From multilevel governance, sustainable finance and investment to biodiversity and food systems, ICLEI showed how coordinated action is already transforming cities and how it can scale.

Delivering sustainable urban development at scale requires more than isolated projects; it demands coordination, finance, and systems that connect local action with global goals. At the first-ever Global Forum for the GEF Integrated Programs, ICLEI demonstrated how cities are already advancing integrated solutions across sectors, and what it takes to accelerate impact worldwide.

Convened by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at its headquarters in Nairobi from 13–17 April, the Forum brought together global partners to share progress and lessons from GEF-funded programs tackling the drivers of environmental challenges across cities, energy, food systems, infrastructure, and beyond.

As a proud implementing partner in GEF-8 and a long-standing technical partner of the UrbanShift, and the Global Platform of the Sustainable Cities Integrated Program (SCIP) through GEF-7, ICLEI contributed expertise across key thematic areas, highlighting how multilevel governance, sustainable finance and investment, urban nature, and food systems are central to delivering lasting change.

Making multilevel governance work in practice

Maryke van Staden, Director of ICLEI’s carbonn Climate Center and Director of Business Development, emphasized that multilevel governance is not optional; it is the foundation for effective climate and development action in cities.

Drawing on lessons from UrbanShift’s National–Local Dialogues, she highlighted the need to move beyond ad hoc collaboration toward durable systems. This includes establishing formal coordination mechanisms across levels of government, with clear mandates, authority, and resources, as well as investing in local capacity.

Without this, she noted, governance risks becoming procedural rather than transformational: Strong institutions, skilled teams, and data-driven tools are essential to position cities as equal partners in decision-making.

Turning global biodiversity goals into city-level action

Ingrid Coetzee, Director of Biodiversity, Nature & Health at the ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Center, introduced the Berlin Urban Nature Pact Monitoring Framework (BUNP-MF), a practical tool designed to help cities track and scale biodiversity action.

Developed by the City of Berlin and ICLEI, in consultation with leading cities, the framework provides a harmonized approach to urban nature monitoring, enabling better data governance and aggregation across scales. It responds directly to cities’ demand for clear, interoperable systems that translate global biodiversity commitments into measurable local action. The IUCN has developed indicators for the BUNP. BUNP has been embedded in CitiesWithNature, which is recognized as a commitment and reporting platform for cities by the CBD in Decision 15/12 of the POA. 

Building on initiatives such as the Edinburgh Declaration, the Montreal Pledge, and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Berlin Urban Nature Pact offers cities a concrete pathway to accelerate biodiversity action by 2030.

Unlocking finance to transform African urban food systems

Meggan Spires, Director of the Sustainable Finance Center at ICLEI Africa, highlighted the central role cities play in addressing food loss and waste, one of the most pressing and overlooked urban challenges.

While food policy is often set nationally, its impacts are felt locally. Cities are responsible for waste management, markets, and urban planning, placing them at the core of the issue. In many African cities, food waste contributes to high operational costs, flooding, and public health risks, while consuming up to 20% of municipal budgets.

Spires pointed to municipal markets as a critical entry point for change, given their scale and concentration of food flows in African cities. However, scaling solutions requires moving beyond pilot projects toward integrated financing models that combine public, private, and concessional funding.

As discussions at the Global Forum for the GEF Integrated Programs underscored, cities are not only implementing solutions; they are redefining how sustainable development is delivered. With the right governance frameworks, tools, and financing mechanisms, these approaches can scale to meet the urgency of today’s environmental challenges, benefiting both people and ecosystems for the long term.

Read more about the Global Forum for the GEF Integrated Programs here.