What we did
As part of the Cities Forward Program, ICLEI USA, in partnership with RCC, DoS, and IOA, organized a Design Challenge Accelerator workshop for the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) cities. The workshop aimed to accelerate project design development by guiding cities in creating actionable pilot concepts and detailed design strategies. Cities worked alongside Design Subject Matter Experts and the Cities Forward team to develop customized Project Pilots, aligning their goals, actions, and outcomes with their unique contexts. The session also included exploring key elements of financing strategies for their projects, helping participants gain skills for crafting effective proposals ahead of the Marketplace Convening in Washington D.C. in March 2025.Cities left with preliminary financing strategies, cost considerations, potential partnerships, a clear implementation timeline, and a clear design idea for one of their project prototypes. A site visit to Parque Espíritu del Manglar in Cartagena highlighted an iconic urban park renovation integrating social, cultural, recreational, and environmental values. This experience underscored the importance of contextually appropriate solutions that balance conservation and urban resilience. Through these hands-on workshops, Cities Forward empowered LAC cities to turn sustainable development visions into actionable plans, equipping them with the tools and partnerships needed to drive impactful, on-the-ground changes.
Read more Read less
