Transforming ideas into investment-ready projects is a constant challenge for cities seeking to align urban development and sustainability. To fill this gap, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability has been a strategic partner in the Gap Fund Step-Up Project (SUP), an initiative that strengthens local governments in structuring climate projects with technical and financial support. The project is carried out in collaboration with the European Investment Bank (EIB), the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), and the World Bank (WB).

In Brazil and Ecuador, five cities — Campinas, Palmas, Rio de Janeiro, Cuenca, and Portoviejo — were selected to participate in this program, receiving personalized technical support, experience sharing, and training to enhance their resilient infrastructure initiatives. The actions developed strengthen the municipalities' capacity to access resources and promote nature-based solutions (NbS), sustainable drainage, and hydrological monitoring.

Highlights of Success Stories

• Campinas (Brazil): The city is developing the Bandeirantes Stream Linear Park, one of 49 planned park sections for ecological and social recovery. Support from the Gap Fund SUP has been fundamental in conducting technical studies and developing a methodology for estimating the climate benefits of urban green spaces.
• Palmas (Brazil): The Sussuapara Conecta project aims to structure the Indigenous Peoples' Urban Linear Park, promoting the use of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for sustainable drainage and the improvement of public spaces. The Gap Fund SUP supported environmental studies, proposals for environmental education programs, and analysis of funding options.
• Rio de Janeiro (Brazil): The city received support for the Jardim Maravilha project, which aims to create a linear park in a swampy area to mitigate flood risks. The project integrates solutions for climate adaptation and environmental quality, with benefits such as reducing the heat island effect and improving urban drainage.
• Cuenca (Ecuador): The municipality has strengthened its climate monitoring and water management systems, developing new strategies for managing water recharge areas and early warning systems for extreme weather events.
• Portoviejo (Ecuador): The city worked on implementing a climate and hydrological measurement network, focusing on stormwater management and flood prevention in vulnerable areas. The initiative generated synergies with other local projects, promoting joint solutions for resilient infrastructure.

Methodology and Impact

The Gap Fund SUP approach is based on collaborative methodologies promoted by ICLEI, including cooperation cycles and the exchange of experiences. The cities participated in workshops, training sessions, and technical mentoring to improve their environmental financing and management strategies.

In addition to training, municipalities gained access to tools to structure climate governance plans, attract investments, and consolidate best practices for sustainable urban projects. The impact of these actions goes beyond individual projects, creating a network of cities prepared to face climate challenges and improve their public policies.

Next steps

With progress in structuring projects and mobilizing new resources, municipalities are now focused on securing funding and assessing the technical feasibility of future implementation. ICLEI's active participation reinforces the importance of connecting local governments to global financing mechanisms, ensuring that cities have the necessary support to move to the next phases of their climate projects.

The Gap Fund Step-Up Project demonstrated how strengthening technical capacities and accessing strategic financing are fundamental steps in preparing sustainable infrastructure projects for investment. The partnership between municipalities, ICLEI, and international financial institutions represents an effective model of collaboration to enable resilient and sustainable urban solutions.

For more information on how ICLEI can collaborate with your region, please visit our portfolio and contact our team by email: [email protected]