From 4 to 8 November, ICLEI hosted the Gap Fund Step-Up International Event in Cairo, Egypt, as a parallel event to the UN-Habitat’s World Urban Forum (WUF12).
Representatives from nine cities across Latin America and Africa —Palmas, Rio de Janeiro, Campinas, Portoviejo, Cuenca, La Marsa, Chefchaouen, Kisumu, and Makindye— joined a great group of stakeholders, including academics, green finance experts and partners to tackle critical challenges in advancing local sustainable infrastructure projects.
Maryke van Staden, Director of the ICLEI carbonn Climate Center, said, “Over four dynamic days, participants engaged in hands-on training and exchange on financial planning, innovative finance instruments, and strategies for fostering community-driven Public-Private-People Partnerships. ICLEI is working with our partners to level up the capacity of local governments to transform urban infrastructure into the resilient, zero emission cities we need.”
Participants explored avenues to secure technical support for feasibility-stage projects, directly connecting and engaging with Project Preparation Facilities that provide project development assistance.
This was the flagship activity of the Gap Fund Step-Up Project (SUP), led by ICLEI and funded by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The focus is on local governments that receive support from the City Climate Finance Gap Fund to bridge the gap between climate ambitions and actionable urban infrastructure projects- The SUP project addresses collaborative knowledge exchange and capacity-building through tailored training for successful project pitching to leverage investments.
Giulia Macagno, Head of the City Climate Finance Gap Fund EIB Technical Secretariat at the European Investment Bank, highlighted, “The SUP International Event focused on identifying financing mechanisms to bring urban climate action project to life. It explored concrete ways of financing project implementation in a sustainable manner, including the involvement of the private sector and the engagement of local communities, such as public-private-people partnerships and innovative de-risking strategies.”
Participants had the unique opportunity to also experience WUF12 – a celebration by urban practitioners – and engage in a variety of sessions led by partners to find solutions to the most pressing urban and sustainability challenges of today.
Lennart Fleck, Programme Manager of Public Finance and Economic Development at UN-Habitat, emphasized the importance of enhancing cities’ access to finance for sustainable urban development. “The Gap Fund SUP International Event was a great opportunity to engage with city officials and development practitioners from around the world and learn more about how best to support cities in preparing bankable projects. It also provided a much welcome opportunity to test some of the hypotheses of UN-Habitat’s Local Finance Framework.”
The participants appreciated the opportunity to explore Cairo’s vibrant urban landscape, guided by the Ain Shams University from Cairo, Egypt. They gained inspiration from Cairo’s blend of heritage and modern urbanization, as their journey took them to some highlights of the country’s capital city.
Mohamed Salheen, Professor of Integrated Planning and Design, Ain Shams University, said: “It is important and useful to bring cities together – city level is an excellent level to bring practicality to the problems we face.”
After this hands-on exploration, participants dedicated the next four days to facilitated discussions and training, gaining practical tools and building valuable connections.
Abderrahmane Darghali, from the Cooperation and Environment Department of the City of Chefchaouen, Morocco, reflected on the experience: “We learned how to utilize resources for project structuring and mobilizing funds while also connecting with other cities and experts during the Gap and Climate Financing session.”
Marcos Cardoso, from the Municipality of Palmas, Brazil, added: “The Gap Fund SUP International Event provided valuable insights into how to access different Project Preparation Facilities, which are essential to support and ensure the structured continuity of our project to attract financing. The event also gave us the opportunity to connect and engage with strategic partners who can significantly contribute to the development of new projects for the Municipality of Palmas.”
Participants left with enhanced knowledge of project structuring and financing mechanisms, bolstered by a network of peers and experts for ongoing collaboration. The event enhanced their capacity to transform climate ambitions into actionable, finance-ready solutions, kick-starting their journey toward project implementation.
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