ICLEI celebrated a decade of its Transformative Actions Program (TAP), a flagship initiative dedicated to helping cities and regions convert climate and sustainability ideas into investment-ready projects. Since its launch in 2015, TAP has matured into a global platform bridging local ambition and global finance.
“Today, we proudly celebrate a growing portfolio of 90 sustainable development projects, representing over €1.6 billion in investment potential,” said ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö, Sweden, Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, highlighting the scale of TAP’s impact during a dedicated webinar to mark the occasion.
A decade of impact
Built on the premise that local and regional governments often lack the resources to develop fundable projects, TAP offers exactly that: Technical guidance, tailored advice, and financial pairing to turn ideas into action. As of 2024, the program had improved over 450 project ideas, with 95 in the formal portfolio, 39 of which had secured financing.
“By eliminating project bottlenecks,” shared Natalia Salazar, Head of Innovative Finance at ICLEI World Secretariat, “TAP offers a complete capacity-building journey aimed at accessing financing. For investors, it delivers de-risked, high-quality investment opportunities in emerging markets.”
Voices of leadership and progress
Mayor Stjernfeldt Jammeh emphasized TAP’s value: “TAP embodies what we stand for: Transformation that is locally rooted, globally connected, and investment-oriented.” She stressed the urgency that “financing to local and regional governments must dramatically increase now,” and called for stronger flows of climate finance to fuel scalable solutions.
Dr. Meggan Spires, Director of Climate Change, Energy and Resilience at ICLEI Africa, outlined TAP’s role as a vital intermediary, bridging local governments and financial institutions. She noted the program’s multifaceted approach: “project development support, capacity building, co-developing financial instruments, and business models for Small and Medium Enterprises.”
She highlighted successes such as clean cooking initiatives in Uganda, where TAP-supported grant funding helped scale technologies that now serve over 20,000 people.
David Jacome Polit, Head of Resilience at ICLEI World Secretariat, framed TAP within broader development and equity contexts. “Poverty, exclusion and environmental degradation reinforce one another, multiplying risks,” he said. TAP, he explained, helps close gaps by supporting project readiness with equity, gender, and justice embedded at every stage.
South America in focus
ICLEI South America’s Executive Secretary Rodrigo Perpétuo shared a snapshot of regional achievements: “We have 28 projects across South America, 16 in Brazil, with three already accessing nearly €111 million in funding.”
He presented the example of the city of Palmas, where TAP helped secure development bank support for a solid waste recycling initiative aiming for 100% coverage. “Through TAP, we brought mentorship and connection to CAF [Development Bank of Latin America], enabling project approval,” he said.
Why TAP matters and what’s ahead
Today, TAP offers a full support system: From concept to funding, tools, peer learning, and visibility. Its global footprint spans all continents, with projects in sectors like clean energy, waste management, nature-based solutions, and more.
As TAP enters its second decade, ICLEI urges even stronger collaboration. “To our partners, continue working with us. To our funders, invest in the transformative capacity of cities,” urged Mayor Stjernfeldt Jammeh, calling for a collective push forward
TAP is where local innovation meets investor interest. Its next chapter, the 2025 call for submissions, open through September, promises fresh ideas and projects. For cities ready to transform ambition into action, TAP is the answer.
News
