Search

As 2025 gets underway, efforts by cities to reduce congestion, address air pollution, improve housing access, and lower flooding risks are getting more attention than ever. These initiatives matter to more than 4 billion people who live in urban centers worldwide, and also have enormous consequences for the planet and global environmental goals. 

Building on the GEF-6 phase, the Sustainable Cities Impact Program in GEF-7 (2018-2022), under its brand name UrbanShift, advances the integrated approach of urban planning and implementation. The program brings together global, national, and local stakeholders to work towards a common vision of sustainable, low carbon, inclusive, gender sensitive, and resilient development, and is supporting 23 cities in nine countries.

  KIGALI, Rwanda – On February 28, Ms. Marisa Lago, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Markets and Development, toured a project led by women and financed by the Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP) in Rwanda. The project is introducing alternative energy sources to wood fuel as a response to climate change and deforestation while improving the livelihoods of the community.  

This GEF-8 Regional Workshop took place in Kigali, Rwanda, on October 11-14, with participants from countries in Eastern and Southern Africa, the GEF Secretariat, GEF agencies, and partners. It was part of a series of workshops to give countries an overview of the GEF-8 programming strategies, with a particular focus on the GEF-8 Integrated Programs (IPs) and how they will be rolled out. Specific breakout groups allowed more in-depth discussions on the different IPs, as well as regional challenges and opportunities.