Local governments are stepping up climate adaptation, resilience building, and decarbonization. But turning ambition into well-designed, financially sound projects that advance equity remains a major hurdle.

Through the Transformative Actions Program (TAP) under UrbanShift, cities across Asia, Africa, and Latin America have strengthened their sustainability strategies. They received technical support and tailored mentoring to refine project concepts and connect with investors and Project Preparation Facilities (PPFs).

Across the 2021–2025 TAP cycles, UrbanShift cities submitted 19 project applications. Ten were accepted into the TAP portfolio, moving one step closer to investment readiness and engagement with financing partners. This progression reflects both the growing ambition of UrbanShift cities and the rigorous standards required to reach investment readiness.

The projects focused on three main sectors: Biodiversity and nature-based solutions, sustainable mobility, and circular waste management. Others touched on renewable energy retrofits, and improved spatial planning tools. Across sectors, they combined adaptation and mitigation goals while promoting equitable development.

Strengthening project design

The support from TAP in these projects has had a clear impact on how governments conceptualize and design their projects. In Bo, Sierra Leone, the first proposal for a reforestation and community forest management project was lacking in the areas of financial planning and in clearly articulating its climate mitigation contribution. Following tailored feedback on climate impact quantification, cost estimate and budget breakdown, potential revenue streams identification and SDG alignment, the city successfully revised and resubmitted its application, which was approved into the TAP portfolio. 

Similarly, Surat, India refined its proposal for the development and improvement of recreational and eco-tourism infrastructure at the Dumas seafront. Its feedback focused on better defining the project’s transformative impact, clarifying climate and social benefits, improving stakeholder engagement and providing a clearer budget breakdown and financing strategy. After revising these shortcomings, the project was accepted into TAP, bringing Surat one step closer to securing climate financing while simultaneously building institutional knowledge for future project development.

Continuously exploring financing pathways

Kigali, Rwanda, has long collaborated with TAP beyond their initial submission, particularly while exploring financing alternatives. Between 2021 and 2022, the city submitted three individual proposals: Inclusive Public Spaces for a Healthy and Resilient Kigali; Resilient Food Systems; and Enhancing Environmental Protection through School Project Competition. All three cases have been approved into the TAP portfolio. Given the relatively small scale of these initiatives, the TAP team has worked closely with the city to explore different funding options, which include corporate social responsibility funds, crowdfunding platforms, engagement with local embassies, and discussions around land value capture mechanisms with the Lincoln Institute. 

Moving closer to capital

Investment readiness does not end with portfolio approval. The next step is engaging directly with financing institutions. Another critical milestone in the journey from concept to capital is presentation to financing partners. 

In this respect, Belém, Brazil functions as a strong example. The Polygon of Parks (Polígono dos Parques) initiative that was approved into the TAP portfolio, aims to create a network of interconnected parks linked by green corridors and permeable bike infrastructure. With an estimated investment need of €9.7 million, the project targets flood mitigation, biodiversity enhancement, and environmental education. Through TAP and the NBCities initiative, Belém received a dedicated mentorship cycle, ecosystem services diagnostics, and climate risk assessments. Further, the project was helped with alignment with climate and biodiversity compliance standards by leveraging innovative and participatory tools, mapping financing mechanisms, and establishing a clear implementation pathway that complements existing initiatives. 

Building lasting capacity

Beyond individual projects, the tools, training, and networks developed through UrbanShift represent a lasting legacy for participating cities. For instance, the Accessing Urban Climate Finance online training enables local public officials to expand their knowledge of project structuring and presentation, thereby increasing their chances of reaching and connecting with potential investors, financial institutions and project preparation facilities, thus contributing to sustainable development on a regional scale. These resources will remain accessible beyond the program’s lifecycle, continuing to serve as valuable references for municipalities pursuing sustainable finance opportunities.

Equally important, the partnerships and collaborations built between cities, technical experts, and financial institutions have created a foundation for ongoing dialogue and mutual support. Through TAP, UrbanShift has not only strengthened individual project proposals, but also reinforced long-term municipal capacity to navigate the climate finance landscape.  

Interested in the TAP? Here is how to engage 

Ready to move your project from concept to capital? Apply to the Transformative Actions Program. Whether at an early concept stage or already technically developed, your project can benefit from tailored feedback, expert mentoring, and opportunities to connect directly with climate finance partners.

To apply, just follow these steps:

• Visit the TAP webpage for detailed information, guidance documents, and the application timeline.
• Register on the portal: Create a user account to access the online application form once a call is open.
• Fill in the form: Provide project details, climate impact information, transformative potential, and any supporting documents.

The 2026 TAP call for projects opens from 1 May to 15 November.

As climate impacts intensify and global finance mechanisms evolve, cities that can structure, quantify and communicate their projects clearly will be best positioned to access funding. Programs like TAP help ensure that local ambition translates into tangible, finance-ready solutions.