[WEBINAR] Strengthening capacities of local governments in climate finance

How can cities get the support they need to achieve their climate ambitions? This conversation in partnership with the City Climate Finance Gap Fund explores how local governments can strengthen cities’ capacities in climate finance.

UNDP’s Head Disaster Risk Reduction & Recovery for Building Resilience Ronald Jackson opens the talk with remarks on cities and urban spaces being an important player for climate and disaster risk reduction action, because (1) urbanization will only intensify over the coming decades, (2) most development trends will be concentrated in cities, (3) there is a discernible urbanization of climate impact and disaster risk and (4) deficits pertaining to governance resources and capacities constrain cities’ ability to meet existing needs and emerging priorities. 

To set the table, UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub’s Regional Project Manager – Mayors for Economic Growth Tina Stoum presents ways Mayors for Economic Growth, a network of 425 municipalities, can help secondary cities explore new trajectories of growth within planetary boundaries, with a focus on how can cities and towns can become more livable and attractive for people. She is followed by UNDP Climate Hub’s Climate and Cities Technical Specialist James Vener, who articulates how the Climate Promise, a global initiative supporting 127 countries and territories, helped design national climate strategies, to then help cities move from policy to implementation of concrete actions on the ground, using NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) as tools for sustainable development.

Then Global Engagement Lead for the Gap Fund-GCOM Partnership Helena Monteiro deep dives into the core of the topic by going through how the Gap Fund can support municipalities’ climate strategy development and capacity building through technical assistance and knowledge sharing. 

Two municipalities then share their collaboration experience with the Gap Fund: Acting Head of Street Infrastructure Office Pavlo Syrvatka for Lviv Municipality, Ukraine expands on a project supporting the city’s street design to make it more favorable for pedestrians and cyclists, and Project manager for the International Cooperation Office Teodora Kusovac for City of Podgorica, Montenegro tells us about the municipality’s key learnings on implementing green infrastructure, by measuring public buildings impact on heat island effects, flooding risks, and energy efficiency.

The talk closes by an engaging Q&A session addressing cities’ eligibility to receive assistance from the Gap Fund, ways to mobilize partners and stakeholders to create a collaborative environment, and partners cities can reach out to for funding. 

Find the speaker presentations: Tina Stoum, James Vener and Helena Monteiro.