1. Ede Jorge Ijjasz-Vasquez, Senior Director
Global Practice – Urban, Rural, Social & Resilience
World Bank

2. The Need
Set up a platform for the best technical knowledge, common methodologies, innovation and quick exchange on sustainable urban investments
Move from individual city investments to coordinated sustainable urban planning
Connect GEF implementing agencies working on urban space, and through the platform all IFIs

3. The Platform
City-level Projects (27 cities, 11 countries -$140m)

4. A Few Key Principles Do not reinvent the wheel
Bring methodologies from others to the table -> e.g., IDB on sustainability indicators, ESA on geospatial tools, WRI on TOD
Do not assume what cities need
Platform knowledge agenda influenced by the cities’ knowledge needs
Be practical in sequencing global platform and city action
Bring the best knowledge to practitioners and learn from implementation
Connect to city networks (e.g., ICLEI, C40) for knowledge exchanges
Build a coalition of IAs and IFIs for urban sustainability
Grow the partnership
California first, many other cities interested, national city associations interested (Brazil, China, India)

5. As the Partnership Deepens…
Cities will be able to:
access a network of peer cities with relevant experience
use integrated urban sustainability framework for project conceptualization
apply knowledge tools and implementation experiences for their project design
have better access to financing, including from private sector
help the implementation knowledge repository grow
help define the next round of tools and methodologies to be developed

6. The vision
Methodologies developed and tested on urban sustainability issues
A reference point and connect to the best knowledge
Diverse group of cities engaged and best-practice implementation experiences
A platform of knowledge and peer-to-peer learning that helps new cities supported by GEF-7 design better projects with financial leverage
Leverage investments for urban sustainability:
IFIs using methodologies and experiences learned for their broader portfolios
Urban investments influenced for sustainability from all sources: local, national, global, community, philanthropy, and private

7. Look forward to scaling-up
Global Platform for
Sustainable Cities
GEF 6 Integrated Approach Pilot to
GEF7 Impact Program.
Look forward to scaling-up
our collaboration.
Thank You!