From Plans to Projects Unlocking Urban Infrastructure Delivery in EU accession and MIC Cities

A substantial proportion of infrastructure projects, estimated between 70% and 90%, experience significant challenges during implementation, often due to inadequate project preparation. These failures are frequently driven by pressure to initiate quickly, prioritizing speed over quality and long-term outcomes. In the current official development assistance landscape, many government-led infrastructure projects are financed through loans from international financial institutions (IFIs). These funds are typically tied to strict disbursement timelines. Delays in project implementation can jeopardize fund utilization, leading to undesirable outcomes such as reduced development outcomes or, in some cases, cancellation of projects. Likewise, there is an enormous demand for housing renovation in several EU accession and MIC Countries - particularly multi-apartment dwellings. These projects could attract IFI capital, yet to do so requires institutional and community-level engagement, as well as careful project preparation. To address the problem of inadequate project preparation and the resulting downstream issues, various solutions can be adopted. One of them is readily available support in the feasibility phase of projects to ensure a higher chance of success during delivery. This support could include strengthening the capacity of public officials responsible for project development. Making informed, evidence-based choices at this early stage is critical to advancing projects from concept to successful delivery. Effective feasibility studies require more than just human capital. Governments also need access to sufficient financial resources to commission or conduct high-quality assessments. These studies often depend on specialized technical expertise that may not be readily available within government institutions. Therefore, governments must be equipped not only with internal capacity but also with the funding mechanisms needed to engage external expertise when required. This session will be a facilitated dialogue to enable representatives of governments and cities, IFIs and donors, as well as the UN agencies, to conduct a structured dialogue on the problems in infrastructure project preparation and identify practical solutions. The collaboration between UN-Habitat and UNOPS brings together complementary mandates and expertise. Together, the agencies offer a neutral, credible, and development-focused approach.