Urban-Act Philippines at the World Urban Forum 12

The GIZ Urban-Act Philippines Project, together with its implementing partner the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) and representatives from various national and local government agencies actively participated in the 12th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12) held from November 4-8, 2024, in Cairo, Egypt. 

With the theme "It All Starts at Home: Local Actions for Sustainable Cities and Communities," the forum brought together global leaders, experts, and stakeholders to focus on the urgent need for sustainable climate-resilient urban solutions. The Philippine delegation presented key topics on governance, climate finance, resilience, and tools for urban development. Their discussions highlighted the collaborative efforts at both the national and local levels to foster sustainable urban development.

As part of Urban-Act's Regional Training, the pilot cities Antipolo, Bacolod, and Tagbilaran showcased their capstone projects, highlighting the practical applications of the training and underscoring their commitment to climate-resilient solutions. These cities are leading the way with innovative solutions that demonstrate the power of local action in building sustainable, resilient communities.

Neil Suñer, GIZ Urban-Act Senior Advisor for Financial Mechanisms, presented the Enabling Frameworks Condition (EFC) tool as part of the training session on "Measuring Resilience -- Strategies and Tools for Cities to Measure Impacts of Urban Resilience Interventions." The EFC tool was developed by the Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance (CCFLA) for the Urban-Act Project and aims to enhance cities’ access to climate finance by assessing its enabling framework conditions. Participants had the opportunity to practice using the tool during the hands-on workshop.

In another session, Neil served as a panelist on the "Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and Urban Policy Using Digital Technologies for Sustainable Urban Development." The session was organized by Japan’s Ministry of Land Infrastructure Transport and Tourism (MLIT). Japan and Thailand presented their efforts on TOD. At the same time, Neil shared how the Urban-Act project of GIZ Philippines is supporting the TOD initiatives of the Philippines’ Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) as well as in the updating of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan guidelines. He stressed the importance of collaboration among national and local governments for TODs to be successful.

The Urban-Act initiative remains a crucial support system, facilitating the exchange of ideas, strengthening local capacities, and driving sustainable urban transformation.

These contributions highlight the Philippines' commitment to creating an enabling environment for effective urban climate action. By sharing best practices and engaging in cross-regional collaboration, Philippine cities are at the forefront of the global push for climate-resilient urban solutions.

Local actions can inspire global change. Learn more about the Urban-Act Project.