The GEF Sustainable Cities Program helps developing countries tackle urban sustainability. Launched as a GEF-6 pilot, it has grown into a long-term initiative with $480 million in GEF funding and over $5.3 billion in co-financing; several pilot projects are complete.
The GEF Independent Evaluation Office is evaluating the program’s design, implementation, and results. It will assess effectiveness on key urban sustainability drivers, relevance to targeted outcomes, and progress. Focus areas include environmental and socio-economic co-benefits; sustainability; stakeholder engagement; innovation; additionality; private-sector engagement; gender, inclusion, and equity; integration; implementation; knowledge-sharing and partnerships; and M&E. Evaluation findings will be presented to the GEF Council in June 2026.
