ASD) remains at the forefront of promoting sustainable development and climate action management, driving positive change both locally and internationally.
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Viola Helwig - International Project Manager
With a robust academic foundation in agricultural biology and landscape ecology, Viola Helwig brings a wealth of expertise in organic farming, food security, and water management. Since 2009, she has cultivated a rich portfolio of experience in project management, specializing in the oversight and evaluation of initiatives and training programs that enhance capacity and knowledge for sustainable development. Her professional journey is marked by a profound understanding of the intricate connections within socio-ecological systems.
Leadership in the ELCA Project:
As the driving force behind the ELCA project, Viola Helwig is dedicated to nurturing a collaborative and dynamic environment that inspires the pursuit of innovative climate action strategies. She is deeply committed to harnessing the collective intelligence and positive energy of her team, recognizing that the true strength of any project lies in the synergy of its contributors. Viola Helwig is also eager to offer her expertise in guiding the development of follow-up projects, ensuring continued progress and impact.
People in Need
We are a non-governmental, non-profit organisation founded on the ideals of humanism, freedom, equality, and solidarity. We consider human dignity and freedom to be fundamental values. We believe that people everywhere in the world should have the right to make decisions about their lives and to share the rights expressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Our organisation, People in Need, was founded in 1992, and we have gradually established ourselves as a professional humanitarian organisation with the aim of helping in crisis areas and promoting respect for human rights around the world.
During the thirty years of our existence, we have become one of the largest non-profit organisations in Central Europe. We also started to work in the field of education to help people living in social exclusion and to work together to restore healthy landscapes and mitigate the effects of climate change.
We are a member of Alliance2015, a strategic network of seven European NGOs active in humanitarian aid and development projects. This collaboration increases the effectiveness of both our work in target countries and campaigns influencing the attitudes of political representatives and the general public in Europe. We are also part of NeoNu, a group of more than 20 organisations and networks representing over 600 NGOs. Together, we negotiate cooperation with the state administration at the level of the Office of the Government , ministries and parliament.
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Roman Klecker
Roman has been working for People in Need since the tornado and flash floods in Moravia (CZ) in 2021. He coordinated the humanitarian aid in the immediate aftermath of the event and is still in charge of the reconstruction of the region through the SOS Morava collection as a project manager. Thanks to these funds, not only houses but also gardens, orchards and small vineyards have been restored here.
Roman is currently coordinating a participatory landscape restoration project in Dolní Bojanovice, which we are working on together with Krajinohled. There is ongoing social science research, landscape mapping, workshops with local actors and residents, and subsequent implementation in the form of planting, wetland establishment, etc. The result should be a landscape resilient to the effects of climate change and mismanagement. We are working with other municipalities and discussing the restoration of the region at round tables.
In cooperation with the Partnership Foundation, Roman is working on climate concepts/action plans for the affected municipalities, which now currently also falls under the EUKI ELCA project.
Privately, Roman has also been involved in the so-called "Dobrotým", which is being prepared in the framework of the Integrated Rescue Services to coordinate emergency relief (floods, tornadoes, etc.).
Politehnica University Timisoara (UPT)
Founded in 1920, shortly after World War I, the Polytechnic School of Timișoara (now Politehnica University Timișoara) was established to meet the demand for trained engineers. Today, it is recognized both nationally and internationally for its advanced research and education, thanks to generations of dedicated teachers and prestigious academics.
Politehnica University Timisoara's mission is to meet societal competence requirements by providing superior training at undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels. The university focuses on future societal development at local, regional, national, and international levels.
The university comprises faculties, departments, institutes, research centers, and various facilities including libraries, hostels, canteens, sports facilities, and a student medical center. It educates around 13,500 students across 10 faculties, supported by nearly 700 teachers and 500 auxiliary staff.
Politehnica University Timisoara excels in research with 25 active research centers, enhancing its international reputation and securing funding for development. Research outputs, including scientific papers and patents, underscore the university's competence and professionalism.
Educational activities at the university follow the Bologna paradigm, offering programs across three cycles: Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral studies. In response to labor market demands and the need for lifelong learning, the university also offers postgraduate programs to update and enhance academic qualifications. The specializations are continually updated to reflect the latest trends and meet the theoretical and practical training needs of graduates in the job market.
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Dr. Rares HĂLBAC COTOARĂ ZAMFIR
He has more than 15 years’ experience in fundamental and applied research in land reclamation and improvement works, engineering water management, NBS, ESS, sustainable land management. He is lecturer, researcher and PhD thesys coordinator at Politehnica University of Timisoara, Romania. His interest focuses on land reclamation and improvement works and their interactions with land and hydrology, climate changes impact of sustainable land management, environment protection. He participated in several international projects, both as researcher and coordinator. He led several Horizon Europe, EEA, UEFISCDI funded projects on engineering adaptation to climate changes, solutions for reducing hydro-meteorological risks and nature-based solutions.