Urban futures
Catalyzing urban transformation across Europe and Central Asia
Overview
Cities are at the frontline of today’s development challenges – from economic uncertainty and demographic shifts to environmental stress, digital disruption, and social fragmentation. Yet many urban systems still operate in silos, constrained by short project cycles, limited financing, and fragmented governance.
UNDP’s work helps cities in the region to navigate this complexity and build the capabilities, partnerships, and resources needed for long-term transformation. Using systems thinking, experimentation, and portfolio approaches, we help cities move from isolated projects to connected strategies that deliver impact across green, digital, and social dimensions.
Our focus
UNDP supports cities navigate complexity and advance locally led transformation, drawing on regional expertise in systems thinking, digital transformation and alternative finance. Across green, digital, social and economic priorities, our support spans four interconnected areas – from understanding challenges and developing portfolios to strengthening capabilities and mobilizing resources.
-
Engagement and framing
We bring communities, municipalities and partners together to explore complex urban challenges, uncover the dynamics shaping them and define shared priorities for action.
-
Urban portfolios
We help cities move beyond fragmented projects by designing and managing portfolios of interconnected interventions, using continuous learning to assess progress and adapt them over time.
-
Capability development
We strengthen the ability of local governments and partners to lead systemic change – building the skills, practices and confidence needed to experiment, learn and manage portfolios effectively.
-
Finance and scale
Key initiatives
-
The City Experiment Fund (CEF), funded by the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic, 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 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.
-
Mayors for Economic Growth (M4EG), a joint initiative of the EU and UNDP, invites local actors to reimagine urban and local spaces for transformative change and future-readiness.
In its current third phase (2025-2028), M4EG focuses on supporting inclusive, green, and innovative economic revival in secondary cities across Eastern Partnership countries. This includes advancing systemic local economic planning, expanding access to finance, strengthening future-ready capabilities, and deepening local, regional, and global networks.
Where we work
Our work spans cities across Europe and Central Asia, each exploring different pathways toward more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban futures.
At a glance
-
450+
cities in our networks
-
60+
cities in innovation programmes
-
37
urban development portfolios in action
-
10+
urban topics addressed by portfolios
-
1000+
city officials trained
UNDP releases 2025 Slovak Transformation Fund Annual Report
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Europe and Central Asia has published the 2025 Annual Report for the Slovak Transformation Fund (STF), highlighting how cities across the region are strengthening their capacity to manage…
M4EG: Leading cities when the compass fails
Originally posted at M4EG’s website, read the full article here. When familiar maps no longer work and the compass starts to spin, leadership is about learning to navigate the unknown. Tools alone are not the…
M4EG: What if the project is not the point?
Originally posted at M4EG’s website, read the full article here. Cities rarely move in straight lines. A tourism problem is also a skills problem, a public-service problem, a business-confidence problem and often a community-belief problem.…
UNEP provides US$1.95 million to scale up Armenia’s circular bioeconomy transition
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), through its Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), has approved over US$2.2 million in funding to accelerate Armenia’s transition towards a circular bioeconomy – strengthening municipal systems, reducing organic…
Looking for practical solutions for your city?
Explore courses, tools, case studies, and learning resources designed to help municipalities tackle urban challenges and drive sustainable development.
Explore the Learning Center
Get in touch
Drop us an email at innovation@undp.org