Holistic problem-solving
Tackles interrelated urban challenges from multiple angles, especially in times of uncertainty.
City Experiment Fund
The City Experiment Fund is a UNDP-led initiative that collaborates with cities across Europe and Central Asia to tackle complex urban challenges through strategic innovation and experimentation
Shaping urban futures
The City Experiment Fund (CEF) is a UNDP-led initiative that collaborates with cities across Europe and Central Asia to tackle complex urban challenges through strategic innovation and experimentation. CEF provides technical and financial support to develop innovation portfolios that test new approaches and drive sustainable urban transformation.
By applying systems thinking, we help cities explore, reimagine, and finance more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban futures – and co-create practical, scalable solutions that address development challenges.
Our current CEF cohort focuses on the Twin Transition – integrating digital and green innovations to transform urban infrastructure, governance, and services, ensuring cities are future-ready and adaptive.
CEF is made possible with the financial support of the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic.
Our programmes
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The 2025 Twin Transition Cohort brings together 10 cities across Europe and Central Asia to explore how green and digital transformation can reinforce one another. Some cities are joining CEF for the first time, while others are building on the experience and lessons gained in previous cohorts. Together, they design and test portfolios of interventions, exchange knowledge, and develop new approaches to urban transformation.
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CEF x AI extends the portfolio approach to help cities adopt, govern, and benefit from artificial intelligence (AI) in ways that are practical, inclusive, and aligned with the public interest. Through two complementary tracks – a demonstrator track focused on systemic, portfolio-based AI transformation and a BOOST track that matches cities with innovators to co-design GenAI solutions – the programme will support selected cities in exploring where AI can create public value and in building the capabilities needed to shape and govern these technologies.
What's the portfolio approach?
CEF uses systems thinking to design portfolios for urban transformation. UNDP works with cities and partners to create portfolios of solutions by exploring problems from multiple perspectives, identifying opportunities for change, designing a range of interconnected interventions aligned with a shared vision, and continuously adapting and managing the portfolio as new insights emerge. Rather than relying on isolated, one-off projects, this approach combines complementary interventions that reinforce one another, evolve over time, and help address the root causes of complex urban challenges.
Why portfolios?
Dynamic adaptation
Continuously refines solutions based on learning.
Informed decision-making
Uses feedback loops and data-driven insights to improve urban policies.
Meet our city cohorts
CEF works with cities over multiple years, helping them navigate emerging urban challenges. Our programmes bring together municipalities from across Europe and Central Asia to test new ideas, build capabilities, and shape more sustainable, resilient, and future-ready urban systems.
Thematic focus areas
A practical guide for cities going green and digital
A practical framework for cities designing green and digital transformation together – drawing on lessons from ten cities in the region.
Timeline
CEF is a multi-year initiative that supports cities through successive phases of exploration, experimentation, learning and adapting, and scaling. Cities develop and test portfolios of green and digital interventions, refine them based on evidence and feedback, and integrate successful approaches and lessons learned into long-term policies and investment decisions.
2025
Starting new city cohort focused on twin transition. Setting up strategic innovation portfolios with cities. Exploring innovative financing approaches.
2026
Review and iterate city portfolios. Expanding and deepening CEF portfolios into new areas. Strengthening connections between BOOST and city projects. Exploring how AI can support urban transformation portfolios.
2027
Testing innovative financing mechanisms for urban transformation. Scaling successful approaches. Testing practical AI applications in real municipal contexts.
2028
Ensuring foundations for portfolios to continue independently. Sharing what we learned with other cities and partners. Creating guidelines for scaling urban transformation. Building a regional knowledge base on AI for cities.
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Donors
CEF is made possible through the financial support of the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic, as part of the Slovak Transformation Fund. By investing in systems thinking, innovative financing, and portfolio approaches, this partnership empowers municipalities to drive green and digital transformation, test new urban solutions, and scale impact across the region.
Get in touch
Interested in collaborating?
Drop us an email at innovation@undp.org
Drop us an email at innovation@undp.org