Training Cities on Climate Resilient Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Projects

The Training Cities on Climate Resilient NbS Projects is designed as an interactive in-person session focused on strengthening participants’ capacity to prepare, structure, and finance NbS in cities, with a particular emphasis on housing, liveability, and integrated urban planning. This session addresses the uptake of NbS constrained by limited project preparation capacities, fragmented planning, financial institutions experiences and risk perceptions of NbS, cities limited access to climate finance and low level of private sector involvement. It will begin with a concise framing of NbS, project preparation, and urban design, situating NbS as a practical lever for resilient and affordable housing, community liveability, green infrastructure, and biodiversity. City representatives and urban practitioners will be target participants, who will be introduced to the project preparation lifecycle, from early project identification and needs assessment, through project structuring and feasibility, to financing and implementation readiness. This creates a shared understanding of how NbS projects evolve and where cities typically face bottlenecks. Building on this, the training will delve into practical hands-on utilization of technical project preparation and financing tools and mechanisms, including the Gap Fund SUP Toolkit or GCoM tools. The focus on concrete, practical tools will allow for strengthened understanding of available tools, their role, complementarities, and relevance at different stages of the project cycle, helping participants understand how they can be sequenced and combined to address specific gaps. Participants will be divided into groups based on either project stage or tool focus and work on practical NbS scenarios linked to housing and residential areas. Groups will identify challenges, preparation and financing gaps, and pathways to advance projects along the lifecycle, using the assigned tools. Interpretation and technical support will be provided to ensure inclusive participation. The training will conclude with a plenary reflection, where groups’ representatives will share insights and discuss how NbS projects can move from concept to implementation. Key lessons on tool application, project structuring, financing strategies, and integrated planning across housing, land use, infrastructure, and biodiversity could be synthesized, highlighting opportunities for collaboration and pipeline development.