Here's a snapshot of the blueprint:
Advance policy integration and coherence
Through the Child Projects and Global Platform, the program will engage political leadership across government levels, fostering coordinated actions in policy design and implementation. This approach will not only help realize global and national targets (e.g., climate, biodiversity, and inclusion targets) but also amplify the impact of local priorities.
Scale up financing and support the new generation of project investment
Experiences from previous phases underscored the critical need to streamline technical assistance into downstream investments and provide comprehensive support across the urban development value chain. The program will support a new generation of project investment by collaborating with multilateral development banks and international and domestic financial institutions to better integrate GEF technical assistance projects into their portfolios. It will also work with cities and the private sector to develop bankable projects and explore innovative financial instruments.
Promote urban innovation
Mainstreaming innovations across policy, technology, and finance dimensions, the program will identify opportunities to influence new policy development, bridging siloed areas and supporting ambitious sustainability standards. It will also explore and disseminate locally suitable decarbonization technologies, such as scenario analysis and modeling, and innovative financing mechanisms that also help contribute to global environmental benefits.
City officials, GEF agencies, and partners engaged in practical exercises on urban land use planning at the Regional Asia Forum in New Delhi, September 2023. Photo credit: UrbanShift
Deepen and broaden partnerships
Building upon its broad partnerships, the program will further deepen and broaden the networks to garner political support, institutionalize integrated approaches, and embed sustainability into decision making and policy frameworks on a global scale. Strategic engagement with the private sector and civil society organizations would be emphasized to foster inclusion, innovation, and scale.
Strengthen knowledge management and create global public goods
The program will prioritize knowledge management and production, collaborating with partners to create, share, and apply insights and innovative tools for city sustainability. Through capacity-building activities, cities will also be equipped with the necessary resources, expertise, and networks to address urban challenges effectively.
Through those pivotal levers, the Sustainable Cities Program will help transform our cities towards achieving the vision of a healthy planet for healthy people, where our cities are not just places we live but thriving hubs of innovation and prosperity in harmony with nature.