How to Work With Cities Alliance

The Cities Alliance is a coalition of cities and their development partners committed to urban poverty reduction. The Alliance aims to improve the efficiency and impact of urban development cooperation in two key areas:

• Scaling up slum upgrading; and
• Promoting participatory and inclusive city development strategies.

The Alliance's overall strategic objectives are to build political commitment and a shared vision for scaling up slum upgrading and city development strategies, to distill and share knowledge on sound practices and experiences, and to catalyse citywide and nationwide impacts.

Cities Alliance Grant Funding

From 1999 to 1 April 2010, the Cities Alliance used an open access grant facility to provide funding for country-specific, technical assistance projects in CDS and slum upgrading as well as related learning and knowledge sharing activities. Under the grant facility, the Alliance approved 220 projects in all developing regions with a total exceeding US $65 million.

Effective 1 April 2010, the Cities Alliance is transitioning to a new Catalytic Fund. While the fund will continue to provide financing for CDS, slum upgrading, and knowledge activities, its focus will be on longer-term, in-country programmes. Applications will be accepted based on periodic calls for proposals that promote sustainable urban development. The fund will also provide small grants for immediate catalytic opportunities on a year-round basis.

For more about the Catalytic Fund, please see "Cities Alliance announces new strategic focus on long-term, in-country programmes".

How to Apply for Support

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