From AI-powered public services to zero hunger strategies and climate-resilient infrastructure, ICLEI Members are advancing bold, people-centered innovations that improve daily life in cities worldwide.
Announced on 24 February, the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge recognizes groundbreaking local government initiatives designed to tackle complex urban challenges. Fifteen of the 24 winning cities are ICLEI Members, with three additional cities from the broader ICLEI Network.
The 24 winners represent 20 countries and more than 35 million residents. Selected from over 630 applications, the winning ideas stood out for their originality, potential impact, and strong implementation plans.
Now in its sixth edition, the 2025-2026 Mayors Challenge supports cities in designing and delivering bold solutions that strengthen public services and improve quality of life. The program encourages leaders to move beyond traditional approaches and test innovative models that respond to evolving community needs.
Each winning municipality will receive USD 1 million in funding, along with technical assistance and operational support to help bring their initiatives to life.
Congratulations to our 15 ICLEI Members and their winning initiatives (in alphabetical order):
Barcelona, Spain: Expanding access to affordable home retrofits through city-backed financing and streamlined regulations, reducing approval timelines by 40%.
Belfast, United Kingdom: Transforming 126 miles of neglected alleyways into safer, greener, community-owned spaces for tens of thousands of residents.
Boise, United States: Leveraging municipally owned geothermal energy to provide affordable, sustainable heating and cooling for multifamily housing.
Budapest, Hungary: Turning surplus food into healthy meals for students and seniors through a city-run processing facility that reduces waste and supports local producers.
Cape Town, South Africa: Co-creating waste collection systems with informal settlement residents to reduce illegal dumping, create jobs, and extend reliable services.
Cartagena, Colombia: Strengthening livelihoods for street vendors in a historic district through training and modern carts equipped for digital payments and waste management.
Ghent, Belgium: Proactively connecting residents to social benefits and services during critical life moments to support vulnerable families.
Lafayette, United States: Repairing sewer infrastructure at half the cost of new construction through a public-private partnership that unlocks housing development.
Medellín, Colombia: Applying artificial intelligence to streamline food distribution and advance the city’s Zero Hunger goal.
Pasig, Philippines: Co-designing floating parks with residents to reduce flood risk, expand green space, and strengthen community ties.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Combining AI and municipal outreach to proactively connect families with early childhood health care, education, and social services.
South Bend, United States: Using AI within the city’s 311 system to anticipate service needs and respond proactively.
Toronto, Canada: Partnering with local producers to provide healthy, culturally relevant meals to every public school student daily.
Turku, Finland: Leveraging food aid programs to connect residents with housing, employment, and financial services.
Visakhapatnam, India: Working with residents to mitigate risks from floods, cyclones, and heatwaves to safeguard vulnerable communities.
We also extend our congratulations to the three cities from the ICLEI Network: As-Salt, Jordan; Fukuoka, Japan; and Surabaya, Indonesia.
You can read the full list of winners here and learn more about their initiatives here.
*Image: Cartagena, Colombia. Courtesy of Bloomberg Philanthropies.
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