Supporting Green Transformations in Municipalities

The EBRD Green Cities Programme Interim Evaluation (2016–21)

Background

EBRD has been implementing the Green Cities Programme (GrCP) since 2016. The GrCP unique approach is the preparation of Green City Action Plans (GCAPs) for participating cities where priories and actions are defined and driven by local stakeholders. The programme also delivers horizontal programmatic activities for, exchanging experience, learning and innovations. 

The evaluation is an interim evaluation of the GrCP and focused on assessing the extent of GrCP’s progress towards its objective of becoming a sector-wide catalyst for addressing environmental and climate change challenges at the municipal level.

Main findings

The GrCP is a much needed, fast-growing, flagship programme for delivering GET. It is relevant to cities and to EBRD strategic priorities, including establishing a systemic approach to GET.

Through GCAPs the programme empowers cities to define their green objectives and related investment priorities. Its key strength is the connection between GCAP preparation and offering investment finance for its implementation. Going forward, support for continuous local ownership and enhanced localisation in implementation are required.

To date, operations are mostly in the municipal infrastructure sector. Further efforts are needed for sector integration beyond MEI and for catalysing EBRD GET investment.

Successful impact will depend on local ownership, capacity for implementation, and access to finance. EBRD participation in GCAP implementation is growing. The programme’s transition monitoring will require improvements for credible narratives of a successful Green transition.