The European Investment Bank (EIB Global) has provided over €1.2 million in technical assistance support to cities in East Africa to prepare climate-resilient urban development projects.
The cities set to benefit from this technical assistance are Kericho, Nyamira, Kisumu, Embu, Eldoret, and Malindi in Kenya, as well as Zanzibar in Tanzania and Makindye in Uganda.
The support is financed through the City Climate Finance Gap Fund, a multi-donor trust fund supported by Germany and Luxembourg and implemented jointly with the World Bank and in close partnership with German Development Cooperation (GIZ).
The technical assistance program focuses on early-stage project preparation, aiming to facilitate access to finance for urban projects that would otherwise potentially remain at the idea stage.
Most of the support for the cities in the region will revolve around assessing options for managing solid waste and faecal sludge, waste-to-energy solutions through biogas production, and wastewater treatment.
Proposed solutions include integrated solid waste management plans, encompassing segregation of waste at source, separation of waste collections, waste recovery, and proper disposal.
Further technical assistance will promote active mobility through non-motorized transport options, urban flood proofing measures, and environmental sustainability through green public parks, urban forestry, and biodiversity.
In Kenya, EIB Global’s support aims to help cities access further financing support from the ongoing Kenya Urban Support Programme II upon completion of the Gap Fund technical assistance.
EIB Vice President Thomas Ostros emphasized the crucial role cities play in fighting climate change. “Cities and local governments experience the effects of climate change the most, but often struggle to develop climate-resilient infrastructure due to a lack of resources and expertise.”
Ostros highlighted the importance of technical assistance for project preparation, saying it “plays a vital role in facilitating the implementation and financing of climate action projects by availing bankable opportunities.”
The European Investment Bank is actively involved in urban climate finance, particularly through the City Climate Finance Gap Fund. The Bank works with partners to advise on projects that will place cities on a path to net zero.
