Cooperation and Partnerships, Cooperation and Partnerships

ICLEI & Resilient Cities Catalyst – Cities Forward Initiative (2023–2025)

Involved organizations

ICLEI South America, in partnership with the U.S. Department of State, Resilient Cities Catalyst, and the Institute of the Americas.

Year

2023, 2024

City, country

Latin America

Lines of work

Networking and Alliance Building, Networking and partnerships

About the project

The project supported the development of local resilience action plans for eight cities across Latin America as part of the Cities Forward LATAM initiative. Led by ICLEI South America in partnership with the U.S. Department of State, Resilient Cities Catalyst, and the Institute of the Americas, the initiative aimed to strengthen local capacities to address complex urban challenges. It connected cities across the region with technical expertise, international cooperation, and strategic planning tools to foster more resilient, sustainable, and future-ready territories.

Challenge

Latin American cities face increasingly complex urban challenges related to climate change, social vulnerability, disaster risk management, pressure on infrastructure, and the need to strengthen local planning capacities. In this context, the project supported local governments in developing roadmaps that translate urban resilience into concrete actions tailored to their priorities and territorial contexts.

Approach

PHARE supported the development of local resilience action plans for eight cities across the region by providing technical assistance, territorial analysis, and methodological guidance. The work was carried out as part of an international initiative that connected Latin American cities with strategic partners, specialized expertise, and planning tools. This approach helped align local priorities with regional and international knowledge and best practices in urban resilience.

Impact

The project strengthened the planning capacities of the participating cities, supporting the initial development of local actions to advance urban resilience. It also fostered collaboration among local governments, city networks, and international partners, creating a platform for practical cooperation on shared urban challenges. The process generated valuable knowledge and tools for linking territorial priorities with resilience-based approaches, although its subsequent implementation was affected by changes to the initiative’s broader implementation framework.
Return

Cooperation and alliances

Solutions we offer

Networking and alliance building:

Engagement with networks, platforms, and strategic partners to advance shared agendas and strengthen territorial cooperation.

International cooperation and resources:

Identifying and managing cooperation, funding, and other support mechanisms to strengthen territorial initiatives.

Project design and implementation:

Formulation, management, and support of international projects and initiatives.

ATTRACTIVENESS AND PROJECTION

Solutions we offer

Territorial positioning:

Designing territorial positioning strategies and tools to strengthen the identity and projection of cities and regions.

Attractiveness and identity:

Building narratives, city branding, destination vision, and territorial promotion strategies.

Projecting opportunities:

Attracting investment, cooperation, tourism, culture, and talent.

Strategy and Public policies

Solutions we offer

Territorial strategy and planning:

Designing strategies and tools to strengthen territorial development and consolidate international engagement as public policy.

Public agendas and governance:

Participatory methodologies, policy labs, and collaborative processes for building public agendas.

Technical assistance:

Technical support for implementing territorial development and international engagement strategies.

KNOWLEDGE AND innovation

Solutions we offer

Knowledge and analysis:

Diagnostics, studies, applied research, and forward-looking analysis of international trends.

Training and capacity building:

Training programs, workshops, and tools to strengthen institutional and technical capacities.

Exchange and learning across territories:

Peer-to-peer learning spaces, experience-sharing, and collective knowledge building.