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

In Brazil and Ecuador, five cities – Campinas, Palmas, Río de Janeiro, Cuenca and Portoviejo – were selected to participate in this trip, receiving personalized technical support, exchange of experiences and training to improve their resilient infrastructure initiatives. The actions developed strengthen the capacity of municipalities to access resources and promote solutions based on nature (SBN), sustainable drainage and hydrological surveillance.

Notable success stories

• Campinas (Brazil): The city is developing the Córrego Bandeirantes Lineal Park, one of the 49 sections of park planned for ecological and social recovery. Gap Fund SUP support has been instrumental in carrying out technical studies and creating a methodology to estimate the climate benefits of urban green zones.

• Palmas (Brazil): The Sussuapara Conecta project seeks to structure the Urban Lineal Park of Indigenous Pueblos, promoting the use of SbN for sustainable drainage and the qualification of public spaces. The Gap Fund SUP supports environmental studies, environmental education program proposals and analysis of financing options.

• Rio de Janeiro (Brazil): The city received aid for the Jardim Maravilha project, whose objective is to create a linear park in a wetland area to mitigate flood risks. The project integrates solutions for climate adaptation and environmental quality, with benefits such as reducing the effect of heat islands and improving urban drainage.

• Cuenca (Ecuador): The municipality has strengthened its climate surveillance and water management systems, developing new management strategies for water recharge zones and warning systems in the face of extreme meteorological phenomena.

• Portoviejo (Ecuador): The city works on the implementation of a climate and hydrological measurement network, with a focus on rainwater management and flood prevention in vulnerable areas. The initiative generates synergies with other local projects, promoting joint solutions for resilient infrastructures.

Methodology and impact

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

In addition to formation, municipalities have access to tools to structure climate governance plans, attract investment and consolidate good 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 the advances made in the structure of projects and the movement of new resources, municipalities are now focusing on the search for financing and technical feasibility for their future implementation. ICLEI's active participation reinforces the importance of connecting local governments with global financing mechanisms, ensuring that cities have the support they need to move to the next phases of their climate projects.

The Gap Fund Step-Up Project demonstrates how the strengthening of technical capabilities and access to strategic financing are key steps in preparing sustainable infrastructure projects for investment. The association between municipalities, ICLEI and international financial institutions represents an effective model of collaboration to enable resilient and sustainable urban solutions.

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