Innovative Models to Unlock Finance for Climate-Resilient Housing in Intermediary Cities

This interactive networking and matchmaking session brings together intermediary cities and financing actors to address the gap between climate-resilient housing ambitions and implementation. It is co-organised by the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM); the Gap Fund (implemented by the World Bank and the European Investment Bank); NUCA (hosted by the International Development Finance Club); and UN-Habitat through its Cities Investment Facility (CIF), in collaboration with project preparation facilities and national and multilateral development banks. Rapidly growing intermediary cities face rising climate risks but remain underserved by national investment frameworks and global climate finance. Heat, flooding, water stress, and extreme weather are placing increasing pressure on housing and basic urban services. While climate-resilient and low-carbon housing is prioritised in strategies and plans, many cities struggle to turn these ambitions into bankable, finance-ready projects. The session will convene cities seeking or receiving technical assistance for sustainable housing through the Gap Fund, UN-Habitat’s CIF, national programmes, or other project preparation facilities, alongside national development banks and financial intermediaries. Case examples from Bosnia, South Africa, Indonesia, and Morocco will ground the discussion. Through facilitated matchmaking and small-group exchanges, participants will examine 1) how intermediary cities can design climate-resilient housing projects that remain attractive to financiers from early concepts through implementation, 2) identify the technical, institutional, and innovative financial elements required at each stage of project preparation to avoid delays or project stalling, and 3) explore how development banks, intermediaries, and project preparation facilities can work together to translate city-level demand into scalable investment programmes. Guided by the GCoM Finance Pathway Toolbox adapted to housing, the session will combine peer learning and matchmaking to share success factors and practical lessons. By convening financiers from the Finance in Common movement (a global coalition of Public Development Banks) interested in cities, the session supports inclusive housing finance and contributes to Dialogue 4 (Housing and Climate Change) and Dialogue 6 (A New Deal for Housing Finance) by linking policy priorities with investment-ready solutions.